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A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) provides information about the adverse environmental impacts of a project proposal. It examines a no action alternative which discusses impacts to the same environment but without the project proposal. It also presents reasonable alternatives, if identified, that could feasibly attain or approximate a proposal’s objectives, but at a lower environmental cost or decreased level of environmental degradation (WAC 197-11-440 (5)). SEPA considers both the natural environment (earth, air, water, plants, animals) and the built environment (e.g. land use, environmental health, cultural and historic resources, utilities) (WAC 197-11-660). The EIS focuses on the environmental resources that would have significant adverse environmental impacts. However, the EIS usually includes analysis of nonsignificant impacts because:

1) the determination of significance occurs after the analysis has occurred and all feasible mitigation has been identified;

2) the information reflects the thought process for determining an impact is nonsignificant;

3) nonsignificant impacts of the proposal considered together can increase an impact;

4) nonsignificant impacts of the proposal can contribute to a cumulative impact to a resource from multiple actions over time; and

5) identification of mitigation for nonsignificant impacts also incrementally benefits the environment.

The Draft EIS is reviewed by the public (including the applicant), other agencies, and tribal governments during a minimum 30-day comment period; the resulting input is used to improve the environmental analysis for the document and produce a Final EIS. The Draft EIS represents EFSEC’s best effort to provide complete and accurate information about the environmental impacts of the proposal, alternatives, and recommended mitigation to reduce those impacts. Public review of the Draft EIS provides an opportunity to identify missing, incomplete, or incorrect information to be addressed in support of the completeness and accuracy of the Final EIS.

The Final EIS is the official final document that analyzes the adverse environmental impacts of a proposal and must be used by agency decision makers, along with other relevant considerations or documents in making final decisions on a proposal. The lead agency considers comments on the proposal received during the Draft EIS comment period, responds to them, and includes those responses in the Final EIS. The Final EIS provides a basis upon which the responsible agency and officials can make the balancing judgment (e.g. environmental, welfare, social, economic) mandated by SEPA because it provides information on the environmental costs and impacts (WAC 197-11-448).

The Draft EIS was issued on December 19, 2022 and is open for public review and comment until the close of the Public Comment Period on February 1, 2023.

Where to get the Draft EIS

You may download or view the Draft EIS below or physical copies of the Draft EIS may be requested by contacting EFSEC at (360) 664-1345, P.O. Box 43172, Olympia, WA 98504-3172, or by e-mail at efsec@efsec.wa.gov. Printed copies will be provided for the cost of printing and electronic versions will be provided for the cost of the USB flash drive or CD. 

Copies of the Draft EIS along with the Horse Heaven Wind Farm Project Application for Site Certification, (EFSEC Application/Docket No. EF-210011) are also available for public review at the following locations:

Video recordings of the February 1, 2023 Horse Heaven Draft EIS Public Comment Meeting (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3) 

Video Recording of the Horse Heaven Draft EIS Overview Presentation. 

Comments 00012 & 00345 were moved to the Tribal comments section.