What's Happening Now?
SEPA Checklist
The M2 Reach 1 SEPA Checklist was submitted to Okanogan County on March 15th, 2011. Two initial public scoping meetings have been scheduled to give interested citizens the opportunity to ask questions and to comment on the project:
- SEPA Scoping Meeting 1: April 13th, 2011, at 6:30 pm at the Winthrop Barn
- SEPA Scoping Meeting 2: April 16th, 2011, at 11:00 am at the Twisp Grange
- March 15, 2011:
SEPA submitted by MSRF
- County reviews the submittal for completeness and schedules scoping meetings
- April 13 and 16, 2011:
Scoping meetings held in Winthrop and Twisp
- Public comment period will be open through May 18
- County will collect and record all comments received.
- Comments will be forwarded to MSRF weekly
- Public comment period will be open through May 18
- May 18, 2011:
1st Public comment period ends
- MSRF will be responsible to respond to all comments (no time set)
- MSRF will resubmit checklist as DEIS with a summary of comments received and responses as an attachment (no time limit)
- (Date to be determined, anticipated to be February 2012):
SEPA Checklist DEIS Resubmission
- County reviews for completeness and issues a final determination (15 days)
- County advertises determination and open comment period (14 days +/-)
- Publication starts a 30 day comment period
- (Date to be determined):
2nd Public comment period ends
- County reviews additional comments and may affirm, reject, or modify its final determination (generally within 15 days)
- If substantial changes, corrections, and/or clarifications are needed, County may require re-opening of the comment period (an additional 30 days)
- If county affirms, the process is complete pending a 15-day appeal period
What is the SEPA process?MSRF is completing an expanded SEPA review for the M2 project to allow the public to see the scope and scale of the complete project at one time. Although not required, MSRF requested that the County open up the process through scoping to allow the public greater opportunity to comment on the project. MSRF will extend the comment period if necessary to allow sufficient time to respond to comments and questions received.
Why a single SEPA Checklist for the project?
MSRF prepared a single checklist for the entire M2 Reach 1 project for SEPA review at the early stages of the design process. This was done in order to both meet the legal requirement that projects be presented in their entirety rather than with a piecemeal approach and to ensure that the public would be able to evaluate project components in the full context. By opening up the process through scoping before designs are complete and by providing an early opportunity for comment, MSRF hopes to engage the community and give the public a voice in the design process.
SEPA Materials
The M2 Reach 1 SEPA submittal included the following materials:
- SEPA
- Supporting Documents:
- Anchor QEA, Conceptual Projects Alternatives Assessment M2 Reach Project Concept Formulation, November 2010
- Bureau of Reclamation, Middle Methow Reach Assessment, August 2010
- Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation, Biological Assessment, February 2011
- Bureau of Reclamation, Geomorphic Assessment and Technical Appendices, February 2008
- Anchor QEA, Conceptual Projects Alternatives Assessment M2 Reach Project Concept Formulation, November 2010
