The SAC Agreement integrates aquatic resource permit requirements into the National Environmental Policy Act and State Environmental Policy Act Processes in Washington State.
Since August 11, 2005, no new WSDOT projects have followed the SAC process because of new requirements in SAFETEA-LU, Section 6002.
Effective September 17, 2002 the former 1996 NEPA/404 Merger Agreement was revised to include several process improvements. Development of the revised SAC Agreement was a collaborative process involving the following eight state and federal agencies that are signatory to the SAC Agreement.
| Federal Agencies |
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State Agencies |
| Army Corps of Engineers |
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Department of Ecology |
| NOAA Fisheries |
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Department of Fish and Wildlife |
| Environmental Protection Agency |
|
Department of Transportation |
| Federal Highway Administration |
|
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| US Fish and Wildlife Service |
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Goals of the SAC Agreement
The goals of the SAC Agreement improvements are to (a) create a clear, consistent and efficient process that occurs within a predictable timeline (b) provides a forum to exchange information (c) has committed participants (d) results in the completion of environmental impact statements that adequately consider the environment and (e) results in the delivery of transportation projects.
Project Criteria to Enter SAC Process
The SAC Agreement applies to all transportation projects in the state of Washington requiring (a) an individual U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 10 or Section 404 permit and (b) Federal Highway Administration action on and environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act and Washington Department of Transportation action under the State Environmental Policy Act.
SAC Agreement
Body of 2002 Signatory Agency Committee (SAC) Agreement (pdf 280 kb)
SAC Process
Flow Chart (pdf 90 kb)
SAC Agreement Appendices
Appendix A - Statutory Authority for the Agreement
Appendix B - SAC Process Steps
Appendix C - Purpose and Need Guidance
Appendix D - Alternatives Analysis and Aquatic Resource Avoidance Guidance
Appendix E - Compensatory Mitigation Guidance
Appendix F - Level of Data Needs/Threshold Involvement
Appendix G - Signatory Agencies Statutory Authorities
Appendix H - Issue Resolution Process
Appendix I - Tenants of Agency Participation
Appendix J - Responsibilities of Signatory Agencies
Appendix K - Responsibilities of the Lead Agencies
Appendix L - Annual Monitoring and Evaluation
Appendix M - Acronyms and Abbreviations
Appendix N - Definitions
SAC Concurrence Form (word file 42 kb)
Additional Information
Additional information on the SAC Agreement, including SAC committee meetings, may be obtained by contacting the Washington State Department of Transportation, Environmental Services, at (360) 705-7486, or via e-mail at eaoweb@wsdot.wa.gov.