As part of the environmental process for the Medina to SR 202: Eastside Transit and HOV Project, WSDOT is completing an environmental assessment and applying for federal, state, and local permits in order to begin construction when funding is secured.
You will have several opportunities to be involved in the environmental process:
- Comment on permit applications to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Department of Ecology between July 23 and Aug. 22, 2009.
Note: You may have received a Public Notice regarding these permits.
- Comment on permit applications to local jurisdictions in late 2009.
- Comment on the environmental assessment to WSDOT in late 2009.
Corps and Ecology Public Notice
In late July 2009, we submitted permit applications to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology). The Corps and Ecology jointly published a Public Notice (pdf 8.75 mb) on July 23, 2009, beginning a 30-day comment period which ends on Aug. 22, 2009.
The Public Notice and associated public comment period is a required part of the project’s permitting process. This Public Notice was distributed to property owners whose property:
- May be affected by the project directly. (Owners with potentially affected properties were notified by WSDOT earlier this year.)
- Is located adjacent to the project boundary.
- Is adjacent to properties that may be affected.
How do I submit comments?
If you would like to submit comments on the Corps and Ecology permit applications for the Eastside Transit and HOV Project, please follow the instructions provided on page four of the Public Notice (pdf 8.75 mb) to ensure your comments become part of the public record.
What happens to my comments?
In evaluating the permits for the Eastside Transit and HOV Project, the Corps and Ecology will assess public comments received, including comments on the preliminary design attached to the Public Notice.
The Corps and Ecology will respond to comments when they issue permits, planned for late 2009 or early 2010. The Corps is primarily focused on the project’s anticipated effects to wetlands and bodies of water. Ecology’s review will focus on the anticipated effects from the project to state water quality.
Separately, WSDOT can also provide responses to your questions and concerns. If you would like us to respond to your inquiries, please contact us.
Local jurisdictions
WSDOT will submit permit applications to Eastside jurisdictions during fall 2009. You may be notified in late 2009 by local jurisdictions if they conduct separate comment periods related to WSDOT's permit applications.
Environmental assessment
WSDOT will host a formal comment period when we release the enironmental assessment and post the document on the project Web site in late 2009. You will be able to submit written comments to the project through the Web site, and we will also conduct a public hearing.
Please contact us if you would like to be kept up to date through the project e-mail list. This will ensure you receive notification for WSDOT-sponsored public events for the Eastside Transit and HOV Project.
Contact information:
SR 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV Project Web site
E-mail: SR520Bridge@wsdot.wa.gov
Phone: Katie DeLeuw, Communications: 206-770-3636