MASTER PLAN: Environmental scoping begins

As the University develops the Campus Master Plan, it will begin the environmental review process. The University will analyze various elements of the environment, identify environmental impacts that may result from development and growth, and analyze alternatives. This environmental review process, established by the State Environmental Policy Act, will produce a public document called an Environmental Impact Statement or EIS.

Sakuma Viewpoint

The first step in the environmental review process is called, "scoping." The purpose of scoping is to narrow the focus of the EIS to significant environmental issues, eliminate insignificant impacts from detailed study, and identify reasonable alternatives to be studied in the EIS. During this process, the community will play a key role in helping to identify important environmental issues.

The EIS process will include the following elements of the environment:

Earthgeology, soils, topography, unique physical features

Air Quality

Watersurface water, ground water, run off

Plant and Animalshabitat, unique species fish or wildlife migration routes

Energy and Natural Resourcessource/availability, nonrenewable resources, conservation, scenic resources

Environmental Healthnoise, potential releases to the environment affecting public health

Land and Shoreline Usehousing, light and glare, historic/cultural preservation, aesthetics, recreation

Transportationtransportation systems, traffic, parking

Public Servicesfire, police, schools, parks, water/storm water, sewer/solid waste, other government services or utilities

Alternativescould include proposed action, no action, decentralization/less development on campus, project alternatives/open space.

The university is using "expanded scoping" for the Master Plan. The comment period will begin on Nov. 8 and run through Dec. 7, 1999. Comments on environmental issues will be accepted through February 2000. There will be two public meeting workshops for the Master Plan and EIS scoping on Tuesday, Nov. 16. The mid-day meeting will be on campus at 200 HUB , 12:30-
3 p.m. The evening meeting will be held at the University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE, Room 209,
6-8:30 p.m.

Following the scoping period, the significant environmental elements will be analyzed, alternatives will be reviewed, and a Draft Environmental Impacts Statement (DEIS) will be prepared. The DEIS will be circulated to the community and public agencies for review and comment in mid-May of 2000. Comments received on the DEIS will be responded to in a Final EIS that will be published in early October 2000.

Public participation will play an important role in the development of the EIS and the Campus Master Plan. There are many ways to be involved and to be heard. Comments will be accepted throughout the environmental review process at public meetings, or via:
Mail: Campus Master Plan, Box 351264, Seattle, WA 98195-1264
E-mail: masterpl@u.washington.edu
Voice: 206-221-2811
Web: http://www.washington.edu/community/cmp.html. ¶