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Few speakers at EFSEC public-comment meeting on draft transmission programmatic EIS; DNR to file SEPA comment
Summary
Amy Hoffmeier, director of siting and compliance for the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, opened a virtual public-comment meeting April 22 to take input on the council’s draft transmission programmatic environmental impact statement and explained how to sign up to speak.
Amy Hoffmeier, director of siting and compliance for the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, opened a virtual public-comment meeting April 22 to take input on the council’s draft transmission programmatic environmental impact statement and explained how to sign up to speak.
The public comment period for the draft document remains open through April 30. EFSEC staff announced an additional virtual comment meeting for Thursday, April 24, at 5:00 p.m., and said a recording and presentation from an April 8 informational session are posted on the project website.
Why it matters: EFSEC’s programmatic environmental impact statement is a nonproject-level, statewide review intended to inform future transmission siting and environmental review; it is not approval of any specific transmission project. Hoffmeier said EFSEC is one siting pathway among others and that any specific project would still have to meet applicable state and local requirements.
Attendance and comments: Participation during the April 22 meeting was limited. Scott Nelson, system division manager for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, told the council, “We will be providing a written SEPA comment before the end of the week.” Erin Anderson, identified in the meeting as a commenter, said many people are still working through the lengthy document and cautioned that the absence of speakers did not mean lack of concern: “people may not raise their hand doesn't mean that people don't care.” A participant identified only as Matt asked whether EFSEC is the permitting authority; Hoffmeier clarified that the document is programmatic and not project-specific and that EFSEC is one of multiple siting pathways.
How to comment: Hoffmeier repeated that public comments can be submitted through the comment database and via the council’s comment email, and reminded participants about the April 24 session and the April 30 deadline.
No formal actions were taken. The meeting functioned solely to receive public comment; no motions, votes, or approvals occurred during the session.
