The purpose of this subchapter is to promote the health, safety and welfare of District of Columbia ("District") residents, to afford the fullest possible preservation and protection of the environment through a requirement that the environmental impact of proposed District government and privately initiated actions be examined before implementation and to require the Mayor, board, commission, or authority to substitute or require an applicant to substitute an alternative action or mitigating measures for a proposed action, if the alternative action or mitigating measures will accomplish the same purposes as the proposed action with minimized or no adverse environmental effects.
(Oct. 18, 1989, D.C. Law 8-36, § 2, 36 DCR 5741.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-981.
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary amendment of section, see § 12 of the Solid Waste Facility Permit Emergency Act of 1995 (D.C. Act 11-144, October 23, 1995, 42 DCR 6044).
Legislative History of Laws
Law 8-36, the "District of Columbia Environmental Policy Act of 1989," was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 8-8, which was referred to the Committee on Public Works. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on June 27, 1989 and July 11, 1989, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on July 27, 1989, it was assigned Act No. 8-65 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Delegation of Authority
Delegation of authority pursuant to D.C. Law 8-36, see Mayor's Order 92-151, December 1, 1992.
Delegation of authority pursuant to D.C. Law 8-116, the "Asbestos Licensing and Control Act of 1990", see Mayor's Order 98-51, April 15, 1998 (45 DCR 2697).
Delegation of authority pursuant to D.C. Law 8-36, the "District of Columbia Environmental Policy Act of 1989", see Mayor's Order 98-86, May 29, 1998 (45 DCR 3980).
For the purposes of this subchapter, the term:
(1) "Action" means (A) a new project or activity directly undertaken by the Mayor or a board, commission, or authority of the District government or (B) a project or activity that involves the issuance of a lease, permit, license, certificate, other entitlement, or permission to act by an agency of the District government.
(2) "Major action" means any action that costs over $1,000,000 and that may have a significant impact on the environment, except that, subject to the exemptions in § 8-109.06, the Mayor, pursuant to rules issued in accordance with § 8-109.09, shall classify any action that costs less than $1,000,000 as a major action, if the action imminently and substantially affects the public health, safety, or welfare. The cost level of $1,000,000 shall be based on 1989 dollars adjusted annually according to the Consumer Price Index.
(3) "Environment" means the physical conditions that will be affected by a proposed action, including but not limited to, the land, air, water, minerals, flora and fauna.
(4) "Hazardous substance" means any solid, liquid, gaseous, or semisolid form or combination that, because of its nature, concentration, physical, chemical, or infectious characteristic, as established by the Mayor, may:
(A) Cause or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in a serious, irreversible or incapacitating reversible illness; or
(B) Pose a substantial hazard to human health or the environment if improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed, including substances that are toxic, carcinogenic, flammable, irritants, strong sensitizers, or that generate pressure through decomposition, heat, or other means and containers and receptacles previously used in the transportation, storage, use, or application of hazardous substances.
(5) "Lead agency" means the District agency designated by the Mayor to have primary responsibility for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement ("EIS").
(6) "Functional equivalent" means the full and adequate description and analysis of the environmental impact of a proposed action by an agency, board, commission, or authority of the District government that examines or imposes environmental controls under procedures that provide for notice, opportunity for public comment, and the creation of a reviewable record.
(Oct. 18, 1989, D.C. Law 8-36, § 3, 36 DCR 5741.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-982.
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 8-36, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 8-109.01.
(a) Whenever the Mayor or a board, commission, authority, or person proposes or approves a major action that is likely to have substantial negative impact on the environment, if implemented, the Mayor, board, commission, authority, or person shall prepare or cause to be prepared, and transmit, in accordance with subsection (b) of this section, a detailed EIS at least 60 days prior to implementation of the proposed major action, unless the Mayor determines that the proposed major action has been or is subject to the functional equivalent of an EIS. The EIS shall be written in a concise manner. The EIS shall describe and, where appropriate, analyze:
(1) The goals and nature of the proposed major action and its environment;
(2) The relationship of the proposed major action to the goals of the adopted Comprehensive Plan, requirements as promulgated by the Zoning Commission, and any District or federal environmental standards;
(3) Any adverse environmental impact that cannot be avoided if the proposed major action is implemented;
(4) Alternatives to the proposed major action, including alternative locations and the adverse and beneficial effects of the alternatives;
(5) Any irreversible and irretrievable commitment of resources involved in the implementation of the proposed major action;
(6) Mitigation measures proposed to minimize any adverse environmental impact;
(7) The impact of the proposed major action on the use and conservation of energy resources, if applicable and significant;
(8) The cumulative impact of the major action when considered in conjunction with other proposed actions;
(9) The environmental effect of future expansion or action, if expansion or action is a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the initial major action and the future expansion or action will likely change the scope or nature of the initial major action or its environmental effects;
(10) Responses to comments provided by the Council, any affected Advisory Neighborhood Commission, and interested members of the public; and
(11) Any additional information that the Mayor or a board, commission, or authority determines to be helpful in assessing the environmental impact of any proposed major action and the suggested alternatives.
(b) The Mayor, board, commission, or authority shall transmit a copy of any EIS prepared pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to the Council, any District agency that has responsibility for implementing the major action or special expertise with respect to any environmental impact involved, and any affected Advisory Neighborhood Commission. A copy of the EIS shall be made available for review by the public in the main office of the agency primarily responsible for implementing or permitting the proposed major action. The Mayor, board, commission, or authority shall provide a reasonable period consistent with subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, for comment on any EIS required to be prepared pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. If 25 registered voters in an affected single member district request a public hearing on an EIS or supplemental EIS or there is significant public interest, the Mayor, board, commission, or authority shall conduct a public hearing pursuant to the rules issued in accordance with § 8-109.09(a).
(c)(1) The Mayor, board, agency, commission, or authority of the District government shall determine within 30 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, of receipt of an application for a proposed major action whether an EIS is required, if the action involves the grant or issuance of a lease, permit, license, certificate, or other entitlement by a District agency.
(2) If the Mayor, or a board, commission, or authority of the District government determines that an EIS is not required for a major action that is likely to involve the creation, use, transportation, storage, or disposal of a hazardous substance, the Mayor shall prepare, make available for public inspection, and transmit to the Council a written determination that describes why an EIS is not required prior to the grant or issuance of any applicable lease, permit, license, certificate, entitlement, or permission to act.
(3) If the major action involves the grant or issuance to an applicant of a lease, permit, license, certificate, or other entitlement by a District agency:
(A) The agency shall notify the applicant, in writing, if a determination has been made that an EIS is required. Notice of the determination and the findings that support the determination shall be kept on file by the Mayor.
(B) The Mayor, board, commission, or authority may require an applicant to prepare an EIS. A nongovernmental applicant shall be charged a fee to cover the cost of agency review of the EIS. No lease, permit, license, certificate, or other entitlement shall be issued, unless the applicant required to prepare an EIS has completed the EIS in compliance with this subchapter and paid any fee charged pursuant to this paragraph.
(C) The applicant shall assist the Mayor, or the board, commission, or authority at any stage of the review of the proposed major action by timely submitting all relevant information concerning impact, costs, benefits, and alternatives. The Mayor, board, commission, or authority shall deny a proposed action, if the applicant fails to submit relevant information as specified in rules promulgated pursuant to § 8-109.09.
(Oct. 18, 1989, D.C. Law 8-36, § 4, 36 DCR 5741.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-983.
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 8-36, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 8-109.01.
If the EIS identifies an adverse effect from a proposed major action and contains a finding that the public health, safety, or welfare is imminently and substantially endangered by the action, the Mayor, board, commission, or authority of the District government shall disapprove the action, unless the applicant proposes mitigating measures or substitutes a reasonable alternative to avoid the danger.
(Oct. 18, 1989, D.C. Law 8-36, § 5, 36 DCR 5741.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-984.
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 8-36, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 8-109.01.
(a) The Mayor, or a board, commission, authority, or person shall prepare a supplemental EIS if:
(1) The agency or applicant makes or proposes a substantial change in the proposed action that is relevant to environmental concerns; or
(2) There are significant new circumstances or information relevant to environmental concerns that affect the proposed action or the impact of the proposed action.
(b) The supplemental EIS shall be prepared, transmitted, and funded in accordance with the requirements of § 8-109.03.
(Oct. 18, 1989, D.C. Law 8-36, § 6, 36 DCR 5741.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-985.
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 8-36, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 8-109.01.
(a) No EIS shall be required by this subchapter with respect to an action:
(1) For which an EIS has been prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. § 4321 et seq.) ("NEPA"), and its implementing regulations, or a determination has been made under NEPA and its implementing regulations that no impact statement is required due to a finding of no significant impact or a finding that the proposed action is categorically excluded from consideration;
(2) For which a request has been made for the authorization or allocation of funds for a project that involves only a feasibility or planning study for a possible future action that has not been approved, adopted, or funded. The study, however, shall include consideration of environmental factors;
(3) Whose impact on the environment has been considered in the functional equivalent of an EIS;
(4) That has reached a critical stage of completion prior to October 18, 1989 and the cost of altering or abandoning the action for environmental reasons outweighs the benefits derived from the action;
(5) Of an environmentally protective regulatory nature;
(6) Exempted by rules approved pursuant to § 8-109.09(a);
(7) Within the Central Employment Area as defined in the Zoning Regulations of the District of Columbia;
(8) For which a lease, permit, certificate, or any other entitlement or permission to act by a District government agency has been approved before December 31, 1989; or
(9) Granting an interim operating permit to an existing solid waste facility pursuant to § 8-1053.
(b) The Mayor or a board, commission, authority, or person shall prepare a supplemental EIS for any action exempted pursuant to subsection (a)(1) or (a)(3) of this section, if a substantial and relevant question remains with regard to the impact of the action on the environment that would otherwise be addressed in an EIS prepared in accordance with this subchapter.
(Oct. 18, 1989, D.C. Law 8-36, § 7, 36 DCR 5741; Feb. 27, 1996, D.C. Law 11-94, § 12, 42 DCR 7172; Apr. 9, 1997, D.C. Law 11-255, § 13, 44 DCR 1271.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-986.
Temporary Amendments of Section
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 12 of Solid Waste Facility Permit Temporary Act of 1994 (D.C. Law 10-251, March 23, 1995, law notification 42 DCR 1650).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 12 of Solid Waste Facility Permit Temporary Act of 1995 (D.C. Law 11-80, February 6, 1996, law notification 43 DCR 776).
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary amendment of section, see § 12 of the Solid Waste Facility Permit Emergency Act of 1994 (D.C. Act 10-384, December 28, 1994, 42 DCR 45).
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 8-36, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 8-109.01.
Law 11-94, the "Solid Waste Facility Permit Act of 1995," was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 11-036, which was referred to the Committee on Public Works and the Environment. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on November 7, 1995, and December 5, 1995, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on December 18, 1995, it was assigned Act No. 11-177 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 11-94 became effective on February 27, 1996.
For legislative history of D.C. Law 11-255, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 8-101.06.
(a) The Mayor shall designate a lead agency to prepare an EIS or supplemental EIS when the preparation of the EIS requires the input of more than 1 agency. The lead agency shall, if necessary, oversee the preparation of a single, omnibus EIS, ensure reasoned consideration of and distinction among any inconsistent conclusions, and promote coordination with public and private organizations and individuals with a special expertise or recognized interest.
(b) The Mayor shall maintain a file of all EIS's and supplemental EIS's for public review.
(Oct. 18, 1989, D.C. Law 8-36, § 8, 36 DCR 5741.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-987.
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 8-36, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 8-109.01.
Where an EIS is prepared in connection with the issuance or approval of a lease, permit, license, certificate, or any other entitlement or permission to act by a District government agency that is subject to administrative or judicial review under applicable laws or regulations, the administrative or judicial review shall be governed by the applicable laws and regulations.
(Oct. 18, 1989, D.C. Law 8-36, § 9, 36 DCR 5741.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-988.
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 8-36, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 8-109.01.
(a) Within 180 days of October 18, 1989, the Mayor shall, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, issue proposed rules to implement the provisions of this subchapter, including rules that establish categorical exemptions for major actions that would have no significant impact on the environment. The proposed rules shall be submitted to the Council for a 45-day period of review, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, legal holidays, and days of Council recess. If the Council does not approve or disapprove the proposed rules, in whole or in part, by resolution within this 45-day review period, the proposed rules shall be deemed approved.
(b) The District Department of the Environment shall issue rules to assist District agencies in the review of an environmental impact screening form and in the preparation of an EIS, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2.
(Oct. 18, 1989, D.C. Law 8-36, § 10, 36 DCR 5741; Sept. 24, 2010, D.C. Law 18-223, § 6062(a), 57 DCR 6242.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-989.
Effect of Amendments
D.C. Law 18-223 rewrote subsec. (b), which had read as follows:
"(b) Within 180 days of October 18, 1989, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs shall issue rules to assist District agencies in the preparation of an EIS, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2."
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 6062(a) of Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2010 (D.C. Act 18-463, July 2, 2010, 57 DCR 6542).
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 8-36, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 8-109.01.
For Law 18-223, see notes following § 8-102.05.
Miscellaneous Notes
Approval and disapproval of proposed Environmental Policy Act rules: Pursuant to Resolution 8-314, the "District of Columbia Environmental Policy Act of 1989 Proposed Rulemaking Approval & Disapproval Resolution of 1990," effective December 21, 1990, the Council approved, in part, and disapproved, in part, the proposed rules to implement the District of Columbia Environmental Policy Act of 1989.
District of Columbia Environmental Policy Act Proposed Rulemaking Approval Resolution of 1994: Pursuant to Proposed Resolution 11-25, deemed approved February 18, 1995, Council approved the proposed rulemaking adopting Chapter 72 (Environmental Policy Act Regulations) of Title 20, DCMR, issued pursuant to the "District of Columbia Environmental Policy Act of 1989."
Short title: Section 6061 of D.C. Law 18-223 provided that subtitle G of title VI of the act may be cited as the "Environmental Impact Screening Forms and Environmental Impact Statements Amendment Act of 2010".
Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to supercede the requirements of District government zoning statutes and regulations or federal and District government environmental statutes or regulations.
(Oct. 18, 1989, D.C. Law 8-36, § 11, 36 DCR 5741.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-990.
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 8-36, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 8-109.01.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, a full EIS shall be required for the construction of any new solid waste facility or the substantial modification of an existing structure presently used as, or intended to be used as, a solid waste facility, as the term "solid waste facility" is defined in Chapter 10 of Title 8, regardless of the cost of construction or modification.
(Oct. 18, 1989, D.C. Law 8-36, § 11a, as added Apr. 29, 1998, D.C. Law 12-86, § 802, 45 DCR 1172.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 6-990.1.
Legislative History of Laws
Law 12-86, the "Omnibus Regulatory Reform Amendment Act of 1998," was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 12-458, which was referred to the Committee on Public Works and the Environment and the Committee on Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on November 26, 1997, and December 19, 1997, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on January 21, 1998, it was assigned Act No. 12-256 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 12-86 became effective on April 29, 1998.
Whenever the Mayor reviews an environmental impact screening form or prepares, or causes to be prepared, an EIS or supplemental EIS under this subchapter, the Mayor may impose a fee on the applicant to compensate the Mayor for the costs of reviewing the environmental impact screening form or preparing the EIS or supplemental EIS.
(Oct. 18, 1989, D.C. Law 8-36, § 11b, as added Sept. 24, 2010, D.C. Law 18-223, § 6062(b), 57 DCR 6242.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary (90 day) addition of section, see § 6062(b) of Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2010 (D.C. Act 18-463, July 2, 2010, 57 DCR 6542).
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 18-223, see notes following § 8-102.05.
