Facing some public opposition, the Board of Port of Olympia Commissioners agreed Tuesday, Oct. 13, to pause proposed changes to its 2015 State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) rules and establish a collaborative stakeholder review alongside other major regional partnership agreements.
The decision followed a packed public comment session where dozens of residents, environmental scientists, and community leaders urged commissioners to reject a staff proposal that would overhaul how the port evaluates environmental impacts.
Partner highlights were before the public comment section. The Port honored Indigenous Peoples' Day on Oct. 12, 2026, at Squaxin Park by recognizing tribal heritage and noting state-tribal environmental commitments.
The staff proposal sought to eliminate internal administrative appeals before an independent hearing examiner, routing all legal challenges directly to Thurston County Superior Court. It also proposed removing a standalone climate change guidance appendix, making written responses to public comments optional, and reducing public notification requirements. Staff argued the updates would streamline decision-making, align the port with standard state statutes, and reduce legal risk.
Community members strongly defended the existing 2015 framework, emphasizing that it was forged through extensive collaboration between Port officials and local environmental advocates.
“In 2015, Sue Danver of the Black Hills Audubon Society was instrumental in creating your current SEPA policy, so we have a vested interest in what's happening here,” said Betsy Norton, co-chair of the South Sound Bird Alliance conservation committee. “We strongly disagree with the proposed changes, which we believe close off community input, reduce transparency, and remove important environmental protections.”
Appellants from past port environmental challenges argued that removing administrative appeals creates steep financial barriers for ordinary citizens while stripping commissioners of early warnings regarding project flaws.
“An administrative appeal exposed serious deficiencies in the port's environmental review before the commissioners adopted the master plan update,” said Rhonda Larson Kramer, an appellant in the successful appeal of the Airport Master Plan. “It gives the commissioners an opportunity to learn about the deficiencies in the environmental review before committing themselves to a particular outcome.”
Commissioners echoed the call to safeguard public participation over administrative uniformity.
“I don't think there's any problem with being an anomaly, because that means that we are a trendsetter,” said Commissioner Krag Unsoeld. “I'm in favor of slowing things down.”
While Commissioner Joel Hansen noted the fiscal burden of past administrative appeals, costing taxpayers over $250,000 in staff and legal fees, Commission President Jasmine Vasavada acknowledged the community's deep investment in the 2015 policy. Directing Executive Director Alex Smith to delay formal action previously scheduled for late October, Vasavada called for reconvening a collaborative table with local environmental groups.
“What it seems to me is I agree with the commissioners who stated that they're not sure what timeline we should be on for this,” Vasavada said. “Figuring out a way that we can convene a table again in a conversation, that is a real concern.”
Beyond the SEPA policy debate, the commission voted 5-0 to adopt the Deschutes Estuary Joint Resolution of Support.
The vote aligns the port with regional funding partners, including the cities of Olympia and Tumwater, Thurston County, LOTT Clean Water Alliance, and the Squaxin Island Tribe, in requesting state and federal construction funding for dam removal and estuary restoration.
Bobbak Talebi, project director for the Washington State Department of Ecology, provided a spotlight briefing, noting that project design is on track for 90% completion in November, targeting construction initiation in mid-2028.
The commission also received a partner spotlight on the annual Washington Harbor Days festival presented by organizer Megan Diment. The board approved its consent calendar, adopting updated Community Advisory Committee rules and appointing Jihan Grettenberger and Paul McMurtry as committee alternates.
