1. Threshold Determinations. The responsible official shall issue the threshold determination after the minimum comment period for the notice of application and prior to the decision on the application. When public notice of the threshold determination is required (see BMC 16.20.160), the threshold determination and notice of the 14-day comment period shall be mailed and posted in the same manner as the notice of application. The threshold determination shall also be sent to agencies with jurisdiction and the Washington State Department of Ecology (see BMC 16.20.080 and 16.20.160).

2. Optional DNS Process. For projects that are not likely to have a significant environmental impact, a preliminary DNS may be issued with the notice of application (see optional DNS process under BMC 16.20.080). The comment period for the DNS and the notice of application shall be combined. The notice of application shall state that the city expects to issue a DNS for the proposal and that this may be the only opportunity to comment on the environmental impacts of the proposed project. After the close of the comment period, the responsible official shall review any comments and issue a final threshold determination. When a final DNS is issued, no additional comment period is required.

3. Determination of Significance. If a determination of significance is issued and an environmental impact statement (EIS) is required, the Final EIS must be issued at least seven days prior to issuance of the decision on the application. (See BMC 16.20.130.) If the requirement to prepare an EIS is appealed, the appeal must be resolved prior to issuance of a decision on the application. [Ord. 2004-12-088; Ord. 2004-09-065].