Just last week, SDOT released a Final EIS, reaching a major milestone for this project. As you may remember, the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) compliant with the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) was issued in November 2012 for public comment. The Final EIS provides detailed information on the project purpose and need, seawall replacement preferred alternative, and the potential effects both during and after construction and is now available on our website.
Issuing the Final EIS completes the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process for the Elliott Bay Seawall Project. The Final EIS includes the City’s responses to comments received, updates prepared as a result of the Draft EIS comments, a revised cultural resources assessment, and a Discipline Report Errata section, in addition to the analysis and information from the Draft EIS.
Seawall Design: Existing and Restored Conditions
The Final EIS evaluated three “build alternatives” to replace the seawall as well as “No Build” alternatives. The build alternatives provide a range of options for meeting the project’s purpose and need, with variations on the location of the face of the seawall, the structural solution, and the aquatic habitat features and public amenities included as part of the project. The identified preferred alternative (“Alternative C”) combines the most beneficial features of ease of construction, while maximizing habitat restoration and upland improvements as a cost-effective alternative minimizing environmental impacts.
If you would like to request a copy of the document, please see our project website for more details.
Design refinements
The project’s design team continues to progress toward final design on Alternative C. This alternative will:
- Pull the face of seawall inland 10-15 feet.
- Provide soil stabilization.
- Provide habitat enhancements.
- Restored roadway, bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
Final design and permitting are expected to be completed by late summer 2013.