40.240.070 Emergency/Disaster Response Actions
A. General Guidelines.
1. Actions taken in response to an emergency/disaster event, as defined in Section 40.240.040, are allowed in all GMA/SMA land use designations, subject to the notification requirements in subsection (B)(1) of this section.
2. Following emergency/disaster response actions, best management practices (BMPs) to prevent sedimentation and provide erosion control shall be utilized whenever disaster response actions necessitate vegetation removal, excavation, or grading. BMPs may include but are not limited to: use of straw bales, slash windrows, filter fabric fences, sandbags, straw cover, jute netting, etc.
3. Structures or development installed or erected for a temporary use (e.g., sandbags, check dams, plastic sheeting, chain link fences, debris walls, etc.) shall be removed within one (1) year following an emergency event. If it can be demonstrated that the continued use of these devices is necessary to protect life, property, public services or the environment, an extension of no more than two (2) years may be granted by the responsible official or the Forest Service for federal agency actions.
4. The new exploration, development (extraction or excavation), and production of mineral resources, used for commercial, private or public works projects, shall not be conducted as an emergency/disaster response activity.
5. No spoils resulting from grading or excavation activities shall be deliberately deposited into a wetland, stream, pond, lake or riparian area within the National Scenic Area as a part of an emergency/disaster response action. The only exception to this is for construction of a fire line during a wildfire, where avoiding the aquatic area or its buffer zone has been considered and determined to not be possible without further jeopardizing life or property.
(Amended: Ord. 2006-08-21)
B. Notification Requirements.
1. Actions taken in response to an emergency/disaster event, as defined, are allowed in all GMA and SMA land use designations, subject to the following notification requirements:
a. Notification of an emergency/disaster response activity shall be submitted either within forty-eight (48) hours of the commencement of a response action, or by the next business day following the start of such an action, whichever is sooner. Notification shall be submitted by the party conducting an emergency/disaster response activity or their representatives. In the case of multiple responding parties, the first party to respond shall provide the required notification, unless, upon mutual agreement of responding parties, another responder elects to assume this responsibility.
b. Notification shall be submitted by mail, fax, telephone, e-mail or in person. If notification occurs by telephone, a hard copy of the notification shall be submitted by mail or in person within seven (7) days.
c. Notification shall be furnished to the responsible official or the Forest Service for federal agency actions. If the Forest Service is the action agency, it shall provide notice to the Gorge Commission.
d. At a minimum, the following information shall be required at the time of notification:
(1) Nature of emergency/disaster event;
(2) Description of emergency/disaster response activities and magnitude of response actions to be taken, if applicable (such as extent of earth movement, erection of structures, etc.);
(3) Location of emergency/disaster response activities;
(4) Estimated start and duration of emergency/disaster response activities; and
(5) Contact person and phone number for the parties conducting emergency/disaster response actions.
e. Repair and maintenance of an existing serviceable structure to its previously authorized and undamaged condition are not subject to the above referenced notification requirements.
2. Upon notification of an emergency/disaster response action, the responsible official, or Forest Service shall, as soon as possible:
a. Review its natural resource data and notify the contact person for the emergency/disaster response actions of all inventoried natural resource sites and their buffers, that are within or adjacent to the response area or that may be adversely affected by response activities;
b. Notify the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife of all noticed emergency/disaster response actions, to provide that agency an opportunity to consult with responding agencies during the event; and
c. Notify the Forest Service, the Department of Washington Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, and the tribal governments of all emergency/disaster response activities. The Forest Service will review their cultural resource data and notify the contact person for the emergency/disaster response action as soon as possible of all inventoried cultural resource sites, or their buffers, that are within, or adjacent to, emergency/disaster response areas.
3. Upon notification of a response action, the Forest Service shall, as soon as possible, offer the services of a resource advisor to the agency(ies) conducting the response action. The resource advisor will provide on-site advice to minimize impacts to resources from emergency/disaster response actions.
(Amended: Ord. 2006-08-21)
C. Post-Emergency/Disaster Response Development Review Application Requirements.
1. Within thirty (30) days following notification, a post-emergency/disaster response application shall be submitted by the party conducting the response action to the responsible official, or Forest Service for federal agency actions. In the case of an event with multiple responding parties, the party providing initial notification as required herein shall submit the application. An exception to this may occur if another responding party, by mutual agreement with the other respondents, elects to submit the application. Requests to extend this submittal deadline may be made in writing and shall include the reason why an extension is necessary. Extensions shall not exceed thirty (30) days in duration.
2. Post-emergency/disaster response applications shall only address development activities conducted during an emergency/disaster response. Applications shall specify if development placed during an emergency/disaster event is permanent or temporary. The terms “development activities” and “development” include the disposal of any spoil materials associated with an emergency/disaster response action. Applicants shall be responsible for operations under their control and that of other responders, upon mutual agreement. Responders not agreeing to have another responder address their actions shall be responsible to submit an application for those actions.
3. Emergency/disaster response actions not involving structural development or ground disturbance with mechanized equipment are exempt from these requirements, except for those actions within five hundred (500) feet of a known cultural resource (as determined in the notification process).
4. Applications shall include the following information:
a. Applicant’s name and address.
b. Location of emergency/disaster response.
c. A written description of the emergency/disaster response, including any structures erected, excavation or other grading activities, or vegetation removal.
d. A map of the project area drawn to scale, at a scale of one (1) inch equals two hundred (200) feet (1:2,400) or a scale providing greater detail. The map shall include:
(1) North arrow and scale;
(2) Boundaries, dimensions and size of subject parcel(s);
(3) Bodies of water, watercourses, and significant landforms;
(4) Existing roads and structures; and
(5) New structures placed and any vegetation removal, excavation or grading resulting from the response actions.
e. An exception to the scale requirements in subsection (C)(4)(d) of this section may be granted for an event encompassing an area greater than one square mile. In such cases, a clear sketch map of the entire response action area shall be provided. In addition, a map of one (1) inch equals two hundred (200) feet (1:2,400) or a scale providing greater detail shall be provided that shows a section of the response area exemplifying the specific actions taken.
5. Emergency/disaster response review uses may be allowed pursuant to a process that provides at minimum the following:
a. Notice of the application to landowners within two hundred (200) feet of the perimeter of the subject parcel, the Forest Service, Gorge Commission, the four (4) Columbia River treaty tribes, and interested parties;
b. A written administrative or examiner’s decision with findings of fact and conclusions of law; and
c. An opportunity to request a hearing.
D. Post-Emergency/Disaster Response Development Review.
Actions taken in all land use designations within the GMA or SMA that are in response to an emergency/disaster event, as defined, shall be reviewed for compliance with the following guidelines.
1. Scenic Resources.
a. Impacts of emergency/disaster response actions shall be evaluated to ensure that scenic resources are not adversely affected. In the GMA, such actions shall be rendered visually subordinate in their landscape setting as visible from key viewing areas to the greatest extent practicable, except for actions located in areas exempted from visual subordinance requirements in Section 40.240.800(C). In the SMAs, such actions shall meet the scenic standard to the greatest extent practicable.
b. Vegetation shall be used to screen or cover road cuts, structural development, landform alteration, and areas denuded of vegetation, as a result of emergency/disaster response actions.
c. Areas denuded of vegetation as a result of emergency/disaster response actions shall be revegetated with native plant species, or species commonly found within the applicable landscape setting, to restore the affected areas to its pre-response condition to the greatest extent practicable. Revegetation shall occur as soon as practicable, but no later than one (1) year after the emergency/disaster event. An exception to the one (1) year requirement may be granted upon demonstration of just cause, with an extension up to one (1) year.
d. The painting, staining or use of other materials on new structural development shall be used to ensure that the structures are nonreflective, or of low reflectivity, and visually subordinate in their landscape setting as visible from key viewing areas, unless the structure is fully screened from key viewing areas by existing topographic features.
e. Additions to existing structures, resulting from an emergency/disaster response action, which are smaller in total height, bulk or area than the existing structures may be the same color as the existing development. Additions larger than the existing development shall be visually subordinate in their landscape setting as visible from key viewing areas to the greatest extent practicable.
f. In the GMA, spoil materials associated with grading, excavation and slide debris removal activities in relation to an emergency/disaster response action shall comply with the following standards:
(1) The spoil materials shall either be:
(a) Removed from the National Scenic Area;
(b) Deposited at a site within the National Scenic Area permitted by the responsible official or examiner; or
(c) Recontoured, to the greatest extent practicable, to retain the natural topography, or a topography which emulates that of the surrounding landscape.
(2) The responsible official or examiner shall decide whether an applicant removes the spoil materials, deposits the spoil materials, or (re)contours the spoils materials.
(3) The responsible official or examiner shall select the action in subsection (D)(1)(f)(1) of this section that, to the greatest extent practicable, best complies with the policies and guidelines in the Management Plan that protect scenic, cultural, recreation, and natural resources.
(4) Disposal sites created pursuant to subsection (D)(1)(f)(1)(b) of this section shall only be used for spoil materials associated with an emergency/disaster response action. Spoil materials from routine road maintenance activities shall not be deposited at these sites.
g. In the SMAs, spoil materials associated with grading, excavation and slide debris removal activities in relation to an emergency/disaster response action shall comply with the following standards:
(1) The spoil materials shall either be:
(a) Removed from the National Scenic Area; or
(b) Deposited at a site within the National Scenic Area permitted by the responsible official or examiner within two (2) years of the emergency.
(2) After the spoils materials are removed, the emergency disposal site shall be rehabilitated to meet the scenic standard.
(3) All grading (i.e., recontouring) shall be completed within thirty (30) days after the spoils materials are removed.
(4) Sites shall be replanted using native plants found in the landscape setting or ecoregion to the maximum extent practicable.
(5) All revegetation shall take place within one (1) year of the date an applicant completes the grading.
(6) This provision shall take effect on August 3, 2006, or approval of a disposal site, whichever comes first.
2. Cultural Resources and Treaty Rights.
a. To the greatest extent practicable, emergency/disaster response actions shall not adversely affect cultural resources.
b. Emergency/disaster response actions shall not affect or modify tribal treaty rights.
c. The Forest Service shall determine if a reconnaissance survey or historic survey is necessary within three (3) days after receiving notice that a post-emergency land use application has been received by the responsible official.
(1) Reconnaissance surveys shall be conducted by the Forest Service and comply with the standards in Section 40.240.820(A)(3)(d). Reconnaissance survey reports shall comply with the standards in Section 40.240.820(A)(3)(e).
(2) Historic surveys shall be conducted by the Forest Service and shall describe any adverse effects to historic resources resulting from an emergency/disaster response action. Historic surveys shall document the location, form, style, integrity, and physical condition of historic buildings and structures. Such surveys shall also include original photographs, if available, and maps, and should use archival research, blueprints, and drawings as necessary.
d. Following the submittal of a post-emergency land use application, in addition to other public notice requirements that may exist, the county shall send a copy of all comments to the Gorge Commission and the tribal governments shall be notified by the responsible official when (1) a reconnaissance survey is required, or (2) cultural resources that are precontact or otherwise associated with Native Americans exist in the project area. Notices shall include a site plan. At a minimum, notice shall be sent via email where addresses are available. If a tribal government requests notice in another form, the responsible official shall comply with that request. Tribal governments shall have thirty (30) calendar days from the date a notice is sent to submit written comments. The tribal government may choose to include comments that describe the nature and extent of any cultural resources that exist in the project area or treaty rights that exist in the project area and how they have been affected, and identify individuals with specific knowledge about them. A copy of all comments shall be sent to the Gorge Commission.
e. When written comments are submitted in compliance with subsection (D)(2)(d) of this section, the project applicant shall offer to meet within five (5) calendar days with the interested persons. The five (5) day consultation period may be extended upon agreement between the project applicant and the interested persons. A report shall be prepared by the responsible official following the consultation meeting. Consultation meetings and reports shall comply with the standards in Section 40.240.820(B)(1) and Sections 40.240.180(A) and (D).
f. If cultural resources are discovered within the area disturbed by emergency response actions, the project applicant shall have a qualified professional conduct a survey to gather enough information to evaluate the significance of the cultural resources and what effects the action had on such resources. The survey and evaluation shall be documented in a report that generally follows the standards in Sections 40.240.820(A)(1) and (2), and Section 40.240.820(C)(1).
g. A mitigation plan shall be prepared by the project applicant if the affected cultural resources are significant. The mitigation plan shall be prepared according to the information, consultation, and report guidelines in Section 40.240.820(E).
h. A copy of all reconnaissance and historic survey reports and treaty rights protection plans shall be submitted to the SHPO and the tribal governments. Survey reports shall include measures to mitigate adverse effects to cultural resources resulting from emergency/disaster response actions. The SHPO and tribal governments shall have fifteen (15) calendar days from the date a survey report is sent to submit written comments. All written comments shall be recorded and addressed in the administrative or examiner’s decision.
i. The responsible official or examiner shall make a decision on whether the emergency/disaster response actions are consistent with the applicable cultural resource goals, policies, and guidelines. If the decision contradicts the comments submitted by the SHPO, or those submitted by a tribal government regarding treaty rights, the responsible official or examiner shall justify how the opposing conclusion was reached.
j. The cultural resource protection process may conclude when it has been determined that tribal treaty rights have not been not affected and one of the following conditions exists:
(1) The emergency/disaster response action does not require a reconnaissance or historic survey, or a reconnaissance survey demonstrates that no cultural resources are known to exist in the project area, and no substantiated concerns were voiced by interested persons within fifteen (15) calendar days of the date that a notice was sent.
(2) The emergency/disaster response action avoided cultural resources that exist in the project area.
(3) Adequate mitigation measures to affected cultural resources have been developed and will be implemented.
(4) A historic survey demonstrates that emergency/disaster response actions, and associated development, had no effect on historic buildings or structures because:
(a) The SHPO concluded that the historic buildings or structures are clearly not eligible, as determined by using the criteria in the “National Register Criteria for Evaluation” (36 CFR 60.4); or
(b) The emergency/disaster response actions did not compromise the historic or architectural character of the affected buildings or structures, or compromise features of the site that are important in defining the overall historic character of the affected buildings or structures, as determined by the guidelines and standards in The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation (U.S. Department of the Interior, 1990) and The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation Projects (U.S. Department of the Interior, 1983).
3. Natural Resources.
a. To the greatest extent practicable, emergency/disaster response actions shall not adversely affect natural resources.
b. Buffer zones for water resources, priority habitats or sensitive wildlife sites, and sites containing rare plants shall be the same as those established in Sections 40.240.840, 40.240.860(F)(4), 40.240.870(G), and 40.240.880(B) and (C).
c. Water Resources.
(1) Emergency/disaster response actions occurring within a water resource buffer zone shall be reviewed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. These areas are also referred to in this section as aquatic areas. State biologists will help determine if emergency/disaster response actions have affected or have a potential to affect these aquatic areas or their bigger zones.
(2) When emergency/disaster response activities occur within water resources or their buffer zones, the applicant shall demonstrate the following:
(a) All reasonable measures have been applied to ensure that the response actions have resulted in the minimum feasible alteration or destruction of the functions, existing contours, vegetation, fish and wildlife resources, and hydrology of wetlands, streams, ponds, lakes or riparian areas.
(b) Areas disturbed by response activities and associated development will be rehabilitated to the maximum extent practicable.
(3) Impacts to water resources and their buffers will be offset through mitigation and restoration to the greatest extent practicable. Mitigation and restoration efforts shall use native vegetation, and restore natural functions, contours, vegetation patterns, hydrology and fish and wildlife resources to the maximum extent practicable.
(4) If the responsible official, in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, determines that the emergency/disaster response actions had minor effects on the water resource or its buffer zone that could be eliminated with simple modifications, a letter shall be sent to the project applicant that describes the effects and measures that need to be taken to eliminate them. The state biologist, or a Forest Service natural resource advisor (as available) in consultation with the state biologist, shall visit the site in order to make this determination. If the project applicant accepts these recommendations, they shall be incorporated into the administrative or examiner’s decision and the aquatic area protection process may conclude.
(5) Unless addressed through subsection (D)(3)(c)(4) of this section, mitigation and restoration efforts shall be delineated in a Water Resources Mitigation Plan. Water Resources Mitigation Plans shall satisfy the standards in Sections 40.240.840(K). Water Resources Mitigation Plans shall also satisfy the following:
(a) Plans shall include a plan view and cross-sectional drawing at a scale that adequately depicts site rehabilitation efforts. Plans will illustrate final site topographic contours that emulate the surrounding natural landscape.
(b) Planting plans shall be included that specify native plant species to be used, specimen quantities and plant locations.
(c) The project applicant shall be responsible for the successful rehabilitation of all areas disturbed by emergency/disaster response activities.
d. Wildlife Habitat.
(1) Emergency/disaster response actions occurring within one thousand (1,000) feet of a priority habitat or sensitive wildlife site shall be reviewed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. State wildlife biologists will help determine if emergency/disaster response actions have affected or have a potential to affect a priority habitat or sensitive wildlife site.
(2) Site plans for emergency/disaster response sites shall be submitted by the responsible official to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for review as prescribed in Sections 40.240.860(E)(1) and (2).
(3) The wildlife protection process may terminate if the responsible official, in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, determines (a) the priority habitat or sensitive wildlife site was not active, or (b) the emergency/disaster response did not compromise the integrity of the priority habitat or sensitive wildlife site or occurred at a time when wildlife species are not sensitive to disturbance.
(4) If the responsible official, in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, determines that the emergency/disaster response activities had minor effects on the priority habitat or sensitive wildlife site that could be eliminated with simple modifications, a letter shall be sent to the project applicant that describes the effects and measures that need to be taken to eliminate them. The state wildlife biologist, or a Forest Service natural resource advisor (as available) in consultation with the state wildlife biologist, shall visit the site in order to make this determination. If the project applicant accepts these recommendations, they shall be incorporated into the administrative or examiner’s decision and the wildlife protection process may conclude.
(5) If the responsible official, in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, determines that the emergency/disaster response activities had adverse effects on a priority habitat or sensitive wildlife site, the project applicant shall prepare a wildlife mitigation plan. Wildlife mitigation plans shall comply with standards in Section 40.240.860(F). Upon completion of the wildlife mitigation plan:
(a) The responsible official shall submit a copy of the wildlife mitigation plan to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, for review. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will have fifteen (15) days from the date that a plan is sent to submit written comments to the responsible official.
(b) Any written comments submitted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife shall be recorded in the administrative or examiner’s decision. Based on these comments, the responsible official or examiner shall determine whether the proposed use would be consistent with the wildlife policies and guidelines. If the decision contradicts the comments submitted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the responsible official or examiner shall justify how the opposing conclusion was reached.
(c) Require the project applicant to revise the Wildlife Mitigation Plan as necessary to ensure that the proposed use would not adversely affect a priority habitat or sensitive wildlife site.
e. Deer and Elk Winter Range. Any fencing permanently erected within deer and elk winter range, as a result of an emergency/disaster response, shall comply with the standards in Section 40.240.860(G).
f. Rare Plants.
(1) Emergency/disaster response actions occurring within one thousand (1,000) feet of a rare plant shall be reviewed by the Washington Natural Heritage Program. State heritage staff will help determine if emergency/disaster response actions have occurred within the buffer zone of a rare plant.
(2) Site plans for emergency/disaster response sites shall be submitted to the Washington Natural Heritage Program by the responsible official. State natural heritage staff will, within fifteen (15) days from the date the application is sent, identify the location of the affected plants and delineate a two hundred (200) foot buffer zone on the applicant’s site plan.
(3) The rare plant protection process may conclude if the responsible official, in consultation with the state natural heritage program, determines that emergency/disaster response activities occurred outside of a rare plant buffer zone.
(4) If the responsible official, in consultation with the state natural heritage program, determines that the emergency/disaster response activities had minor effects on rare plants or the rare plant buffer zone, a letter shall be sent to the project applicant that describes the effects and measures that need to be taken to eliminate them. The state natural heritage staff, or a Forest Service natural resources advisor (as available) in consultation with the state natural heritage staff, shall visit the site in order to make this determination. If the project applicant accepts these recommendations, they shall be incorporated into the administrative or examiner’s decision and the rare plant protection process may conclude.
(5) If emergency/disaster response activities occurred within a rare plant buffer zone that had adverse effects on rare plants or their buffer zone, the project applicant shall prepare a Rare Plant Mitigation Plan that meets the standards in Section 40.240.870(F).
(6) The responsible official shall submit a copy of all Rare Plant Mitigation Plans to the state heritage program for review. The state natural heritage program will have fifteen (15) days from the date the Rare Plant Mitigation Plan is sent to submit written comments to the responsible official.
(7) Any written comments submitted by the state natural heritage program shall be recorded in the administrative or examiner’s decision. Based on these comments, the responsible official or examiner shall make a decision on whether the proposed use would be consistent with the rare plant policies and guidelines. If the decision contradicts the comments submitted by the state natural heritage program, the responsible official or examiner shall justify how the opposing conclusion was reached.
(8) The responsible official or examiner shall require the project applicant to revise the Rare Plant Mitigation Plan as necessary to ensure that the proposed use would not adversely affect a rare plant site.
4. Recreational Resources.
a. To the greatest extent practicable, emergency/disaster response actions shall not adversely affect recreational resources.
b. Mitigation measures shall be implemented to mitigate any adverse effects on existing recreation resources caused by emergency/disaster response activities to the maximum extent practicable.
(Amended: Ord. 2008-06-02)
E. Post-Emergency Construction.
Placement of structures necessary for continued public safety and the protection of private property and essential public services damaged during an emergency/disaster event is allowed in all land use designations in accordance with Sections 40.240.050, 40.240.100 through 40.240.180 (as applicable), and 40.240.800 through 40.240.900. This includes replacement of temporary structures erected during such events with permanent structures performing an identical or related function. Land use applications shall be submitted within twelve (12) months following an emergency/disaster event.
(Amended: Ord. 2006-05-04; Ord. 2021-12-02)
ARTICLE II. GENERAL GUIDELINES