Supplemental Environmental Projects
A Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) is an environmentally beneficial, beyond compliance project that an alleged violator voluntarily agrees to fund as part of a settlement or enforcement action. This most often happens during an appeal of a penalty.
I want to...
Do you have a project idea?
We accept project ideas from the public to share with alleged violators who are interesting in funding a Supplemental Environmental Project. To submit a project idea, you may:
- Submit a project idea form online
- Send an email with your idea to angela.fritz@ecy.wa.gov
- Call 564-669-3843
We will review your idea to confirm that it benefits the environment. If it does, we will put it on a list to share with alleged violators as a potential project to fund.
You can share as many project ideas as you would like to. There is no guarantee that a project will be funded, so be sure to check out grants and loans we have available. To avoid the appearance of advertising, we can’t accept ideas to share for private products, companies, or services.
Are you interested in funding a project?
During the settlement process, alleged violators can propose projects that directly address harm that could or may have been caused by the violation, or help to prevent a similar violation in the future.
Project criteria
For us to consider a Supplemental Environmental Project, it needs to:
- Have a connection to the same environmental media (air, water, land) as the violation.
- Benefit the geographical area, community, or species directly impacted.
- Be clearly defined with a goal, timeline, tasks, and measurable benefits.
- Benefit the public as a whole.
Learn more about how to propose a project.
Approval of a Supplemental Environmental Project is solely within Ecology's discretion. Even though a project appears to satisfy all criteria, we may decide that a SEP is not appropriate for an enforcement action.
Active projects
The following are some projects currently taking place.
Lower Deschutes restoration
$750,000 towards restoration of the Lower Deschutes River waterway, as part of a settlement for an oil spill at the former Olympia Brewery in Tumwater.
Improved habitat at Hanford
$540,000 toward invasive species control and habitat restoration at the Hanford site, as part of a settlement giving regulators access to important facility data at the site.
Puyallup River watershed restoration
$480,000 toward benefiting water quality and fish habitat in the Puyallup River watershed, as part of a settlement for impacts to the river from unauthorized use and release of construction materials.
Contact information
Angie Fritz
Supplemental Environmental Project Coordinator
angela.fritz@ecy.wa.gov
564-669-3843