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Regulations & Permits > Laws, rules, & rulemaking > Rulemaking > WAC 173-446 Offsets US Forest Protocol

Chapter 173-446 WAC – Cap-and-Invest Offsets (U.S. Forest Protocol)

Ecology is proposing amendments to provisions of Chapter 173-446 WAC, the Climate Commitment Act Program rule, related to the US Forest offset protocol. The Climate Commitment Act (CCA) directs Ecology to regularly review and update our offset protocols based on the best available science, with the goal of supporting the needs of Washington communities (RCW 70A.65.170(4)(b)).  

Ecology has adopted four offset protocols from California’s Cap-and-Trade program, including the US Forest protocol. The objective of this rulemaking is to update the adopted California US Forest protocol to make it more applicable to Washington’s forests and diverse ecoregions.  

Offsets are projects or programs designed to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. In the Cap-and-Invest Program, offset projects must also provide direct environmental benefits to Washington. Offsets allow businesses to balance out a small portion of the negative impacts of their emissions by funding a project that benefits the environment, such as capturing methane on dairy farms or planting trees in urban areas. For additional information, visit our site on Cap-and-Invest offsets. 

We announced the Cap-and-Invest Offsets rulemaking in September 2023. This is a distinct rulemaking process from the WAC 173-446-Offsets - ODS Protocol rulemaking adopted on July 21, 2025.  

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Rulemaking timeline

Timeline

Announcement phase (CR-101)

Filing date:
Sept. 12, 2023


Announcement documents

Rule development phase

Sept 13, 2023 - Early 2026

Public input & involvement

We are holding public meetings tprovide information about the rulemaking and seek your input. To get updates about these meetings and this rulemaking, join our email list. 

U.S. Forest Protocol Draft rule language (Sept. 5, 2025)

A geospatial dataset of wildfire and disease buffer pool contributions is available upon request. Please contact CCAOffsets@ecy.wa.gov to request this dataset. 

*Links will automatically download Excel files when clicked

U.S. Forest Protocol Draft rule language (July 15, 2025)

Public comment period (informal)

July 15, 2025, at midnight - Aug. 18, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. 

See comments about the draft rule language and considered revisions to the U.S. Forest protocol.

Public comment period (informal)

Sept. 5, 2025, at 12 p.m. - Sept. 30, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

See comments on the updated draft rule language and considered revisions to the U.S. Forest protocol. 

Ecology's public meetings

Rule proposal phase (CR-102)

Filing date:
Jan. 21, 2026

Rule proposal documents:

Comment period

The comment period is open from January 21, 2026 at 12 a.m. to March 13, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

Submit comments online.

 

Public hearings

Hearings will be online (webinar) only. Please contact Kayla Stevenson (kayla.stevenson@ecy.wa.gov) as soon as possible to request accomodation or interpretation services. 

Date 

Time 

Location 

Comment 

Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026 

9 a.m.  

Hearing via webinar.

Additional information available at the Feb. 26 hearing registration link.  

Presentation followed by the hearing. We are holding this hearing via webinar.  

This is an online meeting that you can attend from any computer using internet access. 

Tuesday, March 3, 2026 

5 p.m.  

Hearing via webinar.

Additional information available at the March 3 hearing registration link.

Presentation followed by the hearing. We are holding this hearing via webinar.  

This is an online meeting that you can attend from any computer using internet access. 

Additional languages

Español (Spanish) 中文 (Chinese) Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese) 한국어 (Korean) Pусский (Russian) Yкраїнський (Ukrainian)

Related links

Contact information

Kayla Stevenson (she/her) 
Environmental Planner
kayla.stevenson@ecy.wa.gov
360-972-0313

Stay informed
Join our email list

Accessibility

To request ADA accommodation for disabilities, or printed materials in a format for the visually impaired, contact Ecology's ADA Coordinator by email at ecyadacoordinator@ecy.wa.gov, or call 360-407-6831. People with impaired hearing may call Washington Relay Service at 711. People with speech disability may call TTY at 877-833-6341.