Opinion ID: 2634723
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Reasonable Assurance in Light of Conditions, Monitoring, and Adaptive Management

Text: 1. Did the PCHB properly add conditions to the § 401 certification to reach reasonable assurance, rather than overturning the § 401 certification in its entirety? The PCHB can add conditions to a § 401 certification if conditions are required to reach reasonable assurance. 2. Can reasonable assurance exist where Ecology required future submission of plans, reports, and studies? Ecology and the PCHB can rely on future submissions of revised plans, reports, and studies, so long as their implementation and anticipated outcome meet the reasonable assurance test. 3. Can reasonable assurance exist where compliance with current and future National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits is required? Ecology and the PCHB did not err when they relied upon current and future NPDES permits in the § 401 certification for reasonable assurance. 4. Can reasonable assurance exist in light of monitoring and adaptive management? Ecology and the PCHB did not err when they relied on monitoring and adaptive management for reasonable assurance. In sum, Ecology and the PCHB properly found that there is reasonable assurance that the third runway project will meet state water quality standards.