Opinion ID: 2595343
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Environmental Concerns

Text: The final issue is whether an EIS was required for the project. The trial court did not review the county commissioners' decision under the appropriate standard, and we therefore remand this case to the trial court to decide the issue under the correct standard. The clearly erroneous standard applies to judicial review of an environmental decision by the county commissioners under SEPA. See Cougar Mt. Assocs. v. King County, 111 Wash.2d 742, 747-49, 765 P.2d 264 (1988); RCW 36.70C.130(1)(d). [4] A decision is clearly erroneous when the court is `left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.' Id. at 747, 765 P.2d 264 (some quotation marks omitted) (quoting Polygon Corp. v. City of Seattle, 90 Wash.2d 59, 69, 578 P.2d 1309 (1978)). The court may not substitute its judgment for that of the decision-making body, but is to `examine the entire record and all the evidence in light of the public policy contained in the legislation authorizing the decision.' Cougar Mt. Assocs., 111 Wash.2d at 747, 765 P.2d 264 (quoting Polygon, 90 Wash.2d at 69, 578 P.2d 1309). The trial court in this case voided the County's approval of the project on the basis that it constituted urban growth outside of the designated IUGAs. Clerk's Papers at 356. The trial court went on to state that even if the project were approved, preparation of an EIS was required. Clerk's Papers at 368. The court reasoned that deference was due to the hearing examiner's conclusion that an EIS was warranted. Clerk's Papers at 367. Because the hearing examiner is not the final decision-maker and only makes a recommendation to the county commissioners, the reviewing court must decide whether the county commissioners' decision that an MDNS was sufficient was clearly erroneous. We would ordinarily apply `the same standard [the trial court used] directly to the administrative decision.' Norway Hill Preservation & Protection Ass'n v. King County Council, 87 Wash.2d 267, 276, 552 P.2d 674 (1976) (quoting Department of Ecology v. Ballard Elks Lodge, 84 Wash.2d 551, 555, 527 P.2d 1121 (1974)). But here the trial court did not apply the proper standard. We therefore remand this case to the trial court for review, under the clearly erroneous standard, of the county commissioners' decision on the MDNS.