Sustainable Energy and a Clean Environment

Last Updated: 04/16/2026

Preserve, maintain and restore natural systems and landscapes

Strategy: Preserve, maintain and restore natural systems and landscapes

Agency: 468 - Environmental and Land Use Hearings Office

A002 - Environmental Adjudication

The Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB) and Shorelines Hearings Board (SHB) within the Environmental and Land Use Hearings Office are independent, quasi-judicial adjudicative boards that hear appeals of certain local, regional, and state agency environmental decisions related to permitting and enforcement. The Boards conduct evidentiary hearings, evaluate scientific and other factual evidence, and produce written legal decisions that interpret, apply, and enforce state environmental laws related to water rights, water quality, air quality, hazardous waste, forest practices, and shoreline management.

Account	FY 2026	FY 2027	Biennium Total

FTE	12.3	13.0	12.7
001 - General Fund
State	2,643,000	2,760,000	5,403,000
23P - Model Toxics Control Operating Acct
State	109,000	136,000	245,000
26B - Climate Investment Account
State	50,000	50,000	100,000

	FY 2026	FY 2027	Biennium Total
FTES	12.3	13.0	12.7
GFS	2,643,000.0	2,760,000.0	5,403,000.0
Other	159,000.0	186,000.0	345,000.0
Totals	2,802,000.0	2,946,000.0	5,748,000.0

View Additional Data

000391 - Months from appeal to settlement

Number of months from appeal to settlement for Environmental Hearings Office cases which do not go to hearing.

Biennium	Period	Actual	Target
2021-23	Q1	0	0
2021-23	Q2	0	0
2021-23	Q3	0	0
2021-23	Q4	0	0
2021-23	Q5	3	6
2021-23	Q6	5	6
2021-23	Q7	3	6
2021-23	Q8	2	6
2023-25	Q1	4	6
2023-25	Q2	3	6
2023-25	Q3	1	6
2023-25	Q4	2	6
2023-25	Q5	0	0
2023-25	Q6	0	0
2023-25	Q7	0	0
2023-25	Q8	0	0

002551 - PCHB or SHB to issue a final decision following a hearing or a dispositive motion

Number of months for the Pollution Control Hearings Board or Shorelines Hearings Board to issue a final decision following a hearing or a dispositive motions.

Biennium	Period	Target
2021-23	Q1	3
2021-23	Q2	3
2021-23	Q3	3
2021-23	Q4	3
2021-23	Q5	3
2021-23	Q6	3
2021-23	Q7	3
2021-23	Q8	3

002552 - Months from appeal to resolution for SHB

Number of months from appeal filing to final resolution of contested Shoreline Hearings Board cases, unless waived by the parties.

Biennium	Period	Actual	Target
2021-23	Q1	0	0
2021-23	Q2	0	0
2021-23	Q3	0	0
2021-23	Q4	0	0
2021-23	Q5	1	6
2021-23	Q6	0	6
2021-23	Q7	0	6
2021-23	Q8	1	6
2023-25	Q1	6	6
2023-25	Q2	2	6
2023-25	Q3	3	6
2023-25	Q4	0	6
2023-25	Q5	0	0
2023-25	Q6	0	0
2023-25	Q7	0	0
2023-25	Q8	0	0

002962 - PCHB or SHB appeals settled before a hearing or dispositive motion

The percentage of PCHB and SHB appeals settled before a hearing or dispositive motion.

Biennium	Period	Actual	Target
2021-23	A2	0%	50%
2021-23	A3	0%	50%

A003 - Land Use Planning Adjudication

The Growth Management Hearings Board (GMHB) within the Environmental and Land Use Hearings Office is an independent, quasi-judicial adjudicative board that resolves disputes regarding local government compliance with the land use planning requirements of the Growth Management Act (GMA) and related matters. The GMHB uses regional panels to hear appeals related to local government comprehensive plans, development regulations, and other components of the GMA. The final products from the GMHB are legal decisions which enforce the State's Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A).

Account	FY 2026	FY 2027	Biennium Total

FTE	5.5	5.5	5.5
001 - General Fund
State	1,354,000	1,358,000	2,712,000

	FY 2026	FY 2027	Biennium Total
FTES	5.5	5.5	5.5
GFS	1,354,000.0	1,358,000.0	2,712,000.0
Other
Totals	1,354,000.0	1,358,000.0	2,712,000.0