Whatcom County anticipates an environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for the 2025 Comprehensive Plan, Development Regulations, and Urban Growth Area (UGA) update. 

Several alternatives will be studied in a Draft EIS, potentially addressing a range of population and employment growth levels and land use patterns. The Draft EIS will describe the existing conditions, identify probable significant environmental impacts, and identify measures to mitigate these impacts. A Final EIS will be issued that responds to public and agency comments received on the Draft EIS and provides any modifications and clarifications to the environmental analysis contained in the Draft EIS. The Final EIS will also evaluate a preferred land use alternative, which may be a variation of alternatives studied in the Draft EIS.