READ FIRST TIME 02/17/11.   

     AN ACT Relating to land use planning in qualifying unincorporated portions of urban growth areas; adding a new section to chapter 43.21C RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature recognizes that land use planning actions deliberated in and approved and mitigated by one jurisdiction can significantly affect one or more neighboring jurisdictions. The impacts of the land use planning actions of a neighboring jurisdiction can be especially pronounced when geographic and public infrastructure limitations substantially affect permitted development and the resulting impacts upon neighboring jurisdictions.
     (2) The legislature, therefore, in the spirit of cooperation and collaboration, intends to promote shared responsibilities under the state environmental policy act in those extraordinary instances where geographic and public infrastructure limitations create circumstances in which the land use planning actions of one jurisdiction significantly impact one or more neighboring jurisdictions.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.21C RCW to read as follows:
     (1)(a) If a proposed project action significantly impacts two or more agencies, the agencies, except as provided otherwise by this section, must jointly divide all lead agency responsibilities prescribed in accordance with this chapter.
     (b) If the agencies are unable to agree to the division of lead agency responsibilities, the director shall designate the division of responsibilities within fifteen days of receiving a written request to do so by one or more agencies. Designations made by the director under this subsection must identify the lead agency for each segment of the proposed project action based on a determination of which agency's facilities and residents will receive the majority of the impacts from that segment of the proposed project action.
     (2) An agency that would be significantly impacted by a proposed project action may elect to:
     (a) Forego lead agency responsibilities otherwise required under this section by notifying in writing the other affected agency or agencies and the department; or
     (b) Transfer lead agency responsibilities otherwise required under this section to another agency through a written agreement approved by both agencies and transmitted to the department.
     (3) Subsections (1) and (2) of this section apply only to project actions in or affecting unincorporated portions of urban growth areas designated under RCW 36.70A.110 that:
     (a) Border Puget Sound;
     (b) Are surrounded on the landward side entirely by one or more cities;
     (c) Are one or more miles from any other portion of an urban growth area that is in unincorporated territory; and
     (d) Are fifty or more acres in size.
     (4) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, for purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
     (a) "Agency" or "agencies" means a county, city, or town;
     (b) "Department" means the department of ecology; and
     (c) "Director" means the director of the department of ecology.