WSR 15-09-043

[Filed April 9, 2015, 4:22 p.m.]

Purpose: In accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, RCW 34.05.230, the department of ecology submits the following:

Document Title: Water Rights Processing Policy 1000 and Procedure 1000.

Subject: To ensure statewide consistency, conformity with state law, and equality of service to the public in the administration of water rights.

Document Description: This policy and procedure revise the 1990 version of the same policy and procedure to reflect how the department of ecology staff process water right applications to appropriate water and applications for change of water right under the applicable sections of the state water code (chapters 90.03 and 90.44 RCW).

The revised Policy 1000 describes how water right applications to appropriate water and applications for change of water right will be processed in accordance with the revised water rights processing procedure. The policy promotes statewide consistency in processing water rights while allowing for procedural differences between regional offices as long as those differences are in agreement with and further the purposes of the policy.

The revised Procedure 1000 is intended to provide guidance to staff by ensuring relevant factors are considered in the processing of applications to appropriate water and applications for change or transfer of existing water rights. Specifically, it provides transparency to the public as to how the agency processes a water right application from start to finish.

Both the revised policy and procedure supersedes the previous policy and procedure adopted on September 23, 1990.

To receive a copy of the policy and/or procedure, contact Mike Dexel, Water Resources Program, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, phone (360) 407-7679, e-mail mdex461@ecy.wa.gov, web site http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/rules/images/pdf/pol1000.pdf and http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/rules/images/pdf/pro1000.pdf.