[Filed August 27, 2020, 1:01 p.m., effective September 27, 2020]

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

Purpose: The purpose of this rule making is to align the department of natural resources' (DNR) rules (WAC 332-24-600) with RCW regarding refunds of forest fire protection assessment (RCW 76.04.610) and landowner contingency agreement assessments (RCW 76.04.630). The former RCW mandates that DNR provide refunds of forest fire protection assessments; the latter RCW does not require DNR to provide refunds for landowner contingency assessments. WAC 332-24-600 title implies that DNR may provide refunds for both. Further, updates the name of the responsible division from fire control to wildfire.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 332-24-600.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 34-05-220.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 20-05-059 on February 14, 2020.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Date Adopted: August 27, 2020.

Washington State Forester

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 91-20-060, filed 9/24/91, effective 10/16/91)

WAC 332-24-600Forest fire protection ((and special forest fire suppression account minimum)) assessment refund procedure.

This section implements the provisions of RCW 76.04.610 ((and 76.04.630)), which provides that an owner of forest land owning two or more parcels, each containing less than fifty acres in a county, may obtain a refund of the assessments paid on all such parcels over one.

(1) The forest landowner must:

(a) Obtain a forest fire protection assessment refund form from any department or county treasurer office;

(b) Complete refund form per instructions on form;

(c) Pay taxes and assessments to county treasurer and obtain treasurer's signature on refund form to verify assessments have been paid in full;

(d) Mail refund form before December 31 of the year the assessments are due to: Department of Natural Resources, ((Fire Control))Wildfire Division, Olympia, WA 98504.

(2) The department's ((fire control))wildfire division will complete the refund due the landowner and process for payment through the department's ((financial services' division))office of finance. The ((financial services' division))office of finance will prepare the refund check and send the check and a copy of the refund form to the landowner.