BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to permit processing; adding a new section to chapter 43.21C RCW; adding a new section to chapter 70.94 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 75.20 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 90.03 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 90.44 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 90.48 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 90.58 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 43.21C RCW to read as follows:

(1) Within fifteen days of receipt of an application the department of ecology shall determine whether it is likely that the permit will be processed within one hundred eighty days. If the permit will not be processed within one hundred eighty days or if the department of ecology has a current permit backlog of one hundred eighty days or more, the applicant shall be notified and may proceed with the process outlined in subsection (2) of this section.

(2) The department of ecology shall process permits under this chapter within one hundred days of receipt or the permit applicant may take the application to a recognized private consultant to have a permit proposal developed. When the consultant has completed a permit proposal, the applicant may submit it to the department of ecology. The department of ecology shall approve or deny the permit proposal within forty-five days of submission if no public hearing process is required, or within ninety days of submission if a public hearing is required. The department of ecology may seek to negotiate a permit proposal with the permittee if both parties agree to the process.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 70.94 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Within fifteen days of receipt of an application the department shall determine whether it is likely that the permit will be processed within one hundred eighty days. If the permit will not be processed within one hundred eighty days or if the department has a current permit backlog of one hundred eighty days or more, the applicant shall be notified and may proceed with the process outlined in subsection (2) of this section.

(2) The department shall process permits under this chapter within one hundred days of receipt or the permit applicant may take the application to a recognized private consultant to have a permit proposal developed. When the consultant has completed a permit proposal, the applicant may submit it to the department. The department shall approve or deny the permit proposal within forty-five days of submission if no public hearing process is required, or within ninety days of submission if a public hearing is required. The department may seek to negotiate a permit proposal with the permittee if both parties agree to the process.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 75.20 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Within fifteen days of receipt of an application the department of fish and wildlife shall determine whether it is likely that the permit will be processed within one hundred eighty days. If the permit will not be processed within one hundred eighty days or if the department of fish and wildlife has a current permit backlog of one hundred eighty days or more, the applicant shall be notified and may proceed with the process outlined in subsection (2) of this section.

(2) The department of fish and wildlife shall process permits under this chapter within one hundred days of receipt or the permit applicant may take the application to a recognized private consultant to have a permit proposal developed. When the consultant has completed a permit proposal, the applicant may submit it to the department of fish and wildlife. The department of fish and wildlife shall approve or deny the permit proposal within forty-five days of submission if no public hearing process is required, or within ninety days of submission if a public hearing is required. The department of fish and wildlife may seek to negotiate a permit proposal with the permittee if both parties agree to the process.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 90.03 RCW to read as follows:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 90.44 RCW to read as follows:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 90.48 RCW to read as follows:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. A new section is added to chapter 90.58 RCW to read as follows:

(2) The department shall process permits under this chapter within one hundred days of receipt or the permit applicant may take the application to a recognized private consultant to have a permit proposal or draft environmental impact statement developed. When the consultant has completed a permit proposal or draft environmental impact statement, the applicant may submit it to the department. The department shall approve or deny the permit proposal within forty-five days of submission if no public hearing process is required, or within ninety days of submission if a public hearing is required. The department may seek to negotiate a permit proposal with the permittee if both parties agree to the process.