AN ACT Relating to the water-related actions of the department of ecology; amending RCW 43.21B.110, 43.21B.130, 43.21B.240, 43.21B.310, 43.27A.190, 90.14.130, 90.14.190, and 90.14.200; reenacting and amending RCW 34.05.514; adding new sections to chapter 43.21B RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes that in many cases the value of real property directly depends upon the amount of water that is available for use on that property. The legislature also recognizes that water rights are a type of property right in which many different parties may assert an interest. Current statutes require many property rights actions in which different parties assert interests, such as actions for partition or eminent domain, to be brought to be filed in superior court. The legislature further finds that informal procedures such as mediation and fact finding have been employed successfully in other areas of the law, and may produce positive results in certain types of water disputes. The legislature therefore finds that property owners should have a choice to select informal or formal hearings before the pollution control hearings board, and that relinquishment proceedings should be appealed to the local superior courts.

Sec. 2. RCW 34.05.514 and 1995 c 347 s 113 and 1995 c 292 s 9 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, proceedings for review under this chapter shall be instituted by paying the fee required under RCW 36.18.020 and filing a petition in the superior court, at the petitioner's option, for (a) Thurston county, (b) the county of the petitioner's residence or principal place of business, or (c) in any county where the property owned by the petitioner and affected by the contested decision is located.

(2) For proceedings involving institutions of higher education, the petition shall be filed either in the county in which the principal office of the institution involved is located or in the county of a branch campus if the action involves such branch.

(3) For proceedings involving the relinquishment of a water right, the petition shall be filed in the superior court where the land is located upon which the water was used. Appeals of informal hearings of the pollution control hearings board shall be filed in the superior court designated in section 13 of this act.

Sec. 3. RCW 43.21B.110 and 1993 c 387 s 22 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The pollution control hearings board shall only have jurisdiction to hear and decide appeals from the following decisions of the department, the director, the administrator of the office of marine safety, and the air pollution control boards or authorities as established pursuant to chapter 70.94 RCW, or local health departments:

(a) Civil penalties imposed pursuant to RCW 18.104.155, 70.94.431, 70.105.080, 70.107.050, 88.46.090, 90.03.600, 90.48.144, 90.56.310, and 90.56.330.

(b) Orders issued pursuant to RCW 18.104.043, 18.104.060, 43.27A.190, 70.94.211, 70.94.332, 70.105.095, 86.16.020, 88.46.070, ((~~90.14.130,~~)) and 90.48.120.

(c) The issuance, modification, or termination of any permit, certificate, or license by the department or any air authority in the exercise of its jurisdiction, including the issuance or termination of a waste disposal permit, the denial of an application for a waste disposal permit, or the modification of the conditions or the terms of a waste disposal permit.

(d) Decisions of local health departments regarding the grant or denial of solid waste permits pursuant to chapter 70.95 RCW.

(e) Decisions of local health departments regarding the issuance and enforcement of permits to use or dispose of biosolids under RCW 70.95J.080.

(f) Any other decision by the department, the administrator of the office of marine safety, or an air authority which pursuant to law must be decided as an adjudicative proceeding under chapter 34.05 RCW.

(2) The jurisdiction of the pollution control hearings board is further limited as follows:

(a) The hearings board shall have no jurisdiction whatsoever to review orders pertaining to the relinquishment of a water right under RCW 90.14.130, or to review proceedings regarding general adjudications of water rights conducted pursuant to chapter 90.03 or 90.44 RCW.

(b) The following hearings shall not be conducted by the hearings board:

((~~(a)~~)) (i) Hearings required by law to be conducted by the shorelines hearings board pursuant to chapter 90.58 RCW.

((~~(b)~~)) (ii) Hearings conducted by the department pursuant to RCW 70.94.332, 70.94.390, 70.94.395, 70.94.400, 70.94.405, 70.94.410, and 90.44.180.

((~~(c) Proceedings by the department relating to general adjudications of water rights pursuant to chapter 90.03 or 90.44 RCW.~~

~~(d)~~)) (iii) Hearings conducted by the department to adopt, modify, or repeal rules.

(3) Review of rules and regulations adopted by the hearings board shall be subject to review in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW.

Sec. 4. RCW 43.21B.130 and 1990 c 65 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

The administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW, shall apply to the appeal of rules and regulations adopted by the board to the same extent as it applied to the review of rules and regulations adopted by the directors and/or boards or commissions of the various departments whose powers, duties and functions were transferred by section 6, chapter 62, Laws of 1970 ex. sess. to the department. Except with regard to orders pertaining to the relinquishment of a water right under RCW 90.14.130, all other decisions and orders of the director and all decisions of air pollution control boards or authorities established pursuant to chapter 70.94 RCW shall be subject to review by the hearings board as provided in this chapter.

Sec. 5. RCW 43.21B.240 and 1989 c 175 s 105 are each amended to read as follows:

The department and air authorities shall not have authority to hold adjudicative proceedings pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW. ((~~Such~~)) All other hearings, except for appeals of orders pertaining to the relinquishment of a water right under RCW 90.14.130, shall be held by the pollution control hearings board.

Sec. 6. RCW 43.21B.310 and 1992 c 73 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, any order issued by the department, the administrator of the office of marine safety, or authority pursuant to RCW 70.94.211, 70.94.332, 70.105.095, 43.27A.190, 86.16.020, 88.46.070, or 90.48.120(2) or any provision enacted after July 26, 1987, or any permit, certificate, or license issued by the department may be appealed to the pollution control hearings board if the appeal is filed with the board and served on the department or authority within thirty days after receipt of the order. Except as provided under chapter 70.105D RCW, ((~~this is~~)) these are the exclusive means of appeal of such an order.

((~~(2)~~)) (a) The department, the administrator, or the authority in its discretion may stay the effectiveness of an order during the pendency of such an appeal.

((~~(3)~~)) (b) At any time during the pendency of an appeal of such an order to the board, the appellant may apply pursuant to RCW 43.21B.320 to the hearings board for a stay of the order or for the removal thereof.

((~~(4)~~)) (c) Any appeal before the hearings board must contain the following in accordance with the rules of the hearings board:

((~~(a)~~)) (i) The appellant's name and address;

((~~(b)~~)) (ii) The date and docket number of the order, permit, or license appealed;

((~~(c)~~)) (iii) A description of the substance of the order, permit, or license that is the subject of the appeal;

((~~(d)~~)) (iv) A clear, separate, and concise statement of every error alleged to have been committed;

((~~(e)~~)) (v) A clear and concise statement of facts upon which the requester relies to sustain his or her statements of error; and

((~~(f)~~)) (vi) A statement setting forth the relief sought.

((~~(5)~~)) (d) Upon failure to comply with any final order of the department or the administrator, the attorney general, on request of the department or the administrator, may bring an action in the superior court of the county where the violation occurred or the potential violation is about to occur to obtain such relief as necessary, including injunctive relief, to insure compliance with the order. The air authorities may bring similar actions to enforce their orders.

((~~(6)~~)) (e) An appealable decision or order shall be identified as such and shall contain a conspicuous notice to the recipient that it may be appealed only by filing an appeal with the hearings board and serving it on the department within thirty days of receipt.

(2) Appeals of orders pertaining to the relinquishment of a water right shall be filed in superior court as provided by RCW 90.14.130.

Sec. 7. RCW 43.27A.190 and 1987 c 109 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:

Notwithstanding and in addition to any other powers granted to the department of ecology, whenever it appears to the department that a person is violating or is about to violate any of the provisions of the following:

(1) Chapter 90.03 RCW; or

(2) Chapter 90.44 RCW; or

(3) Chapter 86.16 RCW; or

(4) Chapter 43.37 RCW; or

(5) Chapter 43.27A RCW; or

(6) Any other law relating to water resources administered by the department; or

(7) A rule or regulation adopted, or a directive or order issued by the department relating to subsections (1) through (6) of this section; the department may cause a written regulatory order to be served upon ((~~said~~)) the person either personally, or by registered or certified mail delivered to addressee only with return receipt requested and acknowledged by him or her. The order shall specify the provision of the statute, rule, regulation, directive or order alleged to be or about to be violated, and the facts upon which the conclusion of violating or potential violation is based, and shall order the act constituting the violation or the potential violation to cease and desist or, in appropriate cases, shall order necessary corrective action to be taken with regard to such acts within a specific and reasonable time. The regulation of a headgate or controlling works as provided in RCW 90.03.070, by a watermaster, stream patrolman, or other person so authorized by the department shall constitute a regulatory order within the meaning of this section. A regulatory order issued hereunder shall become effective immediately upon receipt by the person to whom the order is directed, except for regulations under RCW 90.03.070 which shall become effective when a written notice is attached as provided therein. Any person aggrieved by such order may appeal the order pursuant to RCW 43.21B.310, except that appeals of orders pertaining to the relinquishment of a water right shall be filed in superior court pursuant to RCW 90.14.130.

Sec. 8. RCW 90.14.130 and 1987 c 109 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:

When it appears to the department of ecology that a person entitled to the use of water has not beneficially used his or her water right or some portion thereof, and it appears that ((~~said~~)) the person's right has or may have reverted to the state because of such nonuse, as provided by RCW 90.14.160, 90.14.170, or 90.14.180, the department of ecology shall notify such person by order: PROVIDED, That where a company, association, district, or the United States has filed a blanket claim under the provisions of RCW 90.14.060 for the total benefits of those served by it, the notice shall be served on such company, association, district or the United States and not upon any of its individual water users who may not have used the water or some portion thereof which they were entitled to use. The order shall contain: (1) A description of the water right, including the approximate location of the point of diversion, the general description of the lands or places where such waters were used, the water source, the amount involved, the purpose of use, and the apparent authority upon which the right is based; (2) a statement that unless sufficient cause be shown on appeal the water right will be declared relinquished; and (3) a statement that such order may be appealed to ((~~the pollution control hearings board~~)) superior court. Any person aggrieved by such an order may appeal it to ((~~the pollution control hearings board pursuant to RCW 43.21B.310~~)) the superior court in the county where the land is located upon which the water was used. Any such appeal to superior court shall be de novo. The order shall be served by registered or certified mail to the last known address of the person and be posted at the point of division or withdrawal. The order by itself shall not alter the recipient's right to use water, if any.

Sec. 9. RCW 90.14.190 and 1987 c 109 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:

Any person feeling aggrieved by any decision of the department of ecology may have the same reviewed pursuant to RCW 43.21B.310. However, any order pertaining to the relinquishment of a water right shall be filed in superior court pursuant to RCW 90.14.130. In any such review, the findings of fact as set forth in the report of the department of ecology shall be prima facie evidence of the fact of any waiver or relinquishment of a water right or portion thereof. If the hearings board affirms the decision of the department, a party seeks review in superior court of that hearings board decision pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW, and the court determines that the party was injured by an arbitrary, capricious, or erroneous order of the department, the court may award reasonable attorneys' fees.

Sec. 10. RCW 90.14.200 and 1989 c 175 s 180 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) All matters relating to the implementation and enforcement of this chapter by the department of ecology shall be carried out in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW, the Administrative Procedure Act, except where the provisions of this chapter expressly conflict with chapter 34.05 RCW. Proceedings held pursuant to RCW 90.14.130 are ((~~adjudicative proceedings within the meaning of chapter 34.05 RCW. Final decisions of the department of ecology in these proceedings~~)) appealable to superior court as provided in that section. Other final decisions of the department of ecology under this chapter are subject to review by the pollution control hearings board in accordance with chapter 43.21B RCW.

(2) RCW 90.14.130 provides nonexclusive procedures for determining a relinquishment of water rights under RCW 90.14.160, 90.14.170, and 90.14.180. RCW 90.14.160, 90.14.170, and 90.14.180 may be applied in, among other proceedings, general adjudication proceedings initiated under RCW 90.03.110 or 90.44.220: PROVIDED, That nothing herein shall apply to litigation involving determinations of the department of ecology under RCW 90.03.290 relating to the impairment of existing rights.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. A new section is added to chapter 43.21B RCW to read as follows:

(1) A person who is aggrieved or adversely affected by a water quantity decision may appeal the decision to the pollution control hearings board pursuant to RCW 43.21B.310. Any party to such an appeal may elect an informal hearing by the board pursuant to this section. If any party requests an informal hearing, then an informal hearing must be granted. Informal hearings shall consist of mediation and fact finding if a settlement agreement cannot be reached. The hearings board shall adopt rules governing the election, practice, and procedures of informal hearings consistent with this section and section 12 of this act.

(2) For purposes of this section, a "water quantity decision" includes the following:

(a) A decision to grant or deny a permit or certificate for a right to the beneficial use of water or to amend, change, or transfer such a right; and

(b) A decision to enforce the conditions of a permit for, or right to, the beneficial use of water or to require any person to discontinue the use of water.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. A new section is added to chapter 43.21B RCW to read as follows:

(1) When one of the parties elects an informal hearing pursuant to section 11 of this act, one of the board members or an administrative law judge from the environmental hearings office shall be assigned as the mediator for the appeal. The mediation shall be conducted in the general area where the project under review is located, but may be conducted by telephone at the discretion of the mediator.

(2) The parties involved in the informal hearing must provide the mediator and the other parties in advance with a clear concise statement of the disputed issues and the parties' position in relation to the issues and supporting documentation. The mediator shall meet with the parties either jointly or separately, and shall take such steps as the mediator deems appropriate to resolve their differences and reach a settlement agreement. If a settlement agreement is reached, the mediator shall prepare and submit to the hearings board a written order of dismissal to which the settlement agreement is attached. The hearings board shall enter the order and dismiss the case unless the hearings board finds that the settlement agreement is contrary to law.

If the hearings board finds that the settlement agreement is contrary to law, it shall notify the parties and refer the dispute back to mediation. The parties may elect for further mediation or for fact finding with recommendations in accordance with subsection (3) of this section.

(3) If the mediator is unable to achieve a settlement agreement between the parties within thirty days after being appointed, the mediator shall issue a statement that a mutually acceptable settlement agreement has not been reached. After the issuance of the statement, either party may request the hearings board to submit the dispute to fact finding with recommendations. Notice of the request for fact finding must be sent to the other parties. The time for mediation may be extended by mutual agreement between the parties.

(4) Within five days of the receipt of the request for fact finding, the hearings board shall assign one of the board members or an administrative appeals judge from the environmental hearings office to serve as fact finder. The person who served as the mediator to the dispute may serve as the fact finder with the consent of both parties.

(5) Within five days of being appointed, the fact finder shall establish a date, time, and place for the fact-finding hearing. The date of the hearing must be set within thirty days of the appointment of the fact finder. The hearing shall be conducted in the general area where the project under review is located. At least seven days before the date of the hearing, each party must submit to the fact finder and to the other parties written proposals on all of the issues it intends to submit to fact finding. The fact finder has the power to issue subpoenas requiring the attendance and production of witnesses and the production of evidence. The order of presentation at the hearing shall be as agreed by the parties or as determined by the fact finder. Each documentary exhibit shall be filed with the fact finder and copies shall be provided to the other parties. The fact finder shall declare the hearing closed after the parties have completed presenting their testimony within agreed time limits.

(6) The fact finder shall, within thirty days following the conclusion of the hearing, make written findings of fact and written recommendations to the parties as to how the dispute should be resolved. The fact finder may not apply any presumption as part of the findings of fact or recommendations which presumes that an action will not impair the rights of a senior water right holder. A copy of the findings and recommendations shall also be filed with the hearings board. The findings of fact and recommendations of the fact finder are advisory only, and are not subject to review by the hearings board.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. A new section is added to chapter 43.21B RCW to read as follows:

(1) Within thirty days after the fact finder has issued the findings of fact and recommendations pursuant to section 12 of this act, either party may request a formal hearing from the hearings board or appeal the water quantity decision directly to superior court. All parties must agree to a formal hearing before a formal hearing is granted.

(2) If one of the parties elects to file an action in superior court following an informal hearing, it must be filed where the land is located upon which the water is or would be used.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. A new section is added to chapter 43.21B RCW to read as follows:

In all appeals involving a decision or an order of the hearings board after an informal hearing of a water quantity decision by the department, as defined in section 12 of this act, the appeal to superior court shall be de novo. However, no issue may be raised in superior court that was not raised and discussed as part of the fact-finding hearing. The superior court may substitute its own judgment for that of the fact finder. The petition shall be filed in the superior court specified in section 1 of this act. Such appeal may be perfected by filing with the clerk of the superior court a notice of appeal, and by serving a copy thereof by mail, or personally on the director. Appellate review of a decision of the superior court may be sought as in other civil cases. No bond may be required on appeals to the superior court or on review by the supreme court unless specifically required by the judge of the superior court.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 15. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.