HB 1304-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST OF PROPOSED 1ST SUBSTITUTE)

     Authorizes the issuance of pamphlets in lieu of hydraulic approval permits for certain projects.

     Declares that, as an alternative to requiring and issuing individual hydraulic project approvals under RCW 77.55.100, 77.55.110, and 77.55.200, the department may adopt rules that describe approved and disapproved time, manner, locations, methods, or other conditions for conducting hydraulic projects or other work that will use, divert, obstruct, or change the natural flow or bed of any of the salt or fresh waters of the state.  The conditions for approval or disapproval shall be reasonably necessary to protection of fish life.

     Provides that, in adopting rules to implement this act, the department shall ensure that this alternative hydraulic project approval is only available for repetitive low-risk permit approval requests for which there are predictable mitigation measures, and that complex projects, or projects that generally require site-specific mitigation measures, will continue to undergo individual hydraulic project approval.  The rules must also include a description of the method that the department will use to track, monitor, and evaluate the projects approved by this alternative process.

     Requires the department to report to the appropriate legislative committees by January 1, 2006, on the number and type of alternative permit approvals granted under this section.  The report shall include information regarding how resources that would have been used to process these alternative permits as individual permits were shifted to more complex projects.