Background: The Washington State Office of Regulatory Assistance (ORA) was created in the Office of Financial Management in 2003. ORA helps answer permitting questions and provides access to information about state regulations. In addition, ORA assists with coordinating between the layers of state, local, and federal permit review. ORA has two primary ways it delivers its services: a regulatory help desk assisting approximately 2,000 callers per year; and case managers located in regional offices who facilitate, coordinate, and help resolve disputes that can arise in permitting.

Summary of Bill: The Governor is to appoint a director of the ORA. The ORA has a goal of providing citizens and businesses with information on 1) the average turnaround times for permits and other regulatory decisions; 2) an estimate of the number of times projects have been asked for supplemental information; and 3) maximum costs, types of studies, and the timing of public processes expected.

The ORA is to provide a variety of services, including acting as the central point of contact and coordination, conducting project scoping, and assisting in conflict resolution. The ORA is to assist local jurisdictions with their local project review requirements, report biennially on performance, and provide biennial recommendations on system improvements.

Project proponents may request designation as a fully-coordinated project. Such designation requires either entering into a cost-reimbursement agreement; designation as an industrial project of statewide significance; or a determination by the director that the project is complex, it would provide substantial benefit to the state, and sufficient resources exist to undertake the full coordination process without reimbursement. For fully-coordinated projects, the ORA is to serve as the main point of contact for the project proponent and participating agencies with regard to the permit process for the project as a whole, and the ORA will be responsible for scheduling, and generally facilitating the permit process.

The ORA may enter into cost-reimbursement agreements with project proponents. Cost-reimbursement agreements for the ORA; the departments of Ecology, Natural Resources, Health, Fish & Wildlife; and air pollution control agencies must include a schedule with tasks and costs for the work to be conducted. Such agreements must not negatively impact other permit applications and anyone hired to ensure permit processing capacity are agents of the state and not the permit applicant.

The ORA statute is not to be construed to limit or abridge the powers and duties of a participating permit agency and the ORA may not substitute its judgment for that of the agency on nonprocedural matters.