S-1292               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5710

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators Owen, Cantu, DeJarnatt, Amondson, Craswell and Bauer

Read first time 2/3/89 and referred to Committee on  Environment & Natural Resources.

AN ACT Relating to the state environmental policy act; adding a new section to chapter 43.21C RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature notes that property owners have had plat approvals delayed because the threshold determination, as defined by agency rule, is not being completed within the recommended fifteen-day guideline.  This has had the effect of delaying projects beyond the time limits mandated by statute.  To correct this problem, the legislature now sets a definite time limit for threshold determinations.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 43.21C RCW to read as follows:

          Any threshold determination required by agency rule shall be completed within fifteen days if possible, but under no circumstances shall take longer than thirty days.  If no agency decision has occurred after thirty days the threshold determination shall automatically be approved.