(1) A permit, permit modification, or renewal may be issued only if all of the following conditions have been met:

(a) The permitting authority has received a complete application for a permit, permit modification, or permit renewal, except that a complete application need not be received before issuance of a general permit under WAC 173-401-750;

(b) The permit has been reviewed and signed prior to issuance by a professional engineer or staff under the direct supervision of a professional engineer in the employ of the permitting authority and, in the latter case, signed, dated, and stamped by the supervising professional engineer;

(c) The permitting authority has complied with the requirements for public participation under WAC 173-401-800;

(d) The permitting authority has complied with the requirements for notifying and responding to affected states under WAC 173-401-820;

(e) The conditions of the permit provide for compliance with all applicable requirements and the requirements of this chapter;

(f) The administrator has received a copy of the proposed permit and any notices required under WAC 173-401-810 and 173-401-820, and has not objected in writing to issuance of the permit within forty-five days of receipt of the proposed permit and all necessary supporting information; and

(g) Where EPA has objected to issuance of a permit or modification, the permittee has consented in writing to the changes required by the EPA.

(2) Deadlines. Except as provided in subsections (1)(g), (3), and (4) of this section or under regulations promulgated under Title IV or Title V of the FCAA for the permitting of affected sources under the acid rain program, the permitting authority shall take final action on each permit application (including a request for permit modification or renewal) within eighteen months of receiving a complete application.

(3) Transition plan. The permitting authority shall take final action on at least one-third of all operating permit applications received from chapter 401 sources in existence on the date on which EPA authorizes the permitting authority to issue operating permits within one year after EPA authorization. Final action shall be taken on at least one third of such applications annually over a period not to exceed three years after the effective date of EPA authorization.

(4) Early reduction submittals. The permitting authority shall take final action on a complete permit application containing an early reduction demonstration under section 112 (i)(5) of the FCAA within nine months of receiving the complete application.

(5) Notice of construction applications. Except as provided in WAC 173-401-500(10) processing of notice of construction applications received under RCW 70.94.152 shall take priority over processing of operating permit applications.

(6) Completeness. The permitting authority shall promptly provide notice to the applicant of whether the application is complete. Unless the permitting authority requests additional information or otherwise notifies the applicant of incompleteness within sixty days of receipt of an application, the application shall be deemed complete. For modifications processed through minor permit modification procedures, such as those in WAC 173-401-725 (2)(a) and (3), the permitting authority does not have to provide a completeness determination.

(7) Draft permit. Within one hundred eighty days of the date upon which an application is deemed to be complete, the permitting authority should generally issue either a draft permit or a notice of intent to deny the permit application. Notice of issuance of a draft permit shall be published and provided to affected states in accordance with the procedures in WAC 173-401-800 through 173-401-820. The deadline provided in this subsection shall not apply to the initial round of permit applications filed pursuant to subsection (3) of this section.

(8) Statement of basis. At the time the draft permit is issued, the permitting authority shall provide a statement that sets forth the legal and factual basis for the draft permit conditions (including references to the applicable statutory or regulatory provisions). The permitting authority shall send this statement to EPA, the applicant, and to any other person who requests it.

(9) Proposed permit. Upon completion of the public comment period provided in WAC 173-401-800, the permitting authority shall issue a proposed permit, along with a response to any comments received during the comment period. The permitting authority shall transmit the proposed permit and its response to any comments to the applicant and to EPA for review, as provided in WAC 173-401-810.

(10) Preconstruction approval. The submittal of a complete application shall not affect any requirement of a source to have a preconstruction permit under Title I of the FCAA or a notice of construction approval under RCW 70.94.152.