Step 1: Format of the CEP recycling plan.
(1) All plans must use the "CEP recycling plan template" provided by ecology.
(2) The authority or authorized party must submit paper copies of their plan in a three-ring binder so that individual pages can be submitted and replaced when updates or revisions are required.
Step 2: Submit the CEP recycling plan.
(3) The authority or authorized party must submit one paper copy and one usable electronic copy of their plan to ecology.
(4) All plans intending to begin implementation on or before January 1, 2009, must be submitted to ecology no later than February 1, 2008.
(a) The one paper copy must be submitted by mail to one of the following addresses:
For U.S. Postal Service:
Department of Ecology
Electronic Product Recycling
Waste 2 Resources Program
P.O. Box 47600
Olympia, WA 98504-7600
For Courier:
Department of Ecology
Electronic Product Recycling
Waste 2 Resources Program
300 Desmond Drive
Lacey, WA 98503
(b) The electronic copy may be submitted by email or other electronic format usable by ecology that allows electronic editing and commenting by ecology.
(5) The following section of a plan may be submitted to ecology for review and approval separate from the rest of the plan:
• Standard plan participant assessment of charges or apportionment of costs.
When submitting a section separate from the rest of the plan, the authority must follow the process described in this section.
Step 3: Approval process.
(6) Within ninety days after receipt of a complete plan, ecology will determine whether the plan complies with this chapter. Ecology will determine if the plan is:
(a) Approved. If approved, ecology will send a letter of approval to the authority or authorized party via certified mail. The approval letter will include an expiration date for the plan.
(b) Disapproved. If disapproved, ecology will send a letter of disapproval to the authority or authorized party via certified mail. The disapproval letter will provide ecology's reasons for not approving the plan.
(i) The authority or authorized party must submit a new or revised plan within sixty days after receipt of the disapproval letter.
(ii) Ecology then has an additional ninety days to review the new or revised plan.
(c) Ecology will approve plans for no more than five years. If an independent plan does not represent five percent market share for two consecutive program years, ecology will dissolve the independent plan (see WAC
173-900-360).
(7) Approval criteria: Ecology will consider the following when reviewing a plan for approval:
(a) The plan submittal dates were met;
(b) The plan meets the requirements in this chapter;
(c) The plan contains all of the information required in this chapter and provides descriptive information sufficient to allow ecology to determine that the implementation of the plan will be in compliance with this chapter;
(d) When reviewing a plan for service level, ecology may contact the local government or community identified in the plan; and
(e) The plan, when implemented, would meet or exceed required collection service levels (see WAC
173-900-355).
(8) Ecology may ask for additional information or clarification during the review of a plan.
(9) Ecology will post all plans on the agency website.
(10) Proprietary information submitted to ecology under this chapter is exempt from public disclosure under RCW
42.56.270.