(1) An agency with jurisdiction over a proposal, upon review of a DNS (WAC 197-11-340) may transmit to the initial lead agency a completed "Notice of assumption of lead agency status." This notice shall be substantially similar to the form in WAC 197-11-985. Assumption of lead agency status shall occur only within the fourteen-day comment period on a DNS issued under WAC 197-11-340 (2)(a), or during the comment period on a notice of application when the optional DNS process in WAC 197-11-355 is used.

(2) The DS by the new lead agency shall be based only upon information contained in the environmental checklist attached to the DNS transmitted by the first lead agency or the notice of application if the optional DNS process is used, and any other information the new lead agency has on the matters contained in the environmental checklist.

(3) Upon transmitting the DS and notice of assumption of lead agency status, the consulted agency with jurisdiction shall become the "new" lead agency and shall expeditiously prepare an EIS. In addition, all other responsibilities and authority of a lead agency under this chapter shall be transferred to the new lead agency.