All activities under programs administered by the department as of December 12, 1975 are hereby exempted, except the issuance of any license for the manufacture of explosives or the adoption or amendment by the department of any regulations incorporating general standards respecting the issuance of licenses authorizing the storage of explosives pursuant to chapter 70.74 RCW.

The adoption of any industrial health or safety regulations containing noise standards shall be considered a major action under this chapter. In addition all other exemptions provided by SEPA or the SEPA guidelines shall apply.