The following terms apply throughout this chapter and, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

(1) "Adjudicative proceeding" means a proceeding involving an opportunity for hearing before the board as defined in RCW 34.05.010. The term "adjudicative proceeding" is used interchangeably with the terms "case" and "appeal" in this chapter.

(2) "Agency" means any state governmental entity, air pollution control authority, local health department or other agency whose decisions are subject to the board's jurisdiction.

(3) "Board" means the pollution control hearings board, a quasi-judicial board created pursuant to chapter 43.21B RCW and described in WAC 371-08-315. Where appropriate, the term "board" also refers to the designated agents of the pollution control hearings board.

(4) "Business days" means Monday through Friday exclusive of any state or federal holidays.

(5) "CMS" means the environmental and land use hearings office case management system or any successor system designated by the board.

(6) "Department" refers to and means the department of ecology.

(7) "Filing" of a document means actual receipt by the board between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on days other than Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays. The board's record of the date and time of receipt of a document shall be evidence of the date of filing. Filings received after 5:00 p.m., or on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, shall be considered filed on the next business day. If the last day for filing a document as required by these rules falls on a day when the board is closed under WAC 371-08-320(3), then the time for such filing shall be extended until the end of the next business day upon which the board is open for business.

(a) The filing of documents with the board shall be electronically through the CMS. Information about accessing the CMS is available at the ELUHO website at www.eluho.wa.gov. If a party does not have the technological capacity to file electronically through the CMS, a party may file documents by personal delivery, commercial delivery, fax, electronic mail, or first-class, registered, or certified mail.

(b) Any document filed with the board shall contain an affirmation that copies were served on the appropriate agency and parties.

(c) Filing of a document in the method authorized in (a) of this subsection shall substitute for filing through the CMS in the event the CMS is unavailable or in emergency situations in which the governor declares a statewide emergency.

(8) "Party" means:

(a) A person to whom any agency decision is specifically directed; or

(b) A person named as a party to the adjudicative proceeding, allowed to intervene or joined as a party by the board.

(9) "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, organization, governmental subdivision, agency or entity of any character.

(10) "Presiding officer" means a member of the board or an administrative appeals judge who is assigned to conduct a conference or hearing by the chairperson or vice chairperson.

(11) "Service" of appeals and other documents related to adjudicative proceedings before the board means delivery of the document to the parties to the appeal. Service of board decisions means delivery of the document to the parties to the appeal. Service may be made in any of the following ways:

(a) Personally, in accordance with the laws of the state, with a return of service or affidavit of service completed.

(b) First-class, registered, or certified mail. Service is complete upon deposit in the United States mail properly stamped and addressed.

(c) Fax transmission with mailing or submission to commercial delivery service of copies on the same day. Service by fax is regarded as complete by production of the confirmation of transmission and evidence of mailing or submission to delivery service of the copies.

(d) Commercial parcel delivery service. Service by commercial parcel delivery service is regarded as complete upon delivery to the parcel delivery company with charges prepaid.

(e) Electronic service. Electronic service of documents is authorized if agreed to by the receiving party. Service by email is regarded as complete when the email is sent successfully. Electronic service is regarded as complete when the document is uploaded successfully to the receiving party's designated electronic system. The receiving party's record of the date and time of receipt of a document shall be evidence of the service date.

(12) "Signature" means a written signature, or an electronic signature executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign a document either in the form of s/_____ (name typed out), a graphic representation of an electronic signature, or a digital graphic representation of the signature as signed by the person. An electronic signature shall be considered the same as an original signature for all purposes.