(1) The department issues two types of certificates of approval to persons who conduct shellfish operations. They are shellfish operation licenses and harvest site certificates.

(2) Any person who possesses a commercial quantity of shellfish or any quantity of shellfish for sale for human consumption must possess, or act on behalf of a person who possesses, a valid shellfish operation license. To obtain a shellfish operation license, a person must:

(a) Submit to the department a completed application on a form developed by the department;

(b) Submit to the department an acceptable written plan of operations that completely describes the shellfish operation;

(c) Pass a preoperational inspection demonstrating compliance with chapter 69.30 RCW, this chapter, and the NSSP Model Ordinance; and

(d) Pay the department any shellfish operation license fee required by this chapter.

(3) Any person who harvests a commercial quantity of shellfish or any quantity of shellfish for sale for human consumption must possess, or act on behalf of a person who possesses, a valid harvest site certificate. In order for a person to obtain a harvest site certificate, all of the following requirements must be met.

(a) The person possesses a valid shellfish operation license.

(b) The person submits to the department a completed application that describes the following characteristics of the site:

(i) Geographic location;

(ii) Map showing legal boundaries;

(iii) Unique government identification number, such as county parcel number, department of fish and wildlife tract number, department of fish and wildlife catch area number, or tribal identification number; and

(iv) Documentation of legal ownership or lease for shellfish harvesting.

(c) The harvest site is in a growing area that meets the requirements of chapter 69.30 RCW, this chapter, and the NSSP Model Ordinance for a commercial shellfish growing area.

(d) The harvest site is not impacted by any actual or potential sources of pollution.

(e) The harvest site passes a pollution assessment inspection conducted by the department if necessary to determine if the site is impacted by any actual or potential sources of pollution.

(f) The person signs the current conditionally approved area management plan, if applicable.

(g) The person pays the department any harvest site application fee required by this chapter.

(4) All shellfish operation licenses and harvest site certificates for shellfish dealers expire on the thirtieth day of June each year. All shellfish operation licenses and harvest site certificates for harvesters expire on the thirty-first day of March each year.