(1) The environmental review process will normally begin upon receipt of a determination of nonsignificance (DNS), determination of significance (DS), scoping notice, or draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) when another agency is the lead agency. When the department is the lead agency for nonagency actions, review will begin upon receipt of a complete permit application and a complete environmental checklist. The department typically requests plans, a location map, and a project description, pursuant to WAC 197-11-100, but may request additional information of the applicant as needed to make a threshold determination. The applicant should submit this information with the checklist so that review may proceed expeditiously. For agency actions, environmental review will normally begin when the proposed action is sufficiently developed to allow preliminary decisions.

(2) Upon written request of an applicant, preliminary environmental review will be conducted prior to receipt of detailed project plans and specifications. In such instances, the applicant shall submit information judged by the department to be sufficient to make a preliminary review.

(3) The preliminary review will be advisory only and not binding upon the department. Final review and determination will be made only upon receipt of detailed project plans and specifications.