[Filed February 14, 2020, 10:59 a.m.]

Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 332-24-600 Forest fire protection and special forest fire suppression account minimum assessment refund procedure.

Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Expedited rule making sought to align the department of natural resources's (DNR) rules (WAC 332-24-600) with RCW regarding refunds of forest fire protection assessment (RCW 76.04.610) and landowner contingency agreement assessments (RCW 76.04.630). The former RCW mandates that DNR provide refunds of forest fire protection assessments; the latter RCW does not require DNR to provide refunds for landowner contingency assessments. WAC 332-24-600 title implies that DNR may provide refunds for both. Further, update the name of the responsible division from fire control to wildfire.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: Rule must be amended to be compliant with RCW 76.04.630.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 76.04.015 (4)(b).

Statute Being Implemented: RCW 76.04.630.

Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

Name of Proponent: DNR, governmental.

Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Jonathan Guzzo, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, 360-292-5921; Implementation: Karen Arnold, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, 360-902-1318; and Enforcement: George Geissler, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, 360-902-1318.

This notice meets the following criteria to use the expedited adoption process for these rules:

Corrects typographical errors, make address or name changes, or clarify language of a rule without changing its effect.

Content is explicitly and specifically dictated by statute.

Explanation of the Reason the Agency Believes the Expedited Rule-Making Process is Appropriate: Expedited rule making is appropriate for the proposed revisions, since DNR is aligning WAC to be consistent with RCW.

THIS RULE IS BEING PROPOSED UNDER AN EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS THAT WILL ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE AGENCY TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS, PREPARE A SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT, OR PROVIDE RESPONSES TO THE CRITERIA FOR A SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATIVE RULE. IF YOU OBJECT TO THIS USE OF THE EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS, YOU MUST EXPRESS YOUR OBJECTIONS IN WRITING AND THEY MUST BE SENT TO Rochelle Goss, Department of Natural Resources, 1111 Washington Street S.E., P.O. Box 47015, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-902-2117, fax 360-902-1789, email Rochelle.goss@dnr.wa.gov, AND RECEIVED BY April 21, 2020.

Washington State Forester

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 91-20-060, filed 9/24/91, effective 10/16/91)

WAC 332-24-600Forest fire protection ((and special forest fire suppression account minimum)) assessment refund procedure.

This section implements the provisions of RCW 76.04.610 ((and 76.04.630)), which provides that an owner of forest land owning two or more parcels, each containing less than fifty acres in a county, may obtain a refund of the assessments paid on all such parcels over one.

(1) The forest landowner must:

(a) Obtain a forest fire protection assessment refund form from any department or county treasurer office;

(b) Complete refund form per instructions on form;

(c) Pay taxes and assessments to county treasurer and obtain treasurer's signature on refund form to verify assessments have been paid in full;

(d) Mail refund form before December 31 of the year the assessments are due to: Department of Natural Resources, ((Fire Control))Wildfire Division, Olympia, WA 98504.

(2) The department's ((fire control))wildfire division will complete the refund due the landowner and process for payment through the department's ((financial services' division))office of finance. The ((financial services' division))office of finance will prepare the refund check and send the check and a copy of the refund form to the landowner.