AN ACT Relating to hydraulic permits; amending RCW 77.55.100, 77.55.110, 77.55.170, and 77.55.220; adding new sections to chapter 77.55 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that hydraulic project approvals should ensure that fish life is properly protected, but conditions attached to the approval of these permits must reasonably relate to the potential harm that the projects may produce. The legislature is particularly concerned over the current overlap of agency jurisdiction regarding storm water projects, and believes that there is an immediate need to address this issue to ensure that project applicants are not given conflicting directions over project design. Requiring a major redesign of a project results in major delays, produces exponentially rising costs for both public and private project applicants, and frequently produces only marginal benefits for fish.

The legislature recognizes that the department of ecology is primarily responsible for the approval of storm water projects. The legislature believes that once the department of ecology approves a proposed storm water project, it is inappropriate for the department of fish and wildlife to require a major redesign of that project in order for the applicant to obtain hydraulic project approval. The legislature further believes that it is more appropriate for the department of fish and wildlife to defer the design elements of a storm water project to the department of ecology and focus its own efforts on determining reasonable mitigation or conditions for the project based upon the project's potential harm to fish. It is the intent of the legislature to restore some balance over conditions attached to hydraulic permits, and to minimize overlapping state regulatory authority regarding storm water projects in order to reduce waste in both time and money while still providing ample protection for fish life.

Sec. 2. RCW 77.55.100 and 2000 c 107 s 16 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) In the event that any person or government agency desires to construct any form of hydraulic project or perform other work that will use, divert, obstruct, or change the natural flow or bed of any of the salt or fresh waters of the state, such person or government agency shall, before commencing construction or work thereon and to ensure the proper protection of fish life, secure the approval of the department as to the adequacy of the means proposed for the protection of fish life. This approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or conditioned.

(2)(a) The department shall grant or deny approval of a standard permit within forty-five calendar days of the receipt of a complete application and notice of compliance with any applicable requirements of the state environmental policy act, made in the manner prescribed in this section. The permit must contain provisions allowing for minor modifications to the plans and specifications without requiring reissuance of the permit.

(b) The applicant may document receipt of application by filing in person or by registered mail. A complete application for approval shall contain general plans for the overall project, complete plans and specifications of the proposed construction or work within the mean higher high water line in salt water or within the ordinary high water line in fresh water, and complete plans and specifications for the proper protection of fish life.

(i) After ten working days of receipt of the application, the applicant remains unavailable or unable to arrange for a timely field evaluation of the proposed project;

(ii) The site is physically inaccessible for inspection; or

(iii) The applicant requests delay. Immediately upon determination that the forty-five day period is suspended, the department shall notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for the delay.

(d) For purposes of this section, "standard permit" means a written permit issued by the department when the conditions under subsections (3) and (5)(b) of this section are not met.

(3)(a) The department may issue an expedited written permit in those instances where normal permit processing would result in significant hardship for the applicant or unacceptable damage to the environment. In cases of imminent danger, the department shall issue an expedited written permit, upon request, for work to repair existing structures, move obstructions, restore banks, protect property, or protect fish resources. Expedited permit requests require a complete written application as provided in subsection (2)(b) of this section and shall be issued within fifteen calendar days of the receipt of a complete written application. Approval of an expedited permit is valid for up to sixty days from the date of issuance.

(b) For the purposes of this subsection, "imminent danger" means a threat by weather, water flow, or other natural conditions that is likely to occur within sixty days of a request for a permit application.

(c) The department may not require the provisions of the state environmental policy act, chapter 43.21C RCW, to be met as a condition of issuing a permit under this subsection.

(d) The department or the county legislative authority may determine if an imminent danger exists. The county legislative authority shall notify the department, in writing, if it determines that an imminent danger exists.

(4) Approval of a standard permit is valid for a period of up to five years from date of issuance. The permittee must demonstrate substantial progress on construction of that portion of the project relating to the approval within two years of the date of issuance. If the department denies approval, the department shall provide the applicant, in writing, a statement of the specific reasons why and how the proposed project would adversely affect fish life. Protection of fish life shall be the only ground upon which approval may be denied or conditioned. Chapter 34.05 RCW applies to any denial of project approval, conditional approval, or requirements for project modification upon which approval may be contingent.

(5)(a) In case of an emergency arising from weather or stream flow conditions or other natural conditions, the department, through its authorized representatives, shall issue immediately, upon request, oral approval for removing any obstructions, repairing existing structures, restoring stream banks, or to protect property threatened by the stream or a change in the stream flow without the necessity of obtaining a written approval prior to commencing work. Conditions of an oral approval to protect fish life shall be established by the department and reduced to writing within thirty days and complied with as provided for in this section. Oral approval shall be granted immediately, upon request, for a stream crossing during an emergency situation.

(b) For purposes of this section and RCW 77.55.110, "emergency" means an immediate threat to life, the public, property, or of environmental degradation.

(c) The department or the county legislative authority may declare and continue an emergency when one or more of the criteria under (b) of this subsection are met. The county legislative authority shall immediately notify the department if it declares an emergency under this subsection.

(6) The department shall, at the request of a county, develop five-year maintenance approval agreements, consistent with comprehensive flood control management plans adopted under the authority of RCW 86.12.200, or other watershed plan approved by a county legislative authority, to allow for work on public and private property for bank stabilization, bridge repair, removal of sand bars and debris, channel maintenance, and other flood damage repair and reduction activity under agreed-upon conditions and times without obtaining permits for specific projects.

(7) This section shall not apply to the construction of any form of hydraulic project or other work which diverts water for agricultural irrigation or stock watering purposes authorized under or recognized as being valid by the state's water codes, or when such hydraulic project or other work is associated with streambank stabilization to protect farm and agricultural land as defined in RCW 84.34.020. These irrigation or stock watering diversion and streambank stabilization projects shall be governed by RCW 77.55.110.

A landscape management plan approved by the department and the department of natural resources under RCW 76.09.350(2), shall serve as a hydraulic project approval for the life of the plan if fish are selected as one of the public resources for coverage under such a plan.

(8) For the purposes of this section and RCW 77.55.110, "bed" means the land below the ordinary high water lines of state waters. This definition does not include irrigation ditches, canals, storm water run-off devices, or other artificial watercourses except where they exist in a natural watercourse that has been altered by man.

(9) The phrase "to construct any form of hydraulic project or perform other work" does not include the act of driving across an established ford. Driving across streams or on wetted stream beds at areas other than established fords requires approval. Work within the ordinary high water line of state waters to construct or repair a ford or crossing requires approval.

Sec. 3. RCW 77.55.110 and 1998 c 190 s 88 are each amended to read as follows:

In the event that any person or government agency desires to construct any form of hydraulic project or other work that diverts water for agricultural irrigation or stock watering purposes, or when such hydraulic project or other work is associated with streambank stabilization to protect farm and agricultural land as defined in RCW 84.34.020, and when such diversion or streambank stabilization will use, divert, obstruct, or change the natural flow or bed of any river or stream or will utilize any waters of the state or materials from the stream beds, the person or government agency shall, before commencing construction or work thereon and to ensure the proper protection of fish life, secure a written approval from the department as to the adequacy of the means proposed for the protection of fish life. This approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or conditioned. ((~~Except as provided in RCW 75.20.1001,~~)) The department shall grant or deny the approval within forty-five calendar days of the receipt of a complete application and notice of compliance with any applicable requirements of the state environmental policy act, made in the manner prescribed in this section. The permit must contain provisions allowing for minor modifications to the plans and specifications without requiring reissuance of the permit. The applicant may document receipt of application by filing in person or by registered mail. A complete application for an approval shall contain general plans for the overall project, complete plans and specifications of the proposed construction or work within ordinary high water line, and complete plans and specifications for the proper protection of fish life. The forty-five day requirement shall be suspended if (1) after ten working days of receipt of the application, the applicant remains unavailable or unable to arrange for a timely field evaluation of the proposed project; (2) the site is physically inaccessible for inspection; or (3) the applicant requests delay.

Immediately upon determination that the forty-five day period is suspended, the department shall notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for the delay.

An approval shall remain in effect without need for periodic renewal for projects that divert water for agricultural irrigation or stock watering purposes and that involve seasonal construction or other work. Approval for streambank stabilization projects shall remain in effect without need for periodic renewal if the problem causing the need for the streambank stabilization occurs on an annual or more frequent basis. The permittee must notify the appropriate agency before commencing the construction or other work within the area covered by the approval.

The permittee must demonstrate substantial progress on construction of that portion of the project relating to the approval within two years of the date of issuance. If the department denies approval, the department shall provide the applicant, in writing, a statement of the specific reasons why and how the proposed project would adversely affect fish life. Protection of fish life shall be the only ground upon which approval may be denied or conditioned. Issuance, denial, conditioning, or modification shall be appealable to the hydraulic appeals board established in RCW 43.21B.005 within thirty days of the notice of decision. The burden shall be upon the department to show that the denial or conditioning of an approval is solely aimed at the protection of fish life.

The department may, after consultation with the permittee, modify an approval due to changed conditions. The modifications shall become effective unless appealed to the hydraulic appeals board within thirty days from the notice of the proposed modification. The burden is on the department to show that changed conditions warrant the modification in order to protect fish life.

A permittee may request modification of an approval due to changed conditions. The request shall be processed within forty-five calendar days of receipt of the written request. A decision by the department may be appealed to the hydraulic appeals board within thirty days of the notice of the decision. The burden is on the permittee to show that changed conditions warrant the requested modification and that such modification will not impair fish life.

In case of an emergency arising from weather or stream flow conditions or other natural conditions, the department, through its authorized representatives, shall issue immediately upon request oral approval for removing any obstructions, repairing existing structures, restoring stream banks, or to protect property threatened by the stream or a change in the stream flow without the necessity of obtaining a written approval prior to commencing work. Conditions of an oral approval shall be reduced to writing within thirty days and complied with as provided for in this section.

For purposes of this chapter, "streambank stabilization" shall include but not be limited to log and debris removal, bank protection (including riprap, jetties, and groins), gravel removal and erosion control.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 77.55 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The regulation of storm water projects is the primary responsibly of the department of ecology and local governments under chapter 90.48 RCW. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, all hydraulic project approvals related to storm water discharges must follow the provisions established in this section.

(2) Once the department of ecology or a local government has approved a storm water project that is consistent with the guidelines contained in the department of ecology's adopted storm water manual, or its equivalent, a hydraulic project approval is only required for the actual construction of any storm water outfall or associated structures pursuant to this chapter. The department may not in these instances deny or condition hydraulic project approvals for water quality or quantity impacts arising from storm water discharges for which the structure is being installed.

(3)(a) In any other location the department may issue hydraulic project approvals that contain provisions that protect fish life from adverse effects, such as scouring or erosion of the bed of the water body, resulting from the direct hydraulic impacts of the discharge.

(b) Prior to the issuance of a hydraulic project approval issued under this subsection (3), the department must:

(i) Make a finding that the discharge from the outfall will cause harmful effects to fish life;

(ii) Transmit the findings to the applicant and to the city or county where the project is being proposed; and

(iii) Allow the applicant an opportunity to use local ordinances or other mechanisms to avoid the adverse effects resulting from the direct hydraulic discharge.

(c) After following the procedures set forth in (b) of this subsection, the department may issue a hydraulic project approval that prescribes the discharge rates from an outfall structure that will prevent adverse effects to the bed or flow of the waterway. The department may recommend, but not specify, the measures required to meet these discharge rates. The department may not require changes to the project design above the mean higher high water mark of marine waters, or the ordinary high water mark of fresh waters of the state. Nothing in this section alters any authority the department may have to regulate other types of projects under this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 77.55 RCW to read as follows:

Conditions imposed upon hydraulic project approvals must be reasonably related to the project. The conditions must ensure that the project provides proper protection for fish life, but the department may not impose conditions that attempt to optimize conditions for fish life that are out of proportion to the impact of the proposed project.

Sec. 6. RCW 77.55.170 and 2000 c 107 s 20 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) There is hereby created within the environmental hearings office under RCW 43.21B.005 the hydraulic appeals board of the state of Washington.

(2) The hydraulic appeals board shall consist of ((~~three~~)) six members: The director of the department of ecology or the director's designee, the director of the department of agriculture or the director's designee, ((~~and~~)) the director or the director's designee of the department whose action is appealed under subsection (6) of this section, and three local government members. One of the local government members must be appointed by the Washington state association of counties, one of the local government members must be appointed by the association of Washington cities, and one of the local government members must be appointed by the Washington public ports association. The local government members serve at the pleasure of their respective associations. A decision must be agreed to by at least ((~~two~~)) four members of the board to be final.

(3) The board may adopt rules necessary for the conduct of its powers and duties or for transacting other official business.

(4) The board shall make findings of fact and prepare a written decision in each case decided by it, and that finding and decision shall be effective upon being signed by ((~~two~~)) four or more board members and upon being filed at the hydraulic appeals board's principal office, and shall be open to public inspection at all reasonable times.

(5) The board has exclusive jurisdiction to hear appeals arising from the approval, denial, conditioning, or modification of a hydraulic approval issued by the department: (a) Under the authority granted in RCW 77.55.110 for the diversion of water for agricultural irrigation or stock watering purposes or when associated with streambank stabilization to protect farm and agricultural land as defined in RCW 84.34.020; or (b) under the authority granted in RCW 77.55.230 for off-site mitigation proposals.

(6)(a) Any person aggrieved by the approval, denial, conditioning, or modification of a hydraulic approval pursuant to RCW 77.55.110 may seek review from the board by filing a request for the same within thirty days of notice of the approval, denial, conditioning, or modification of such approval.

(b) The review proceedings authorized in (a) of this subsection are subject to the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW pertaining to procedures in adjudicative proceedings.

Sec. 7. RCW 77.55.220 and 1996 c 192 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(a) "Marina" means a public or private facility providing boat moorage space, fuel, or commercial services. Commercial services include but are not limited to overnight or live-aboard boating accommodations.

(b) "Marine terminal" means a public or private commercial wharf located in the navigable water of the state and used, or intended to be used, as a port or facility for the storing, handling, transferring, or transporting of goods to and from vessels.

(2) For a marina or marine terminal in existence on June 6, 1996, or a marina or marine terminal that has received a hydraulic project approval for its initial construction, a renewable, five-year hydraulic project approval shall be issued, upon request, for regular maintenance activities of the marina or marine terminal.

(3) Upon construction of a new marina or marine terminal that has received hydraulic project approval, a renewable, five-year hydraulic project approval shall be issued, upon request, for regular maintenance activities of the marina or marine terminal.

(4) For the purposes of this section, regular maintenance activities are only those activities necessary to restore the marina or marine terminal to the conditions approved in the initial hydraulic project approval. These activities may include, but are not limited to, dredging, piling replacement, and float replacement.

(5) The five-year permit must include a requirement that a fourteen-day notice be given to the department before regular maintenance activities begin.