HB 2671-S - DIGEST

(SUBSTITUTED FOR - SEE 2ND SUB)

     Finds that as the number of environmental and land use laws have grown in Washington, so have the number of permits required of business and government.  The increasing number of individual permits and permit authorities has generated the potential for conflict, overlap, and duplication between the various state, local, and federal permits.  Lack of coordination in the processing of permit applications may cause costly delays and frustration to the applicant.

     Finds that citizens should be provided with a reliable and consolidated source of information concerning federal, state, and local environmental and land use laws and procedures that might apply to any given proposal; facilitated interagency forums for discussion of significant issues related to the multiple permitting processes can be very useful for some project proponents; and finally, some applicants may require active coordination of all applicable regulatory and land use permitting procedures.

     Declares that the purpose of this act is to provide efficient processes that will assist businesses and citizens in complying with the environmental and land use laws while protecting public health and safety and the environment.

     Creates the permit assistance center.

     Transfers the powers, duties, and functions of the permit assistance center at the department of ecology to the center created in this act.