2995-S AMH WALJ HUGH 258

SHB 2995 - H AMD TO H AMD (H-5172.1/18) 1467

By Representative Walsh

On page 42, after line 34 of the striking amendment, insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 27. (1) The legislature finds that it is of critical importance to promote the creation of jobs located in the rural communities where many Washington residents prefer to live.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 28. A new section is added to chapter 15.04 RCW to read as follows:

(1) By January 15, 2020, the department shall establish a pilot program to create an omnibus permitting process for businesses that process or engage in clean alternative fuels.

(2) The pilot project must consolidate the application process for environmental and land use commonly required of clean alternative fuels that are issued by state and local governments for facility siting, operations, or both. The department must consider including, at a minimum, the following as part of the omnibus permit application process:

(a) Water discharge permits issued under chapter 90.48 RCW;

(b) Air emissions permits issued under chapter 70.94 RCW;

(f) Substantial development permits issued under chapter 90.58 RCW and hydraulic project approvals issued under chapter 77.55 RCW; and

(g) Building permits issued by a local government.

(3) In administering the omnibus permit application, the department must:

(a) Coordinate with the office of regulatory assistance and the state agencies and local governments responsible for issuing each permit included in the omnibus permit, including the department of ecology and the relevant county;

(b) Seek to provide a streamlined and customer-oriented permit service, including by providing information or technical assistance to permit applicants where appropriate; and

(c) Model the omnibus permit program implementation on the coordinated permit process open to projects of statewide significance under chapter 43.42 RCW.

(4) The department may initially limit the scope and scale of the pilot omnibus permitting program, but must seek to eventually incorporate as many products and areas within the program as is feasible. By July 15, 2019, the department must initiate the pilot omnibus permitting program by selecting at least one county and category of clean alternative fuels for which the omnibus permitting process will be available.

(5) The department may not charge an additional fee for the use of the omnibus permitting process that it develops under this section. This subsection does not limit the obligation of a person using the omnibus permitting process to obtain individual permits incorporated within the omnibus permitting process.

(6) By July 15, 2023, the department must submit a report to the legislature regarding the implementation of the pilot program. The report must include recommendations for reducing the regulatory burdens on forest product and food producers."

Correct the title.

EFFECT: Requires that by January 15, 2020, the Department of Agriculture (Department) must establish a pilot program to create an omnibus permitting process for businesses that process or engage in clean alternative fuels. Requires the Department to submit a report to the Legislature regarding the implementation of the pilot program by July 15, 2023.

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