The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

     (1) "Board" means the environmental and land use hearings board established in this chapter.

     (2) "Final decision" means the highest and last decision available within the permit agency with respect to a permit application to the agency, including but not limited to decisions resulting from internal appeals available within the agency for the permit decision.

     (3) "Participating permit agency" means any permit agency in which the applicant for a qualifying project has filed an application for an environmental or land use permit that is required for the qualifying project.

     (4) "Permit" means any license, permit, certificate, certification, approval, compliance schedule, or other similar document pertaining to any regulatory or management program related to the protection, conservation, use of, or interference with the land, air, or water in the state. This document must be required to be obtained from a state agency or local government, including but not limited to counties, cities, and air agencies, prior to constructing or operating a qualifying project. Local government permits include, but are not limited to, subdivisions, binding site plans, planned unit developments, shoreline permits or other approvals under RCW 90.58.140, master plan approvals, site plan approvals, permits or approvals required by critical area ordinances, conditional use permits, variances, and site-specific rezones authorized by a comprehensive plan or subarea plan or other equivalent documents however titled or denominated. Local government permits excluded under this definition include the adoption or amendment of a comprehensive plan, subarea plan, legislative actions on development regulations, certifications by local health districts of water and sewer availability, and building, grading, flood hazard, utility connection, and other nondiscretionary construction permits.

     (5) "Permit agency" means any state agency or local government, including but not limited to air agencies, authorized by law to issue permits.

     (6) "Qualifying project" means an economic development project that is (a) located within a county that in its entirety qualifies as a distressed area as defined in RCW 43.168.020(3) and a rural natural resources impact area as defined in RCW 43.160.020, (b) designed to provide at least thirty full-time year-round jobs, and (c) designated as a qualifying project by the office of permit assistance established under chapter 43.42 RCW if a request for a determination of such designation is made to the office by the project applicant as provided under this chapter.

[2003 c 393 § 2.]