WAC 222-20-020   Application time limits.  (1) When the department officially receives an application, the department will approve, condition or disapprove it within thirty calendar days for Class III and Class IV forest practices, except:

     (a) To the extent the department is prohibited from approving the application by the act.

     (b) For "Class IV" applications when the department or the lead agency has determined that a detailed environmental statement must be made, the application must be approved, conditioned or disapproved within sixty days, unless the commissioner of public lands promulgates a formal order specifying a later date for completion of the detailed environmental statement and final action on the application. At least ten days before promulgation of such an order extending the time, the applicant shall be given written notice that the department is requesting such extension; giving the reasons the process cannot be completed within such period; and stating that the applicant may comment in writing to the commissioner of public lands or obtain an informal conference with the department regarding the proposed extension.

     (c) When they involve lands described in (c)(i) through (iv) of this subsection, the applicable time limit shall be no less than fourteen business days from transmittal to the local governmental entity unless the local governmental entity has waived its right to object or has consented to approval of the application:

     (i) Lands platted after January 1, 1960, as provided in chapter 58.17 RCW;

     (ii) Lands that have been or are being converted to another use;

     (iii) Lands which are not to be reforested because of likelihood of future conversion to urban development (see WAC 222-16-060 and 222-24-050); or

     (iv) Forest practices involving timber harvesting or road construction on lands that are contained within urban growth areas, designated pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW.

     (d) Applications for multiyear permits will be approved, conditioned, or disapproved within forty-five days of the department receiving a complete application, except if a detailed environmental statement is necessary, additional time for approval or disapproval as specified in RCW 76.09.050 will be required.

     (e) Small forest landowner long-term applications will be reviewed in two steps as described in WAC 222-20-016. The department will review Step 1 and issue a decision within forty-five days of receiving a complete resource and roads assessment. The department will review and approve, condition, or disapprove Step 2 within forty-five days of receiving a complete resource protection strategies portion of the long-term application, except if a detailed environmental statement is necessary, additional time for approval or disapproval as specified in RCW 76.09.050 will be required.

     (2) Unless the local governmental entity has waived its rights under the act or consents to approval, the department shall not approve an application involving lands platted after January 1, 1960, as provided in chapter 58.17 RCW, or lands that have been or are being converted to another use until at least fourteen business days from the date of transmittal to the local governmental entity.

     (3) Where a notification is submitted for operations which the department determines involve Class III or IV forest practices, the department shall issue a stop work order or take other appropriate action. If the operations were otherwise in compliance with the act and forest practices rules, no penalty should be imposed for those operations which occurred prior to the enforcement action: Provided, That no damage to a public resource resulted from such operations, and the operations commenced more than five days from receipt by the department of the notification.

     (4) If the department fails to approve or disapprove an application or any portion thereof within the applicable time limit, the application shall be deemed approved and the operation may commence except that this provision shall not apply where:

     (a) The local governmental entity objects and the application involves lands platted after January 1, 1960, as provided in chapter 58.17 RCW, or lands that have been or are being converted where the county's right of objection is fourteen business days which may be longer than the approval time limit.

     (b) The department is prohibited from approving the application by the act.

     (c) Compliance with the State Environmental Policy Act requires additional time.

     (5) If seasonal field conditions prevent the department from being able to properly evaluate the application, the department may disapprove the application until field conditions allow for an on-site review.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040, 76.09.010 (2)(d). 07-20-044, § 222-20-020, filed 9/26/07, effective 10/27/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 05-12-119, § 222-20-020, filed 5/31/05, effective 7/1/05. Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040, [76.09.]050, [76.09.]370,76.13.120 (9). 01-12-042, § 222-20-020, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040. 87-23-036 (Order 535), § 222-20-020, filed 11/16/87, effective 1/1/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 76.09.040 and 76.09.050. 82-16-077 (Resolution No. 82-1), § 222-20-020, filed 8/3/82, effective 10/1/82; Order 263, § 222-20-020, filed 6/16/76.]