Washington § 47.01.485 - Final determination by local governments on department permit application for state highway projects less than five hundred million dollars, when due — Annual report.

(1) To the greatest extent practicable, a city, town, code city, or county must make a final determination on all permits required for a project on a state highway as defined in RCW 46.04.560 no later than ninety days after the department's submission of a complete permit application for a project with an estimated cost of less than five hundred million dollars.

(2) The department must report annually to the governor and the transportation committees of the house of representatives and the senate in compliance with RCW 43.01.036 regarding any permit application that takes longer than the number of days identified in subsection (1) of this section to process.

Effective date—2015 3rd sp.s. c 15: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [July 6, 2015]." [ 2015 3rd sp.s. c 15 s 11.]

Findings—Intent—2015 3rd sp.s. c 15: "The legislature finds that in 2012 the legislature passed Second Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 6406 (chapter 1, Laws of 2012 1st sp. sess.), which updated statutory provisions relating to natural resource management and regulatory programs. The legislature finds that opportunities to build upon the updates made in 2012 and to further streamline regulatory processes and achieve program efficiencies while maintaining current levels of natural resource protection exist. The legislature intends to update provisions relating to the review, permitting, and approval of department of transportation projects, particularly those that occur on shorelines of the state, to achieve these opportunities.

The legislature further finds that the shoreline management act of 1971, codified in chapter 90.58 RCW, was approved and enacted by a vote of the people, and that the shoreline management act embodies a balance between the protection of state shorelines and development. Recognizing this balance, the legislature intends to facilitate transportation projects while ensuring accountability." [ 2015 3rd sp.s. c 15 s 1.]