Washington § 47.12.023 - Acquisition of state lands or interests or rights therein — Procedures — Compensation — Reacquisition by department of natural resources.

(1) Except as provided in RCW 47.12.026 and 47.12.029, whenever it is necessary to secure any lands or interests in lands for any highway purpose mentioned in RCW 47.12.010, or for the construction of any toll facility or ferry terminal or docking facility, the title to which is in the state of Washington and under the jurisdiction of the department of natural resources, the department of transportation may acquire jurisdiction over the lands or interests in lands, or acquire rights to remove materials from the lands in the manner set forth in this section.

(2) At any time after the final adoption of a right-of-way plan or other plan requiring the acquisition of lands or interests in lands for any purpose as authorized in subsection (1) of this section, the department of transportation may file with the department of natural resources a notice setting forth its intent to acquire jurisdiction of the lands or interests in lands under the jurisdiction of the department of natural resources required for right-of-way or other highway purposes related to the construction or improvement of such state highway, toll facility, or ferry terminal or docking facility.

(3) The department of transportation at the time of filing its notice of intent as provided in subsection (2) of this section shall file therewith a written statement showing the total amount of just compensation to be paid for the property in the event of settlement. The offer shall be based upon the department of transportation approved appraisal of the fair market value of the property to be acquired. In no event may the offer of settlement be referred to or used during any arbitration proceeding or trial conducted for the purpose of determining the amount of just compensation.

(4) Just compensation and/or fair market value for the purposes of this section shall be determined in accordance with applicable federal and state constitutional, statutory, and case law relating to the condemnation of private and public property for public purposes.

(5) If the department of natural resources does not accept the offer of the department of transportation, the department of transportation may nonetheless pay to the department of natural resources the amount of its offer and obtain immediate possession and use of the property pending the determination of just compensation in the manner hereinafter provided.

(6) If the amount of just compensation is not agreed to, either the department of natural resources or the department of transportation may request in writing the appointment of an arbitrator for the purpose of determining the amount of compensation to be paid by the department of transportation for the acquisition of jurisdiction over the lands or interests in lands or rights therein. In that event the department of natural resources and the department of transportation may jointly agree on an arbitrator to determine the compensation, and his or her determination shall be final and conclusive upon both departments. The costs of the arbitrator shall be borne equally by the parties. If the department of natural resources and the department of transportation are unable to agree on the selection of an arbitrator within thirty days after a request therefor is made, either the department of transportation or the department of natural resources may file a petition with the superior court for Thurston county for the purpose of determining the amount of just compensation to be paid. The matter shall be tried by the court pursuant to the procedures set forth in RCW 8.04.080.

(7) Whenever the department of transportation has acquired immediate possession and use of property by payment of the amount of its offer to the department of natural resources, and the arbitration award or judgment of the court for the acquisition exceeds the payment for immediate possession and use, the department of transportation shall forthwith pay the amount of such excess to the department of natural resources with interest thereon from the date it obtained immediate possession. If the arbitration or court award is less than the amount previously paid by the department of transportation for immediate possession and use, the department of natural resources shall forthwith pay the amount of the difference to the department of transportation.

(8) Upon the payment of just compensation, as agreed to by the department of transportation and the department of natural resources, or as determined by arbitration or by judgment of the court, and other costs or fees as provided by statute, the department of natural resources shall cause to be executed and delivered to the department of transportation an instrument transferring jurisdiction over the lands or interests in lands, or rights to remove material from the lands, to the department of transportation.

(9) Except as provided in RCW 47.12.026, whenever the department of transportation ceases to use any lands or interests in lands acquired in the manner set forth in this section for the purposes mentioned herein, the department of natural resources may reacquire jurisdiction over the lands or interests in land by paying the fair market value thereof to the department of transportation. If the two departments are unable to agree on the fair market value of the lands or interests in lands, the market value shall be determined and the interests therein shall be transferred in accordance with the provisions and procedures set forth in subsections (4) through (8) of this section.