Washington Administrative Code › Title 173 - Ecology, Department of (See also Titles 197, 317, 372, and 508) › Chapter 173-26 - State master program approval/amendment procedures and master program guidelines › Part II - SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM APPROVAL/AMENDMENT › DRAFT REVIEW › Section 173-26-104 - Optional joint review process for amending shoreline master programs

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
This section establishes an optional joint review process
					 a local government may elect to use for master program amendments other than
					 comprehensive updates. The process combines the local and state public comment
					 periods required by
					 RCW
					 90.58.090. Recognizing that the optional
					 review process requires close coordination in conducting a joint public review,
					 early and continuous consultation with the department is required during the
					 drafting of amendments. The department and local government should work
					 collaboratively to address local interests while ensuring proposed amendments
					 are consistent with the policy of
					 RCW
					 90.58.020 and applicable guidelines.
(1) Local government solicits early public
				  and agency feedback.
(a) Prior to commencing
				  the amendment process, local governments shall notify the department of intent
				  to develop an amendment under the optional joint review process.
The department will provide shoreline master program
					 amendment checklists to help local governments identify issues to address. The
					 checklists will not create new or additional requirements beyond the provisions
					 of this chapter. The checklists are intended to aid in the preparation and
					 review of master program amendments.
(b) Prior to submittal of a master program
				  amendment to the department, local government shall solicit public and agency
				  comment during the drafting of proposed amendments.
(i) The degree of public and agency
				  involvement sought by local government should be gauged according to the level
				  of complexity, anticipated controversy, and range of issues covered in the
				  draft proposal.
(ii) Local
				  government shall make all reasonable effort to consult with and solicit
				  comments of any persons, groups, federal, state, regional, or local agency, and
				  tribes, having interests or responsibilities relating to the subject shorelines
				  or any special expertise with respect to any environmental impact. The
				  consultation process should include adjacent local governments with
				  jurisdiction over common shorelines of the state, where applicable.
(iii) For local governments planning under
				  chapter 36.70A RCW, local citizen involvement strategies should be implemented
				  to ensure early and continuous public participation consistent with WAC
				  365-196-600.
(c) Where amendments are proposed to a county
				  or regional master program which has been adopted by cities or towns, the
				  county shall coordinate with those jurisdictions and verify concurrence with or
				  denial of the proposal. For concurring jurisdictions, the amendments should be
				  packaged and processed together. The procedural requirements of this section
				  may be consolidated for concurring jurisdictions.