Opinion ID: 2622996
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Ecology has Independent Authority to Enforce Compliance with the SMA

Text: ¶ 67 While the majority characterizes this case as a long-standing jurisdictional conflict between Ecology and the County, the facts merely describe a dispute between Ecology and a private developer. In fact, the County conferred jurisdiction upon Ecology to enforce the SMA in the first place by issuing the shoreline permits. Ecology issued its enforcement orders and penalties under that authority. Twin Bridge did not comply with Ecology's orders because it chose to rely solely on the County-issued building permits. The allocation of enforcement jurisdiction under the SMA does not permit a developer to choose which agency to obey. ¶ 68 The SMA creates independent enforcement jurisdiction in both Ecology and local governments. RCW 90.58.210(1). Either entity may assess a penalty against [a]ny person who shall fail to conform to the terms of a permit issued under this chapter or who shall undertake development on the shorelines of the state without first obtaining any permit required under this chapter. RCW 90.58.210(2). Furthermore, Ecology may not review penalties assessed by local governments. RCW 90.58.210(4). Likewise, local governments may not review penalties assessed by Ecology. Id. ¶ 69 There is no question in this case that Twin Bridge fell within the enforcement jurisdiction of Ecology, pursuant to the shoreline permits issued by the County. Under such authority, Ecology gave express written notice to Twin Bridge's predecessor in interest that the permits only authorized the moorage and storage of equipment used for its dredging business and that any other substantial development would require a new or revised permit. [4] See Twin. Bridge Marine Park, LLC v. Dep't of Ecology, 130 Wash. App. 730, 733, 125 P.3d 155 (2005). Nonetheless, when Twin Bridge changed its development plans to construct a dry-stack storage facility, it did not apply for a new shoreline permit. As warned, Ecology ordered Twin Bridge to obtain a new shoreline permit and assessed a penalty, fully within its authority under RCW 90.58.210(2). [5] ¶ 70 Twin Bridge sought review of Ecology's penalty assessment with the Board. See RCW 90.58.210(4). As a result of that appeal, Twin Bridge and Ecology entered into a settlement agreement through which Twin Bridge agreed to pursue a new shoreline permit application in order to avoid the penalty assessed by Ecology. [6] Before the agreement was made, the County had suspended the building permits. The County reissued the building permits only after Twin Bridge applied for the shoreline permit and agreed to pursue the permit in good faith. [7] ¶ 71 Based on these facts, the majority determines that Twin Bridge was justified in relying on reissue of its building permits. Majority at 1057. However, Twin Bridge could not have reasonably inferred that the reissued building permits determined its compliance with the SMA while the shoreline permit application remained pending. Such reliance is plainly unjustifiable because it ignores that Twin Bridge remained subject to Ecology's independent enforcement jurisdiction. A party cannot decide for itself who may assert jurisdiction over it. ¶ 72 To require Ecology to file a LUPA petition under these facts would effectively limit Ecology's ability to enforce the SMA. Ecology must have jurisdiction under the SMA before it can enforce compliance against a party. Once the jurisdictional determination is made however, the SMA grants Ecology discretion to enforce compliance with the shoreline permit requirements. See RCW 90.58.210. The burden of challenging Ecology's enforcement authority rests with the party against whom Ecology seeks to enforce compliance. The SMA confers jurisdiction on the Board to review appeals of penalties assessed by Ecology for failure to obtain or comply with a shoreline permit. RCW 90.58.210(4). ¶ 73 The majority disregards this procedure in favor of one that requires Ecology to defend its authority in the first instance by filing a LUPA petition in superior court. In this case, the County made the initial jurisdictional determination by issuing the shoreline permits. Ecology took enforcement action under such jurisdiction. Despite the County's determination, Twin Bridge chose to ignore Ecology's enforcement authority in favor of its own interpretation that the County building permits somehow revoked Ecology's enforcement authority. ¶ 74 Twin Bridge claims, and the majority now holds, that Twin Bridge was entitled to rely on its own interpretation of Ecology's authority to enforce the SMA after jurisdiction had been conferred, and that Ecology must appeal that interpretation in order to defend such authority. Such a procedure totally contradicts the jurisdiction allocation under the SMA by subordinating Ecology's authority to Twin Bridge's own determination not to comply with Ecology's orders.