EXECUTIVE ORDER  80-18

Environmental Permit Processing

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this administration to develop and promote the wise use of the state's natural resources, and environmental permits are the foundation of any program to develop and promote the wise use of our natural resources; and

WHEREAS, any delay in the issuance of environmental permits often cause project delays if agencies do not expedite permit processing; and

WHEREAS, state agencies often do not have set times within which permits are normally issued and applicants are entitled to know within reasonable limits how much time permit processing will take; and

WHEREAS, a more efficient permit processing system will result in savings both to the applicant in terms of time, and savings to state agencies in terms of valuable resources; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this administration that all possible steps be taken to expeditiously issue environmental permits.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Dixy Lee Ray, Governor of the State of Washington, do hereby direct as follows:

Every state department, commission, board or other agency of state government making decisions on the issuance or denial of environmental, natural resource, and/or land use permits shall inform an applicant of the process to be utilized, respective responsibilities of the applicant and the agency in this process, and the time required to notify the applicant of the decision. If delays arise during the course of processing environmental permits (such as protests, appeals, or data deficiencies), the applicant will be notified in writing of these circumstances and of the estimated time for resolution. Higher management within the agency will be advised of the delay.

Further, all state agencies issuing environmental permits are directed to provide the Business License Center copies of documents for the public containing the following information:

Purpose of the program and the permit.
The kind of information needed by the agency from the applicant.
Step-by-step instruction on how to fill out forms.
Time needed for each stage in the permitting process.
Procedures for appeal.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal of the State of
Washington to be affixed at Olympia this
17th day of November A.D., Nineteen hundred and eighty.

Dixy Lee Ray
Governor of Washington

BY THE GOVERNOR:



Secretary of State