RCW 36.70A.700 Purpose—Intent—2011 c 360. (1) The purpose of chapter 360, Laws of 2011 is to establish the voluntary stewardship program as recommended in the report submitted by the William D. Ruckelshaus Center to the legislature as required by chapter 353, Laws of 2007 and chapter 203, Laws of 2010. (2) It is the intent […]
RCW 36.70A.702 Construction. Nothing in RCW 36.70A.700 through 36.70A.760 may be construed to: (1) Interfere with or supplant the ability of any agricultural operator to work cooperatively with a conservation district or participate in state or federal conservation programs; (2) Require an agricultural operator to discontinue agricultural activities legally existing before July 22, 2011; (3) […]
RCW 36.70A.703 Definitions. The definitions in this section apply to RCW 36.70A.700 through 36.70A.760 and RCW 36.70A.130 and 36.70A.280 unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) “Agricultural activities” means all agricultural uses and practices as defined in RCW 90.58.065. (2) “Commission” means the state conservation commission as defined in RCW 89.08.030. (3) “Director” means the […]
RCW 36.70A.705 Voluntary stewardship program established—Administered by commission—Agency participation. (1) The voluntary stewardship program is established to be administered by the commission. The program shall be designed to protect and enhance critical areas on lands used for agricultural activities through voluntary actions by agricultural operators. (2) In administering the program, the commission must: (a) Establish […]
RCW 36.70A.710 Critical areas protection—Alternative to RCW 36.70A.060—County’s responsibilities—Procedures. (1)(a) As an alternative to protecting critical areas in areas used for agricultural activities through development regulations adopted under RCW 36.70A.060, the legislative authority of a county may elect to protect such critical areas through the program. (b) In order to participate in the program, within […]
RCW 36.70A.715 Funding by commission—County’s duties—Watershed group established. (1) When the commission makes funds available to a county that has made the election provided in RCW 36.70A.710(1), the county must within sixty days: (a) Acknowledge the receipt of funds; and (b) Designate a watershed group and an entity to administer funds for each watershed for […]
RCW 36.70A.720 Watershed group’s duties—Work plan—Conditional priority funding. (1) A watershed group designated by a county under RCW 36.70A.715 must develop a work plan to protect critical areas while maintaining the viability of agriculture in the watershed. The work plan must include goals and benchmarks for the protection and enhancement of critical areas. In developing […]
RCW 36.70A.725 Technical review of work plan—Time frame for action by director. (1) Upon receipt of a work plan submitted to the director under RCW 36.70A.720(2)(a), the director must submit the work plan to the technical panel for review. (2) The technical panel shall review the work plan and report to the director within ninety […]
RCW 36.70A.730 Report by watershed group—Director consults with statewide advisory committee. (1) Upon receipt of a report by a watershed group under RCW 36.70A.720(2)(b) that the work plan goals and benchmarks have been met, the director must consult with the statewide advisory committee. If the director concurs with the watershed group report, the watershed group […]
RCW 36.70A.735 When work plan is not approved, fails, or is unfunded—County’s duties—Rules. (1) Within eighteen months after one of the events in subsection (2) of this section, a county must: (a) Develop, adopt, and implement a watershed work plan approved by the department that protects critical areas in areas used for agricultural activities while […]
RCW 36.70A.740 Commission’s duties—Timelines. (1) By July 31, 2015, the commission must: (a) In consultation with each county that has elected under RCW 36.70A.710 to participate in the program, determine which participating watersheds received adequate funding to establish and implement the program in a participating watershed by July 1, 2015; and (b) In consultation with […]
RCW 36.70A.745 Statewide advisory committee—Membership. (1)(a) From the nominations made under (b) of this subsection, the commission shall appoint a statewide advisory committee, consisting of: Two persons representing county government, two persons representing agricultural organizations, and two persons representing environmental organizations. The commission, in conjunction with the governor’s office, shall also invite participation by two […]
RCW 36.70A.750 Agricultural operators—Individual stewardship plan. (1) Agricultural operators implementing an individual stewardship plan consistent with a work plan are presumed to be working toward the protection and enhancement of critical areas. (2) If the watershed group determines that additional or different practices are needed to achieve the work plan’s goals and benchmarks, the agricultural […]
RCW 36.70A.755 Implementing the work plan. In developing stewardship practices to implement the work plan, to the maximum extent practical the watershed group should: (1) Avoid management practices that may have unintended adverse consequences for other habitats, species, and critical areas functions and values; and (2) Administer the program in a manner that allows participants […]
RCW 36.70A.760 Agricultural operators—Withdrawal from program. An agricultural operator participating in the program may withdraw from the program and is not required to continue voluntary measures after the expiration of an applicable contract. The watershed group must account for any loss of protection resulting from withdrawals when establishing goals and benchmarks for protection and a […]
RCW 36.70A.800 Role of growth strategies commission. The growth strategies commission created by executive order shall: (1) Analyze different methods for assuring that county and city comprehensive plans adopted under chapter 36.70A RCW are consistent with the planning goals under RCW 36.70A.020 and with other requirements of chapter 36.70A RCW; (2) Recommend to the legislature […]
RCW 36.70A.900 Severability—1990 1st ex.s. c 17. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected. [ 1990 1st ex.s. c 17 § 88.]
RCW 36.70A.901 Part, section headings not law—1990 1st ex.s. c 17. Part and section headings as used in this act do not constitute any part of the law. [ 1990 1st ex.s. c 17 § 89.]
RCW 36.70A.902 Section headings not law—1991 sp.s. c 32. Section headings as used in this act do not constitute any part of the law. [ 1991 sp.s. c 32 § 40.]
RCW 36.70A.903 Transfer of powers, duties, and functions. (1) The powers, duties, and functions of the growth management hearings board are hereby transferred to the environmental and land use hearings office. (2)(a) All reports, documents, surveys, books, records, files, papers, or written material in the possession of the growth management hearings board shall be delivered […]
