(1) An applicant shall pay an application fee, if applicable, at the time an application or notification is submitted to the department or to the local governmental entity as provided in this chapter.

(2)(a) If RCW 77.55.361, 76.09.490, 76.09.040, and 76.09.060 are not enacted into law by June 30, 2012, then the fee for applications and notifications submitted to the department shall be fifty dollars for class II, III, and IV forest practices applications or notifications relating to the commercial harvest of timber. However, the fee shall be five hundred dollars for class IV forest practices applications on lands being converted to other uses or on lands which are not to be reforested because of the likelihood of future conversion to urban development or on lands that are contained within “urban growth areas,” designated pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW, except the fee shall be fifty dollars on those lands where the forestland owner provides:

(i) A written statement of intent signed by the forestland owner not to convert to a use other than commercial forest product operations for ten years, accompanied by either a written forest management plan acceptable to the department or documentation that the land is enrolled under the provisions of chapter 84.33 RCW; or

(ii) A conversion option harvest plan approved by the local governmental entity and submitted to the department as part of the forest practices application.

(b)(i) If RCW 77.55.361, 76.09.490, 76.09.040, and 76.09.060 are enacted into law by June 30, 2012, then:

(A) The fee for applications and notifications relating to the commercial harvest of timber submitted to the department shall be one hundred dollars for class II applications and notifications, class III applications, and class IV forest practices that have a potential for a substantial impact on the environment and therefore require an evaluation by the department as to whether or not a detailed statement must be prepared pursuant to the state environmental policy act, chapter 43.21C RCW, when the application or notification is submitted by a landowner who satisfies the definition of small forestland owner provided in RCW 76.09.450 and the application or notification applies to a single contiguous ownership consisting of one or more parcels;

(B) The fee for applications and notifications relating to the commercial harvest of timber submitted to the department shall be one hundred fifty dollars for class II applications and notifications, class III applications, and class IV forest practices that have a potential for a substantial impact on the environment and therefore require an evaluation by the department as to whether or not a detailed statement must be prepared pursuant to the state environmental policy act, chapter 43.21C RCW, when the application or notification is submitted by a landowner who does not satisfy the criteria for a reduced application fee as provided in (b)(i)(A) of this subsection (2); and

(C) The fee shall be one thousand five hundred dollars for class IV forest practices applications on lands being converted to other uses or on lands that are not to be reforested because of the likelihood of future conversion to urban development or on lands that are contained within urban growth areas, designated pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW, except the fee shall be the same as for a class III forest practices application where the forestland owner provides:

(I) A written statement of intent signed by the forestland owner not to convert to a use other than commercial forest product operations for ten years, accompanied by either a written forest management plan acceptable to the department or documentation that the land is enrolled under the provisions of chapter 84.33 RCW; or

(II) A conversion option harvest plan approved by the local governmental entity and submitted to the department as part of the forest practices application.

(ii) If the board has not incorporated fish protection standards adopted under chapter 77.55 RCW into the forest practices rules and approved technical guidance as required under RCW 76.09.040 by December 31, 2013, the fee for applications and notifications submitted to the department shall be as provided under (a) of this subsection until the rules are adopted and technical guidance approved.

(3) The forest practices application account is created in the state treasury. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. All money collected from fees under subsection (2) of this section shall be deposited in the forest practices application account for the purposes of implementing this chapter, chapter 76.13 RCW, and Title 222 WAC.

(4) For applications submitted to a local governmental entity as provided in this chapter, the fee shall be determined, collected, and retained by the local governmental entity.

Finding—Intent—Limitation—Jurisdiction/authority of Indian tribe under act—2012 1st sp.s. c 1: See notes following RCW 77.55.011.

Authority of department of fish and wildlife under act—2012 1st sp.s. c 1: See note following RCW 76.09.040.

Effective date—1993 c 443: See note following RCW 76.09.010.