Washington Code 80.50.040 – Energy facility site evaluation council

The council shall have the following powers:

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Terms Used In Washington Code 80.50.040

Application: means any request for approval of a particular site or sites filed in accordance with the procedures established pursuant to this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires. See Washington Code 80.50.020
Certification: means a binding agreement between an applicant and the state which shall embody compliance to the siting guidelines, in effect as of the date of certification, which have been adopted pursuant to RCW 80. See Washington Code 80.50.020
Construction: means on-site improvements, excluding exploratory work, which cost in excess of two hundred fifty thousand dollars. See Washington Code 80.50.020
Council: means the energy facility site evaluation council created by RCW 80. See Washington Code 80.50.020
Energy facility: means an energy plant or transmission facilities: PROVIDED, That the following are excluded from the provisions of this chapter:

Washington Code 80.50.020

Facilities: means lines, conduits, ducts, poles, wires, cables, cross-arms, receivers, transmitters, instruments, machines, appliances, instrumentalities and all devices, real estate, easements, apparatus, property and routes used, operated, owned or controlled by any telecommunications company to facilitate the provision of telecommunications service. See Washington Code 80.04.010

Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.

Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.

Site: means any proposed or approved location of an energy facility, alternative energy resource, clean energy product manufacturing facility, or electrical transmission facility. See Washington Code 80.50.020

(1) To adopt, promulgate, amend, or rescind suitable rules and regulations, pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW, to carry out the provisions of this chapter, and the policies and practices of the council in connection therewith;

(2) To develop and apply environmental and ecological guidelines in relation to the type, design, location, construction, initial operational conditions of certification, and ongoing regulatory oversight under the regulatory authority established in this chapter of energy facilities subject to this chapter;

(3) To establish rules of practice for the conduct of public hearings pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, as found in chapter 34.05 RCW;

(4) To prescribe the form, content, and necessary supporting documentation for site certification;

(5) To receive applications for energy facility locations and to investigate the sufficiency thereof;

(6) To enter into contracts to carry out the provisions of this chapter;

(7) To conduct hearings on the proposed location and operational conditions of the energy facilities under the regulatory authority established in this chapter;

(8) To prepare written reports to the governor which shall include: (a) A statement indicating whether the application is in compliance with the council’s guidelines, (b) criteria specific to the site and transmission line routing, (c) a council recommendation as to the disposition of the application, and (d) a draft certification agreement when the council recommends approval of the application;

(9) To prescribe the means for monitoring of the effects arising from the construction and the operation of energy facilities to assure continued compliance with terms of certification and/or permits issued by the council pursuant to chapter 90.48 RCW or subsection (12) of this section: PROVIDED, That any on-site inspection required by the council shall be performed by other state agencies pursuant to interagency agreement: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the council may retain authority for determining compliance relative to monitoring;

(10) To integrate its site evaluation activity with activities of federal agencies having jurisdiction in such matters to avoid unnecessary duplication;

(11) To present state concerns and interests to other states, regional organizations, and the federal government on the location, construction, and operation of any energy facility which may affect the environment, health, or safety of the citizens of the state of Washington;

(12) To issue permits in compliance with applicable provisions of the federally approved state implementation plan adopted in accordance with the Federal Clean Air Act, as now existing or hereafter amended, for the new construction, reconstruction, or enlargement or operation of energy facilities: PROVIDED, That such permits shall become effective only if the governor approves an application for certification and executes a certification agreement pursuant to this chapter: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That all such permits be conditioned upon compliance with all provisions of the federally approved state implementation plan which apply to energy facilities covered within the provisions of this chapter; and

(13) To serve as an interagency coordinating body for energy-related issues.

[ 2022 c 183 § 5; 2001 c 214 § 6; 1990 c 12 § 4; 1985 c 67 § 2; 1979 ex.s. c 254 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 371 § 4; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 108 § 32; 1970 ex.s. c 45 § 4.]