The department shall, when contacted by the department of natural resources under RCW 76.13.160, rely on submitted tax-related documents to confirm or deny that an applicant for the forest [forestry] riparian easement program established in RCW 76.13.120 satisfies the definition of a small forestland owner, as that term is defined in RCW 76.13.120. Nothing in this section, or RCW 76.13.160, prohibits the department from providing the department of natural resources with aggregate or general information.