SB 5155 — Extending a program to streamline the environmental permitting process for salmon recovery projects.

S-1032.1S-0365.1 SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5155 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By Senate Local Government (originally sponsored by Senators Salomon, Shewmake, Chapman, Hasegawa, Liias, Nobles, and Wellman)Wellman READPrefiled FIRST01/07/25. TIME 01/31/25.

Read first time 01/13/25.

Referred to Committee on Local Government.

It is the intent of the legislature to make this permit pathway an option and not to replace or supplant current permit requirements.

(1) The habitat ((recovery pilot)) restoration permit pathway program is created.

1 SSBSB 5155 (1)(2)(a) TheIn habitatorder ((recoveryto pilot))be restorationincluded in this statewide ((pilot)) permit pathway program isand created.qualify for the permit review and approval process created in this section, an environmental restoration project must directly benefit freshwater, estuarine, or marine fish, or the habitat they rely on, and must be included on a list of projects ((reviewed,)) approved((,)) or funded by one of the following restoration programs:

The habitat restoration permit pathway as outlined in this section does not replace or supplant the permit requirements under this chapter, but rather may be used as an optional permit pathway.

(2)(a) In order to be included in this statewide ((pilot)) permit pathway program and qualify for the permit review and approval process created in this section, an environmental restoration project must directly benefit freshwater, estuarine, or marine fish, or the habitat they rely on, and must be included on a list of projects ((reviewed,)) approved((,)) or funded by one of the following restoration programs:

and (xv) The Washington wildlife and recreation program, funded by the habitat conservation account created in RCW 79A.15.020;79A.15.020.

(xvi)(b) A regionalproject recoveryapplication organizationreviewed orunder regionalthis salmonsection recoverymust organizationdocument asconsistency definedwith inlocal, RCWstate, 77.85.010;and federal flood risk reduction requirements.

(xvii) Washington department of transportation's environmental retrofit program;

and (xviii) The state conservation commission's riparian grants or natural resource investments.

(b) A project application reviewed under this section must document consistency with local, state, and federal flood risk p.

2 SSB 5155 reduction requirements.

(c)(i) With regard to cultural resources, a project applicant or funding agency must review the project with the department of archaeology and historic preservation and complete any required site surveys before the project applicant files an application under this section.p.

2 SB 5155 section.

p.(d) For those projects that require a ((lease or other)) land use authorization from the department of natural resources, the project applicant must include in its application for a permit under this section a signed joint aquatic resources permit application, attachment E.

3 SSB 5155 (d) For those projects that require a ((lease or other)) land use authorization from the department of natural resources, the project applicant must include in its application for a permit under this section a signed joint aquatic resources permit application, attachment E.

or (ii) upon receipt of a signed attachmentp. E from the department of natural resources, whichever comes first.

3 SB 5155 attachment E from the department of natural resources, whichever comes first.

(b) When the department concludes that a complete application has been submitted under this section and copies of the application have been provided as required in this section, the department shall p.provide notice to the local government within whose geographical jurisdiction the project will be located, to potentially affected federally recognized tribes, and to the members of the multiagency permitting team of receipt of a complete permit application.

4 SSB 5155 provide notice to the local government within whose geographical jurisdiction the project will be located, to potentially affected federally recognized tribes, and to the members of the multiagency permitting team of receipt of a complete permit application.

(ii) Within 25 days of receiving a copy of the complete project application, the local government within whose geographical jurisdiction the project would be located, any member of the multiagencyp. permitting team, or a potentially affected federally recognized tribe may request that the department place the application on hold and immediately convene a meeting with the requesting entity and the multiagency permitting team to review and evaluate the project.

4 SB 5155 multiagency permitting team, or a potentially affected federally recognized tribe may request that the department place the application on hold and immediately convene a meeting with the requesting entity and the multiagency permitting team to review and evaluate the project.

(d) The department or, where applicable, the multiagency permitting team, shall exclude any project from the review and approval process created by this section if it concludes that the project may adversely impact human health, public safety, or the p.environment, or that the project's scope or complexity renders it inappropriate for expedited review.

5 SSB 5155 environment, or that the project's scope or complexity renders it inappropriate for expedited review.

If the multiagency permitting team determines that the review and approval process created by this section is appropriate for the proposed project, the hold on the application must be lifted and the departmentp. shall make a decision within the time that remains of the original 45-day decision deadline.

5 SB 5155 department shall make a decision within the time that remains of the original 45-day decision deadline.

(((2) This section expires June 30, 2025.)) p.NEW SECTION.

6 SSB 5155 NEW SECTION.

76 SSBSB 5155