In addition to those definitions contained within WAC 197-11-700 through 197-11-799 when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings, unless the context indicates otherwise.
(1) 
"Department"
means any division, subdivision or organizational unit of the town established by ordinance, rule, or order.
(2) 
"SEPA rules"
means Chapter 197-11 WAC adopted by the Department of Ecology.
(3) 
"Ordinance"
means the ordinance, resolution, or other procedure used by the town to adopt regulatory requirements.
(4) 
"Early notice"
means the town's response to an applicant stating whether it considers issuance of a determination of significance likely for the applicant's proposal (mitigated determination of nonsignificance (DNS) procedures).
(5) 
"Town"
means the town of Twisp, Washington.
(Ord. 294 Pt. 2 § 2, 1984)
(1) 
For those proposals for which the town is the lead agency, the responsible official shall be the mayor or his designee.
(2) 
For all proposals for which the town is the lead agency, the responsible official shall make the threshold determination, supervise scoping and preparation of any required environmental impact statement (EIS) and perform any other functions assigned to the "lead agency" or "responsible official" by those sections of the SEPA rules that were adopted by reference in WAC 173-806-020.
(3) 
The town shall retain all documents required by the SEPA rules (Chapter 197-11 WAC) and make them available in accordance with Chapter 42.17 RCW.
(Ord. 294 Pt. 2 § 3, 1984)
(1) 
The department within the town receiving an application for or initiating a proposal that involves a nonexempt action shall determine the lead agency for that proposal under WAC 197-11-050 and 197-11-922 through 197-11-940, unless the lead agency has been previously determined or the department is aware that another department or agency is in the process of determining the lead agency.
(2) 
When the town is the lead agency for a proposal, the department receiving the application shall determine the responsible official who shall supervise compliance with the threshold determination requirements, and if an EIS is necessary, shall supervise preparation of the EIS.
(3) 
When the town is not the lead agency for a proposal, all departments of the town shall use and consider, as appropriate, either the DNS or the final EIS of the lead agency in making decisions on the proposal. No town department shall prepare or require preparation of a DNS or EIS in addition to that prepared by the lead agency, unless required under WAC 197-11-600. In some cases, the town may conduct supplemental environmental review under WAC 197-11-600.
(4) 
If the town or any of its departments receives a lead agency determination made by another agency that appears inconsistent with the criteria of WAC 197-11-922 through 197-11-940, it may object to the determination. Any objection must be made to the agency originally making the determination and resolved within 15 days of receipt of the determination, or the town must petition the Department of Ecology for a lead agency determination under WAC 197-11-946 within the 15-day time period. Any such petition on behalf of the city-county may be initiated by the mayor.
(5) 
Departments of the town are authorized to make agreements as to lead agency status or shared lead agency duties for a proposal under WAC 197-11-942 and 197-11-944; provided, that the responsible official and any department that will incur responsibilities as the result of such agreement approve the agreement.
(6) 
Any department making a lead agency determination for a private project shall require sufficient information from the applicant to identify which other agencies have jurisdiction over the proposal.
(Ord. 294 Pt. 2 § 4, 1984)
For any proposal for a private project where the town would be the lead agency and for which one or more state agencies have jurisdiction, the town's responsible official may elect to transfer the lead agency duties to a state agency. The state agency with jurisdiction appearing first on the priority listing in WAC 197-11-936 shall be the lead agency and the town shall be an agency with jurisdiction. To transfer lead agency duties, the town's responsible official must transmit a notice of the transfer together with any relevant information available on the proposal to the appropriate state agency with jurisdiction. The responsible official of the town shall also give notice of the transfer to the private applicant and any other agencies with jurisdiction over the proposal.
(Ord. 294 Pt. 2 § 5, 1984)
The following time limits shall apply when the town processes licenses for all private projects and those governmental proposals submitted to the town by other agencies:
(1) 
Categorical Exemptions. The town shall identify whether an action is categorically exempt within 15 days of receiving a completed application.
(2) 
Threshold Determinations.
(a) 
The town should complete threshold determinations that can be based solely upon review of the environmental checklist for the proposal within 15 days of the date an applicant's adequate application and completed checklist are submitted.
(b) 
When the responsible official requires further information from the applicant or consultation with other agencies with jurisdiction:
(i) 
The town should request such further information within 15 days of receiving an adequate application and completed environmental checklist;
(ii) 
The town shall wait no longer than 30 days for consulted agency to respond;
(iii) 
The responsible official should complete the threshold determination within 15 days of receiving the requested information from the applicant or the consulted agency.
(c) 
When the town must initiate further studies, including field investigation, to obtain the information to make the threshold determination, the town should complete the studies within 30 days of receiving an adequate application and a completed checklist.
(d) 
The town shall complete threshold determinations on actions where the applicant recommends in writing that an EIS be prepared, because of the probable significant adverse environmental impact(s) described in the application, within 15 days of receiving an adequate application and completed checklist.
(Ord. 294 Pt. 2 § 6, 1984)
(1) 
For nonexempt proposals the DNS or DEIS for the proposal shall accompany the town's staff recommendation to any appropriate advisory body, such as the planning commission.
(2) 
The town's only action on a proposal is a decision on a building permit or other license that requires detailed project plans and specifications; the applicant may request in writing that the town conduct environmental review prior to submission of the detailed plans and specifications.
(Ord. 294 Pt. 2 § 7, 1984)