(1)(a) If a violation of this chapter or of the rules implementing this chapter, a deviation from the hydraulic project approval, damage to fish life or fish habitat, or potential damage to fish life or fish habitat, has occurred and the department determines that a stop work order is unnecessary, the department may issue and serve upon a project proponent a notice to comply, which must clearly set forth:

(i) A description of the condition that is not in compliance and the text of the specific section or subsection of this chapter or the rules that implement this chapter;

(ii) A statement of what is required to achieve compliance;

(iii) The date by which the department requires compliance to be achieved;

(iv) Notice of the means to contact any technical assistance services provided by the department or others;

(v) Notice of when, where, and to whom a request to extend the time to achieve compliance for good cause may be filed with the department; and

(vi) The right to an appeal.

(b) The notice to comply may require that any project proponent take corrective action to prevent, correct, or compensate for adverse impacts to fish life or fish habitat.

(2) Within five business days of issuing the notice to comply, the department shall mail a copy of the notice to comply to the last known address of any project proponent, to the last known address of the owner of the land on which the hydraulic project is located, and to the local jurisdiction in which the hydraulic project is located. The department must take all measures reasonably calculated to ensure that the project proponent actually receives notice of the notice to comply.

(3) Issuance of a notice to comply may be informally appealed by a project proponent who was served with the notice to comply or who received a copy of the notice to comply from the department, or by the owner of the land on which the hydraulic project is located, to the department within thirty days from the date of receipt of the notice to comply. Requests for informal appeal must be filed in the form and manner prescribed by the department by rule. A notice to comply that has been informally appealed to the department is appealable to the board within thirty days from the date of receipt of the department's decision on the informal appeal.

(4) The project proponent who was served with the notice to comply, the project proponent who received a copy of the notice to comply from the department, or the owner of the land on which the hydraulic project is located may commence an appeal to the board within thirty days from the date of receipt of the notice to comply. If such an appeal is commenced, the proceeding is an adjudicative proceeding under the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW. The recipient of the notice to comply must comply with the notice to comply immediately upon being served, but the board may stay, modify, or discontinue the notice to comply, upon motion, under such conditions as the board may impose.

(5) This section does not apply to a project, or to that portion of a project, that has received a forest practices hydraulic project permit from the department of natural resources pursuant to chapter 76.09 RCW.

(6) For the purposes of this section, "project proponent" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 77.55.410(3).

Finding—Intent—2019 c 290: See note following RCW 77.12.085.