(1) Except for the preceding section, agencies may create additional exemptions in their procedures only after receiving approval from the department of ecology under this section.

(2) An agency may petition the department to adopt additional exemptions or to delete existing exemptions by amending these rules. The petition shall be made under RCW 34.05.330. The petition shall state the language of the requested amendment, the petitioning agency's views on the environmental impacts of the activities covered by the proposed amendment, and the approximate number of actions of this type which have come before the petitioning agency over a particular period of time. The department shall consider and decide upon a petition within sixty days of receipt. If the determination is favorable, the department shall begin rule making under chapter 34.05 RCW. Any resulting amendments will apply either generally or to specified classes of agencies. Affected agencies shall amend their procedures accordingly.

(3) An agency may also petition the department for an immediate ruling upon any request to add, delete, or change an exemption. If such a petition is granted, the department will notify the petitioning agency, which may immediately include the change approved by the department in its own procedures. The department may thereafter begin rule making proceedings to amend these rules. Until these rules are amended, any change granted under this subsection shall apply only to the petitioning agency or agencies.

(4) The department will provide public notice of any proposed amendments to these rules in the manner required by the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW. A copy of all approvals by the department under the preceding subsection shall be given to any person requesting the department for advance notice of rule making.