(1) Any person may submit a petition to the board requesting the adoption, amendment, or repeal of any rule pursuant to RCW 34.05.330 and the process set forth in chapter 82-05 WAC as further supplemented by these rules. The petition should be clearly identified as such and contain sufficient information so the board and public can understand the proposal.

(2) Any petition for rule making, amendment or repeal shall be submitted no later than fourteen days before the next regularly scheduled board meeting to be included on the agenda. Petitions shall be sent to the rules coordinator for the board at the following address: Forest Practices Board, c/o Department of Natural Resources, Forest Practices Division, P.O. Box 47012, Olympia, WA 98504-7012. If the petition is more than twenty pages in length (including any supplementary materials), it shall be accompanied by fifteen copies.

(3) Submission of a petition is defined as receipt of a complete petition by the board staff. Petitions requiring additional copies as described in subsection (2) of this section will not be considered complete until copies have been provided to staff.

(4) Within five business days of submission, the board staff will send the petitioner acknowledgment of receipt of the petition, including the name and telephone number of a contact person. If the petition is incomplete, board staff will notify the petitioner what additional information is required.

(5) Information required for proposed new rule adoption:

(a) Text of the proposed rule or description of its provisions and rationale for a new rule.

(b) Authority for the proposed rule.

(c) Reason the rule is needed, including what or who is benefited or otherwise affected by the rule.

(6) Information required for amendment of an existing rule: Rule title and chapter number, text, or description of the proposed amendment, and rationale for amendment.

(7) Information required for repeal of existing rule: Rule title and chapter number, and description of the rationale and effects of the proposed repeal.

(8) Other information to include, if applicable, to proposed rule amendments or repeals:

(a) How the rule harms or otherwise affects public resources or public health, safety, or general welfare.

(b) What alternatives to the rule exist that will serve the same purpose at less cost.

(c) If the rule is not clearly and simply stated, suggestions on how to state the rule clearly and simply.

(d) Whether the rule imposes unreasonable costs and to whom.

(e) How the rule conflicts with or duplicates other federal, state, or local laws.

(f) How the rule differs, without adequate justification, from a federal law that applies to the same activity or subject matter.

(9) No later than sixty days after receipt of a complete petition, the board will:

(a) Initiate rule-making proceedings in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW; or

(b) Deny the petition in writing, stating its reasons for the denial and specifically addressing the concerns stated in the petition. Where appropriate, the board will indicate alternative means by which the board will address the concerns raised in the petition.

(10) If the board denies the petition, the petitioner may appeal the denial to the joint administrative rules review committee, the governor, or superior court pursuant to RCW 34.05.330 (2) and (3) and 34.05.570(4).