(1) Application. A small forest landowner may submit a forest practices application that includes planned forest practices activities on all or part of a landowner's ownership within one of the department's geographic region boundaries. The application can be for terms of four to fifteen years at the discretion of the landowner. The landowner will submit the application to the department in two steps.

(2) Review of proposed application.

(a) Step 1: Resource and roads assessment review. The landowner will submit the resource and roads assessment portion of the application. As part of the review, the department will determine any additional known resources or threats to public safety and initiate one or more site reviews in consultation with the department of ecology, the department of fish and wildlife, and the affected Indian tribes. The department will notify the landowner and the landowner's representative to attend the site review(s). Within forty-five days of receiving the complete assessment, the department will notify the landowner in writing of its validation or rejection of the assessment. If rejected, the department will provide a written statement to the landowner explaining why the assessment was rejected.

(b) Step 2: Resource protection strategies review. The department will accept for review the resource protection strategies portion of the long-term application after the department validates Step 1. The required elements of Step 2 will include a description of proposed forest practices activities and strategies for protection of all resources identified in Step 1. The department will approve, condition, or disapprove Step 2 within forty-five days of receiving the complete Step 2 portion, except if a detailed environmental statement is necessary, additional time for approval or disapproval as specified in RCW 76.09.050 will be required. If disapproved, the department will provide a written statement to the landowner explaining why the proposed strategies were disapproved.

(3) Activity notice. At least five business days before a landowner starts an approved forest practices activity the landowner will submit to the department an activity notice in a format acceptable to the department.

(4) Amendments to long-term applications.

(a) The department may authorize nonsubstantial amendments as authorized in WAC 222-20-060.

(b) If the board considers new or amended rules to achieve resource protection objectives, the department and the board will do the following regarding existing approved long-term applications:

(i) The department, in consultation with the departments of ecology, fish and wildlife, and affected Indian tribes will review, and if necessary analyze the effects of approved long-term applications on the public resources the proposed rules are intended to protect.

(ii) The department will report the results of its review and/or analysis to the board prior to rule adoption.

(iii) Upon rule adoption, the board may direct the department to condition existing approved long-term applications to protect resources.

(iv) The department will notify impacted landowners in writing of the board's decision.