(1) Except for the siting of electrical transmission facilities, any potential applicant may request a preapplication review of a proposed project. Council staff must review the preapplicant's draft application materials and provide comments on either additional studies or stakeholder and tribal input, or both, that should be included in the formal application for site certification. Council staff must inform affected federally recognized tribes under RCW 80.50.060 of the preapplication review. The department of archaeology and historic preservation shall coordinate with the affected federally recognized tribes and the applicant in order to assess potential effects to tribal cultural resources, archaeological sites, and sacred sites.

(2) After initial review, the director and the applicant may agree on fees to be paid by the applicant so that council staff may conduct further review and consultation, including contracting for review by other parties.

Effective date—2022 c 183: See note following RCW 80.50.010.