(1) Timing. Before November 1 of each even-numbered year, the department shall prepare a biennial program report for the legislature containing its plan for conducting remedial actions for the following two fiscal years. This report shall identify the projects and expenditures recommended for appropriation from both the state and local toxics control accounts. In determining which sites the department shall consider for planned action, emphasis shall be given to sites posing the highest risk to human health and the environment, as indicated by a site's hazard ranking. The department may also consider other factors in setting site priorities. After legislative action and any revisions, this report shall become the department's biennial program plan.

(2) Public notice. The department shall provide public notice and a hearing on the proposed plan. For purposes of this subsection only, public notice shall consist of mailings to all persons who have made a timely request and to the appropriate news media, and publication in the state register. Notice shall also be provided in the Site Register. The public comment period on the proposed plan shall run for at least thirty days from the date of the publication in the Site Register.

(1) Strategic plan. Ecology will develop and periodically update a comprehensive and integrated strategic plan for cleaning up contaminated sites. The strategic plan must prioritize contaminated sites that threaten likely vulnerable populations and overburdened communities, and consider the resource allocation factors in subsection (2) of this section. The strategic plan must include:

(a) Goals and strategies for all core program functions and major initiatives;

(b) Metrics to track and measure progress in accomplishing the goals and implementing the strategies; and

(c) Staffing and capital funds needed to accomplish the goals and implement the strategies.

(2) Resource allocation. In fulfilling the objectives of this chapter, ecology will allocate staffing and capital funds based on the following factors:

(a) The threats posed by a contaminated site to human health and the environment;

(b) Whether the population threatened by a contaminated site includes a likely vulnerable population or overburdened community;

(c) The land reuse potential and planning for a contaminated site; and

(d) Other factors specified by the legislature or ecology.

(3) Performance assessment. Ecology will periodically assess its progress in accomplishing its goals and implementing its strategies for cleaning up contaminated sites, including its progress in cleaning up sites that threaten likely vulnerable populations and overburdened communities, using the metrics established under subsection (1)(b) of this section.

(4) Notification.

(a) Ecology will make the strategic plans and performance assessments required under subsections (1) and (3) of this section publicly available on ecology's website.

(b) Ecology will provide notice in the Contaminated Site Register of the following:

(i) Any update to the strategic plans or performance assessments required under subsections (1) and (3) of this section; and

(ii) Any additional resource allocation factors specified by the legislature or ecology under subsection (2)(d) of this section.