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A. General. For any project permit proposal, where the responsible official determines upon a reasonable basis that significant, adverse environmental impacts are unlikely, the responsible official may use a single integrated comment period to obtain comments on the notice of application issued under Chapter 20.210 VMC, Decision-Making Procedures, and the likely threshold determination for the proposal. When this process is used, a separate comment period for the DNS will typically not be required when the initial Threshold Determination is issued.

B. Optional DNS process. Where the optional DNS process is used, the responsible official shall:

1. State on the first page of the notice of application that it expects to issue a DNS for the proposal and that:

a. The optional DNS process will be used;

b. That the comment period for the notice of application may be the only opportunity to comment on the environmental impacts of the proposal;

c. That the proposal may include mitigation measures under applicable codes, and the project review process may incorporate or require mitigation measures regardless of whether an EIS is prepared; and

d. That a copy of the final threshold determination for the specific proposal may be obtained upon written request.

2. List in the notice of application the conditions being considered to mitigate environmental impacts, if a mitigated DNS is expected;

3. Comply with the requirements for a notice of application and public notice in 36.70B.110 RCW and Chapter 20.210 VMC, Decision-Making Procedures; and

4. Send the notice of application and environmental checklist to:

a. Agencies with jurisdiction, Ecology, affected tribes, and each local agency or political subdivision whose public services would be changed as a result of implementation of the proposal; and

b. Anyone who requests a copy in writing of the environmental checklist for the specific proposal.

C. Additional provisions. If the lead agency indicates on the notice of application that a DNS is likely, an agency with jurisdiction may assume lead agency status during the comment period on the notice of application;

D. Consideration of comments. The responsible official shall consider timely comments on the notice of application and either:

1. Issue a final DNS or Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance (MDNS) with no comment period using the procedures in Subsection (E) of this Section;

2. Issue a final DNS or MDNS with a comment period using the procedures in Subsection (E) of this Section, if the responsible official determines a comment period is necessary;

3. Issue a DS; or

4. Require additional information or studies prior to making a final threshold determination; and

E. Copies of issued DNS or MDNS. If a DNS or MDNS is issued under Subsection (D)(1) of this Section, the lead agency shall send a copy of the DNS or MDNS to agencies with jurisdiction, Ecology, those who commented, and anyone who requests a copy in writing. A copy of the environmental checklist need not be circulated. (Ord. M-3643, 2004)