Section 173-98-710. The Growth Management Act.

(1) A local government not in compliance with the Growth Management Act may not receive loans or grants from the department, except, in limited circumstances, where a local government must address a public health need or substantial environmental degradation.

(2) For the purposes of this section, "compliance with the Growth Management Act" means: A county, city, or town that must or chooses to plan under RCW 36.70A.040 has adopted a comprehensive plan, including a capital facilities plan element, and development regulations as required by chapter 36.70A RCW.

(3) For the purposes of this chapter, a public health need related to a loan must be documented by a letter signed by the secretary of the Washington state department of health or his or her designee and addressed to the public official who signed the loan application. "Public health need" means a situation where:

(a) There is a documented potential for:

(i) Contaminating a source of drinking water; or

(ii) Failure of existing wastewater system or systems resulting in contamination being present on the surface of the ground in the quantities and locations as to create a potential for public contact; or

(iii) Contamination of a commercial or recreational shellfish bed as to create a critical public health risk associated with consumption of the shellfish; or

(iv) Contamination of surface water so as to create a critical public health risk associated with recreational use; and

(b) The problem generally involves a serviceable area including, but not limited to, a subdivision, town, city, or county, or an area serviced by on-site sewage disposal systems; and

(c) The problem cannot be corrected through more efficient operation and maintenance of an existing wastewater disposal system or systems.

(4) For the purposes of this chapter, a substantial environmental degradation related to a loan must be documented by a letter signed by the director and addressed to the public official who signed the loan application. "Substantial environmental degradation" means that:

(a) There is a situation causing real, documented, critical environmental contamination that:

(i) Contributes to violations of the state's water quality standards; or

(ii) Interferes with beneficial uses of the waters of the state;

(b) The problem generally involves a serviceable area including, but not limited to, a subdivision, town, city, or county, or an area serviced by on-site sewage disposal systems; and

(c) The problem cannot be corrected through more efficient operation and maintenance of an existing wastewater disposal system or systems.

(5) A county, city, or town that has been offered a loan for a water pollution control facilities project may not receive loan funds while the county, city, or town is not in compliance with the Growth Management Act unless:

(a) Documentation showing that a public health need has been provided by the Washington state department of health; or documentation showing that a substantial environmental degradation exists has been provided by the department;

(b) The county, city, or town has provided documentation to the department that actions or measures are being implemented to address the public health need or substantial environmental degradation; and

(c) The department has determined that the project is designed to address only the public health need or substantial environmental degradation described in the documentation, and does not address unrelated needs including, but not limited to, provisions for additional growth.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 90.50A RCW, RCW 90.48.035, and 43.21A.080. WSR 11-20-036 (Order 10-14), § 173-98-710, filed 9/27/11, effective 10/28/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 90.48.035. WSR 07-14-096 (Order 05-16), § 173-98-710, filed 6/29/07, effective 7/30/07.]

Chapter 90.50A RCW, RCW 90.48.035, and 43.21A.080. WSR 11-20-036 (Order 10-14), § 173-98-710, filed 9/27/11, effective 10/28/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 90.48.035. WSR 07-14-096 (Order 05-16), § 173-98-710, filed 6/29/07, effective 7/30/07.