Water Right and Water Right Change Reports of Examination

View Draft Reports of Examination | View Final Reports of Examination Water Resources Program Policy 1005

Posting of Draft and Final Reports of Examination

Draft ROEs RSS feed for Draft Reports of Examination   Permit Extensions RSS feed for Permit Extension Decisions   Final ROEs RSS feed for Final Reports of Examination

Draft Reports

Ecology is now posting a copy of the Draft Report of Examination relating to any application for a permit to appropriate surface water or ground water, for a reservoir permit, or for any change of surface water or ground water right.  The draft report is not a final decision and may not be appealed.

Reports of Examination for seasonal changes to water rights and temporary and preliminary permits will generally not be posted for comment prior to a final decision.

You can view the draft Reports of Examination and decide if you would like to comment.  The comment deadline identifies the last day comments will be accepted for the related draft report of examination.  You can comment using the on-line comment form or in writing.

Final Reports

Final reports of examination will be normally posted on the Program’s internet pages within 10 working days of signature by the section manager.  You can view the final Reports of ExaminationThese Reports of Examination are Ecology’s final decisions and may be appealed to the Pollution Control Hearing Board.

The date of posting of a final Report of Examination to the Internet site begins the required 60 day public posting period. This posting does not begin the statutory 30-day appeal period. 
Appeals of final decisions to the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB) must be filed in accordance with the provisions of RCW 43.21B.

Contact the appropriate regional office for the exact appeal date timeframe.

The PCHB appeal procedures can be found at:

Water Right Permit Extension Requests

View Decisions on Permit Extension Requests Water Resources Program Policy 1050

Decisions on Requests to Modify or Extend Permit Development Schedules

A water right holder may request an extension of time on the initial development schedule on a water right (POL 1050). All extension requests must be submitted in letter format. Extensions of time on water rights are reviewed to ensure that “good cause and due diligence” have been shown in developing a water right, and to discourage any attempt to speculate future water use. “For good cause shown, the department shall extend the time or times fixed as aforesaid, and shall grant such further period or periods as may be reasonably be necessary, having due regard to the good faith of the applicant and public interests affected” (RCW 90.03.320).

Extension decisions are issued to a water right holder in letter format. The decisions on these requests will be posted here within 10 working days of signature by the section manager. Ecology’s final decisions on extension requests may be appealed to the Pollution Control Hearing Board.

The date of posting of an Extension Letter to the Internet site does not begin the statutory 30-day appeal period. Appeals of final decisions to the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB) must be filed in accordance with the provisions of 43.21B.

The statutory 30-day appeal period begins on the date that the letter is mailed.

To View a Draft or Final Report of Examination, or Extension Letter, choose from the following (use the Regional text link or Map):

 

Additional Information Sources