A. The SEPA responsible official shall determine the lead agency for any application for or initiation of a proposal that involves a nonexempt action, as provided in WAC 197-11-050, unless the lead agency has been previously determined or if another agency is in the process of determining the lead agency.

B. When the city is the lead agency for a proposal, the SEPA responsible official shall supervise compliance with the necessary threshold determination requirements, and if an EIS is necessary, shall supervise preparation of the EIS.

C. When the city is not the lead agency for a proposal, all departments of the city shall use and consider as appropriate either the determination of nonsignificance (DNS) or the final EIS of the lead agency in making decisions on the proposal. No city department shall prepare or require preparation of a DNS or EIS in addition to that prepared by the lead agency unless required under WAC 197-11-600. In some cases, the city may conduct supplemental environmental review under WAC 197-11-600.

D. If the city, or any of its departments, receives a lead agency determination made by another agency that appears inconsistent with the criteria of WAC 197-11-253 or 197-11-922 through 197-11-940, it may object to the determination. Any objection must be made to the agency originally making the determination and resolved within 15 days of receipt of the determination or the city must petition the Department of Ecology for a lead agency determination under WAC 197-11-946 within the 15-day time period. Any such petition on behalf of the city may be initiated by the SEPA responsible official.

E. Departments of the city are authorized to make agreements as to lead agency status or shared lead agency duties for a proposal under WAC 197-11-942 and 197-11-944; provided, that the responsible official and any department that will incur responsibilities as the result of such agreement approve the agreement.

F. Any department making a lead agency determination for a private project shall require sufficient information from the applicant to identify other agencies with jurisdiction over the proposal. (Ord. 1103 § 5, 2007; Ord. 791 § 2, 1998; Ord. 546 § 1(Exh. A), 1988).