(1) The responsible official shall determine the lead agency for proposals under WAC 197-11-050 and WAC 197-11-922 through 197-11-940; unless the lead agency has been previously determined pursuant to Chapter 43.21C RCW or the responsible official is informed that another agency is in the process of determining the lead agency.

(2) When the County is the lead agency for a proposal, the responsible official shall supervise compliance with the threshold determination requirements, and if an EIS is necessary, shall supervise preparation of the EIS.

(3) When the County is not the lead agency for a proposal, all departments of the County shall use and consider, as appropriate, either the DNS or the final EIS of the lead agency in making decisions on the proposal. No County 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. The County may conduct supplemental environmental review under WAC 197-11-600.

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

(5) The responsible official of the County is 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.

(6) The responsible official when making a lead agency determination for a private project shall require sufficient information from the applicant to identify which other agencies have jurisdiction over the proposal (that is: which agencies require nonexempt licenses).

(7) The responsible official upon review of a DNS may transmit to the initial lead agency a completed “Notice of Assumption of Lead Agency Status.” This notice shall be substantially similar to the form in WAC 197-11-985. Assumption of lead agency status shall occur only within fifteen (15) days of issuance of a DNS.

(8) Upon transmitting the DS and notice of assumption of lead agency status, the County shall become the “new” lead agency and shall expeditiously prepare an EIS; provided, however, that the responsible official may issue a mitigated DNS, after assuming lead agency responsibility, pursuant to CCC 27.01.090. In addition, all other responsibilities and authority of a lead agency under this chapter shall be transferred to the County as the new lead agency.