(1) Any person desiring to make use of a
portion of the ocean beaches for a recreation event that will require the
closure of the area to certain conflicting recreational uses, may apply to the
director for a special recreation event permit. The director, or designee, may
issue such a permit after consultation with the appropriate local government,
if the event does not unduly interfere with normal public recreation. Such
authorization shall include the closure of the specified area to recreational
activities, including motor vehicle traffic, which are determined to have the
potential to interfere with the event or which could risk the safety of the
recreating public or the special event participants. However, no such
authorization may result in the unreasonable exclusion of pedestrian
recreationists from the specified portion of the ocean beach; all events
authorized under this permit shall be open to public participation and/or
observation.
(2) In determining
whether to issue the permit, the director or designee will review the proposal
for consistency with established approval criteria developed by the agency,
which are designed to ensure the appropriateness of the event to the ocean
beaches, and the basis for any associated public recreation restrictions. The
criteria are available upon request from the agency.
(3) A special recreation event permit shall
be issued only for recreational events where there is a reasonable expectation
that a minimum of twenty persons will participate. The event must be oriented
towards a recreational pursuit. Not more than three permits will be issued to a
given applicant for the same event during a one-year period. The recreation
activity must be consistent with the seashore conservation area (RCW
79A.05.600 through 79A.05.-630), and may
include an activity otherwise excluded under this chapter. Special recreation
events shall not exceed three days or seventy-two hours.
(4) Persons or organizations that desire to
conduct a special recreation event on the ocean beaches shall submit a permit
application provided by the director and appropriate fees to the park where the
event is proposed to take place.
(5) If the agency determines it is necessary,
the applicant must submit a completed environmental checklist along with the
application. Upon request, the agency may assist the applicant in completing
the environmental checklist and may request compensation in accordance with
agency State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) rules, chapter
352-11
WAC.
(6) Permit applications must
be submitted at least sixty days in advance of the proposed activity to allow
for staff review, agency coordination, and to comply with SEPA review
requirements. The sixty day application filing requirements may be waived in
extenuating circumstances.
(a) The permittee
must pay any fees published by state parks for the use of park lands or
facilities. The director or designee shall determine the need for any fees
necessary to cover costs incurred by the agency, as well as the need for any
bond, damage deposit, or liability insurance arising from any potential hazards
associated with the character of the event. Any such fees, bond, damage
deposit, or liability insurance shall be provided prior to the issuance of the
permit.
(b) If additional costs are
incurred by the commission resulting from the event, the applicant shall
reimburse the commission for such costs in a timely manner. If the additional
costs are not paid, the director or designee may recover such costs from the
bond or damage deposits provided if previously required. Any funds remaining
from the bond or damage deposit shall be returned to the applicant.
(7) Any violation of this section
is an infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW.