1. (1) The department shall issue the following certificates of approval to a person who conducts shellfish operationsand meets the requirements in this chapter and chapter 69.30 RCW:

   1. (a) A shellfish operation license; and
   2. (b) A harvest site certificate.
2. (2) A person engaged in the actions listed in WAC 246-282-005(1) must have a valid shellfish operation license.

3. (3) An applicant for a shellfish operation license shall:

   1. (a) Submit to the department a complete application on a form provided by the department and a written plan of operations that completely describes the shellfish operation;
   2. (b) Pass a preoperational inspection demonstrating compliance with chapter 69.30 RCW, this chapter, and the NSSP Model Ordinance; and
   3. (c) Pay the applicable fee required by WAC 246-282-990.
4. (4) A person harvesting a commercial quantity of shellfish or any quantity of shellfish for sale for human consumption or bait shall have a valid harvest site certificate.

5. (5) To qualify for a harvest site certificate, an applicant shall:

   1. (a) Have a valid shellfish operation license;

   2. (b) Submit to the department a completed application on a form provided by the department. The form must require, at a minimum, the following characteristics describing the site:

      1. (i) Geographic location;
      2. (ii) Map showing legal boundaries;
      3. (iii) Unique government identification number, such as county parcel number, department of fish and wildlife tract number, department of fish and wildlife catch area number, or tribal identification number; and
      4. (iv) Documentation of legal ownership or lease for shellfish harvesting; and
   3. (c) Pay the applicable fee required by WAC 246-282-990.

6. (6) The department shall issue a harvest site certificate if all of the requirements in subsection (5) of this section are met and:

   1. (a) The harvest site is in a growing area that meets the requirements of chapter 69.30 RCW, this chapter, and the NSSP Model Ordinance for a shellfish growing area;
   2. (b) The harvest site is not impacted by any actual or potential sources of pollution. If necessary to determine whether the site is impacted by any actual or potential sources of pollution, the harvest site must pass a pollution assessment inspection conducted by the department; and
   3. (c) The applicant signs the current conditionally approved area management plan, if applicable.
7. (7) A shellfish operation license and harvest site certificate for a shellfish dealer expires on June 30th annually.
8. (8) A shellfish operation license and harvest site certificate for a harvester expires on March 31st annually.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 69.30.030 and 43.20.050. WSR 26-01-084, s 246-282-012, filed 12/15/25, effective 1/15/26. Statutory Authority: RCW 69.30.030 and 43.20.030. WSR 11-19-011, § 246-282-012, filed 9/7/11, effective 10/8/11; WSR 01-04-054, § 246-282-012, filed 2/5/01, effective 3/8/01.]