The department shall establish a technical assistance unit within its air quality program, consistent with the federal clean air act, to provide the regulated community, especially small businesses with:

(1) Information on air pollution laws, rules, compliance methods, and technologies;

(2) Information on air pollution prevention methods and technologies, and prevention of accidental releases;

(3) Assistance in obtaining permits and developing emission reduction plans;

(4) Information on the health and environmental effects of air pollution.

No representatives of the department designated as part of the technical assistance unit created in this section may have any enforcement authority. Staff of the technical assistance unit who provide on-site consultation at an industrial or commercial facility and who observe violations of air quality rules shall immediately inform the owner or operator of the facility of such violations. On-site consultation visits shall not be regarded as an inspection or investigation and no notices or citations may be issued or civil penalties assessed during such a visit. However, violations shall be reported to the appropriate enforcement agency and the facility owner or operator shall be notified that the violations will be reported. No enforcement action shall be taken by the enforcement agency for violations reported by technical assistance unit staff unless and until the facility owner or operator has been provided reasonable time to correct the violation. Violations that place any person in imminent danger of death or substantial bodily harm or cause physical damage to the property of another in an amount exceeding one thousand dollars may result in immediate enforcement action by the appropriate enforcement agency.

Finding—1991 c 199: See note following RCW 70A.15.1005.