(1) The following information is required to apply for or renew a geoduck diver license:

(a) A complete, legible, and signed application form;

(b) The application and license fees as provided in RCW 77.65.440;

(i) Applicants renewing a geoduck diver license must submit the completed application, application fee and license fee by December 31;

(ii) New geoduck diver license applicants and renewing applicants who missed the December 31 deadline must submit the completed application and only the application fee by January 10. The license fee will be required within forty-eight hours if the individual is selected.

(c) Completion of the department of natural resources (DNR) geoduck diver safety program to be verified by the department of fish and wildlife (DFW) with DNR;

(d) All applicants must be on a DNR geoduck harvest agreement plan of operation during the applicable current calendar year and be verified by the department with DNR on an annual basis; and

(e) The department will not consider incomplete applications for a geoduck diver license.

(2) No more than 77 geoduck diver licenses may be issued per calendar year.

(3) Applicants may submit applications to the department:

(a) By mailing to P.O. Box 43154, Olympia, WA 98504-3154;

(b) By faxing to 360-902-2945; or

(c) In person at the DFW licensing front desk, first floor, natural resources building at 1111 Washington St. S.E., Olympia, WA 98501 during licensing window hours.

(4) The department will renew any geoduck diver license if all requirements listed in subsection (1) of this section are met by December 31. If less than 77 geoduck diver licenses have been issued after the department approves all qualifying applications to renew a geoduck diver license, then the department will issue additional licenses, up to the 77 geoduck diver license limit, to new geoduck diver license applicants and renewing applicants who missed the December 31 deadline. The department will complete the following process for issuing licenses to new geoduck diver license qualified applicants and renewing applicants who missed the December 31 deadline:

(a) New geoduck diver license applicants and renewing applicants who missed the December 31 deadline will be eligible if all requirements listed in subsection (1) of this section are met by January 10. A drawing will be held ten business days after January 10 for all eligible new applicants.

(b) After the initial drawing, if there are remaining licenses available up to the 77 geoduck diver license limit, then the department will issue licenses to new geoduck diver applicants and renewing applicants who missed the December 31 deadline based on the calendar date the application is received on a first-come first-serve basis. In the event there are multiple applications received on the same calendar day that exceed the quantity of remaining licenses, a drawing will be held to issue the remaining licenses.