(a) Upon issuance of a determination of significance, the responsible official shall notify the applicant of the county’s procedure for EIS preparation;

(b) The applicant shall present its proposed consultant (or consultant team) for EIS preparation, selected from the county roster of approved consultants, to the responsible official. The responsible official shall approve or reject the proposed consultant. Any selected consultant may not have acted as an advocate for the applicant in seeking to demonstrate to the responsible official that the project does not require an EIS;

(c) The applicant, in consultation with the county, shall prepare a contract with the consultant or consulting team for consultant services. The scope of work for the contract shall be subject to county review, comment and approval; provided however, that any contract prepared pursuant to this chapter shall require the consultant to produce a document which allows the average reader to understand the significant and material information concerning the proposed action, impacts and alternatives, and that maintains a neutral and objective position in relation to the proposal. Such contract shall also specify that consultants who participate in preparing a county-directed EIS are considered an agent for the county in achieving an adequate document; that when adequacy of an EIS is challenged the consultant shall continue in its capacity as an agent for the county; and the consultant shall not act as an advocate for the project in any circumstances, including all SEPA appeals;

(d) The responsible official shall oversee and direct the consultant’s preparation of a draft or final EIS, including but not limited to: advice regarding areas of research and the organization of the draft and final EIS, and requirements regarding appropriate scientific methodology;

(e) The responsible official shall permit the applicant to participate in the preparation of a draft or final EIS, including but not limited to providing relevant project information and data for any area covered by the draft or final EIS. Preliminary drafts of the EIS or sections of the EIS prepared by consultants shall be submitted directly to the responsible official for review. A concurrent submittal may be made to the applicant. Consultant communication with the applicant outside the presence of county staff is limited to factual matters. No discussion of preliminary environmental analysis or conclusions is allowed without written authorization by the responsible official. If the applicant fails or refuses to provide adequate information or data required for preparation of the document, including adequate response to comments on a draft EIS, the responsible official may refuse to further process or consider the application until such information or data is provided, or until the application has expired pursuant to the county code provisions for the underlying project permit application, whichever is first; and

(f) The applicant shall bear and secure all consultant and county costs incurred in the preparation of a draft or final EIS, including associated studies as determined by the responsible official. The applicant shall pay all costs prior to issuance of a final EIS. The applicant’s obligation to pay for costs shall not be affected by the expiration of the application or if the application is not otherwise approved.