PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
FUNDING BOARD
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Initial adoption of administrative rules for the Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB), established in mid-1999. Topics include description of SRFB's organization and operations, methods for adoption of manuals and other guidance documents, description of project review processes, public records availability, compliance with other statutory guidelines and processes, clarifying director's authority, administration of funded grants, funds disbursement, and related grant-making administrative guidance. (Note: Most topics are not subject to CR-101 process, but preproposal comment opportunity is being provided on all topics.)
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 77.85.120.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: SRFB operations are administered by the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC), whose rules are located in Title 286 WAC. It is preferable that the SRFB has distinct set of public rules for its administration and operations. The SRFB has an independent mission and functions, and SRFB-specific rules will permit the public to have better access for reference to SRFB procedures. The proposed rules codify the decisions and methods adopted by the board to date.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The proposed SRFB rules are consistent with and reflective of IAC's rules, see Title 286 WAC. The public disclosure laws, chapter 42.17 RCW, require agencies to publish rules for access to public records. The Administrative Procedure Act, RCW 34.05.240 requires various rules for declaratory proceedings. As well as the public, agency members of the SRFB will be able to comment on the proposed rules.
Process for Developing New Rule: It is our intent to advance this rule proposal through a participatory process that includes distribution of copies of the recommended changes to the WDFW's lead entity advisory group and other interested parties (including any who have asked to be placed on IAC's or SRFB's WAC notification listing). We will encourage comments via U.S. mail, e-mail, phone, and in person. Based on any comments, revisions will be considered before presentation of final recommendations to the SRFB for rules initiation in an advertised and open public meeting. Rule initiation via filing of a CR-102 notice could occur on or after October 20, 2000, with final adoption not sooner than January 2001.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by providing comments to Greg Lovelady, Rules Coordinator, Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation, Natural Resources Building, P.O. Box 40917, Olympia, WA 98504-0917, (360) 902-3008, e-mail gregl@iac.wa.gov. Comments received by October 17, 2000, will be mailed to the board for review in advance of the October SRFB meeting. Comment at SRFB's October (Clarkston) meeting. Draft rules text, meeting times and locations will be posted at SRFB's website, www.wa.gov/iac/salmonmain. If and when a CR-102 is filed, additional comment and formal hearing sessions will be identified.
September 19, 2000
Laura E. Johnson
Director