WSR 04-01-037

EMERGENCY RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

FISH AND WILDLIFE

[ Order 03-300 -- Filed December 9, 2003, 4:26 p.m. ]


     Date Adopted: December 9, 2003.

     Purpose: Amend wildlife rules.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047.

     Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.

     Reasons for this Finding: Weather conditions have forced deer and elk to lower elevations, where harassment by dogs has been observed. In order to protect deer and elk, it is necessary to allow officers to take dogs into custody, and if necessary destroy dogs. There is insufficient time to promulgate permanent rules.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

December 9, 2003

J. P. Koenings

Director


NEW SECTION
WAC 232-12-31500K   Emergency for custody or destruction of dogs harassing deer or elk.   Effective immediately until further notice, an emergency is declared in the following Washington State Counties and it is lawful for Fish and Wildlife Officers to take into custody or destroy, if necessary, any dog that is pursuing, harassing, attacking or killing deer or elk.

     (1) Chelan County

     (2) Douglas County

     (3) Ferry County

     (4) Kitittas County

     (5) Okanogan County

     (6) Pend Oreille County

     (7) Spokane County

     (8) Stevens County

     (9) Yakima County

[]

     Reviser's note: The spelling error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.