EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Purpose: Amend hunting rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 232-12-021 Importation and retention of dead nonresident wildlife.
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: Recent scientific results published in emerging infectious diseases confirms the infective agents of chronic wasting disease (CWD) can transfer from decomposing carcasses into the environment. The research conducted by scientists from Colorado and Wyoming showed that those infective agents in the soil can infect healthy deer.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: August 7, 2004.
August 11, 2004
Susan Yeager
for Will Roehl, Chair
Fish and Wildlife Commission
OTS-7413.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 583, filed 1/27/93,
effective 2/13/93)
WAC 232-12-021
Importation and retention of dead
nonresident wildlife.
It is unlawful:
(1) To import or possess dead wildlife, taken in another state or country, into Washington unless such wildlife was acquired lawfully. Proof of legal acquisition must be retained during the period of retention of the carcass or edible parts. Violation of this subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.290.
(2) For a person who imports a dead mountain sheep, mountain goat, cougar or bear to fail to report such importation to the department in writing within ten days of the importation. The report must contain the name and address of the importer, the location where the dead wildlife is being stored and general information describing where and how the wildlife was obtained. Violation of this subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.290.
(3) To import or possess deer or elk, or parts thereof, harvested in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Illinois, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Saskatchewan with the following exceptions:
(a) Meat that has been deboned in the state or province where it was harvested and is imported as boned out meat;
(b) Skulls and antlers, antlers attached to the skull plate, or upper canine teeth (buglers, whistlers, ivories) from which all soft tissue has been removed;
(c) Hides or capes without heads attached;
(d) Tissue imported for use by a diagnostic or research laboratory;
(e) Finished taxidermy mounts. Violation of this subsection (3) is punishable under RCW 77.15.290.
(4) To fail to notify the department within twenty-four hours if an importer or receiver of deer or elk is notified by a state or province that a harvested animal has tested positive for chronic wasting disease. Violation of this subsection is an infraction punishable under RCW 77.15.160.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.030. 93-04-040 (Order 583), § 232-12-021, filed 1/27/93, effective 2/13/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. 82-04-034 (Order 177), § 232-12-021, filed 1/28/82; 81-12-029 (Order 165), § 232-12-021, filed 6/1/81. Formerly WAC 232-12-060.]