PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 220-16 WAC, Definitions.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 77.12.047.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Commercial fisheries in the Columbia River are primarily conducted under emergency rules and adopted by the Columbia River compact. This proposal defines a type of net that has been used in managing the fishery under emergency rules. It also defines gill nets as drift nets.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The Oregon department of fish and wildlife and the Washington department of fish and wildlife have developed reciprocal rules for fishers on the concurrent waters of the Columbia River. This rule proposal will mirror Oregon's for the definitions of unslackened net and slackers.
Process for Developing New Rule: Agency study.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Lori Preuss, WDFW Enforcement, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, phone (360) 902-2930, fax (360) 902-2155, e-mail Lori.preuss@dfw.wa.gov. Contact by May 22, 2009. Expected proposal filing on or after June 3, 2009.
March 25, 2009
Lori Preuss
Rules Coordinator