WSR 12-18-011

EMERGENCY RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

FISH AND WILDLIFE

[ Order 12-193 -- Filed August 23, 2012, 5:00 p.m. , effective August 23, 2012, 5:00 p.m. ]


     Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

     Purpose: To amend Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep raffle permit hunt areas described in WAC 232-28-283.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 232-28-283.

     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: This rule amendment removes Game Management Unit (GMU) 186 from the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep raffle hunt area and adds GMU 175. The department is now in the process of making this a permanent rule change due to the fact that the number of mature rams in GMU 186 has decreased and the population in GMU 175 has experienced a disease outbreak. Altering the hunt areas in this way is intended to decrease the number of potentially wandering rams from spreading the disease and to provide a greater opportunity for hunters to harvest a ram under this hunt. The existing season for this raffle hunt is September 1 through December 31, 2012. This emergency will prevent a change to legal hunt areas in the middle of the season and will enable the current permit holder to fully utilize this opportunity.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0 [1], Amended 1 [0], Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: August 23, 2012.

Philip Anderson

Director


NEW SECTION
WAC 232-28-28300A   Big game and wild turkey auction, raffle, and special incentive permits.   Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 232-28-283, effective immediately until further notice:

     For the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Raffle, remove GMU 186 and add GMU 175 to the designated hunt area.

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