WSR 13-02-044

EMERGENCY RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

FISH AND WILDLIFE

[ Order 12-292 -- Filed December 21, 2012, 4:32 p.m. , effective January 1, 2013 ]


     Effective Date of Rule: January 1, 2013.

     Purpose: Amend recreational fishing rules.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 232-28-619.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.04.020.

     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: Large aggregations of white sturgeon hold in the shallow slough east of Rooster Rock State Park between Sand Island and the Oregon shore during the winter/spring months. High harvests and snagging problems have prompted emergency closures the past three winters. Washington department of fish and wildlife is proposing to adopt this action as a permanent rule in March 2013. Oregon department of fish and wildlife has adopted this as a permanent rule. This action conforms Washington state rules with Oregon state rules. There is insufficient time to adopt 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     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: December 21, 2012.

Lisa M. Veneroso

for Philip Anderson

Director


NEW SECTION
WAC 232-28-61900N   Exceptions to statewide rules--Columbia River.   Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 232-28-619, effective January 1, 2013, until further notice, angling for all species is prohibited from a line between the upstream end of Sand Island (near Rooster Rock) on the Columbia River, to a marker on the Oregon shore, downstream to a line between the lower end of Sand Island and a marker on the Oregon shore.

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