WSR 13-08-012

EMERGENCY RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

FISH AND WILDLIFE

[ Order 13-53 -- Filed March 22, 2013, 4:37 p.m. , effective April 1, 2013 ]


     Effective Date of Rule: April 1, 2013.

     Purpose: Amend recreational fishing rules.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-56-282.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.020, 77.12.045, and 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: The two-fish annual personal-use limit rule for white sturgeon, adopted at the March 15, 2013, Washington fish and wildlife commission conference call, is scheduled to take affect [effect] May 1, 2013. The Oregon department of fish and wildlife (ODFW) adopted a two-fish annual personal-use limit for white sturgeon on March 21, 2013, effective April 1, 2013. This emergency rule change is needed to: (1) Promote orderly fisheries and maintain concurrent rules with ODFW in adjacent boundary waters of the Columbia River until the permanent statewide rule takes effect; and (2) align the change in the annual personal-use limit with the Washington department of fish and wildlife license year and the annual personal-use limit catch-reporting period of April 1 through March 31.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: March 22, 2013.

Philip Anderson

Director


NEW SECTION
WAC 220-56-28200M   Sturgeon -- Areas, seasons, limits, and unlawful acts.   Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-56-282, effective April 1, 2013, until further notice, there is an annual personal-use limit of two white sturgeon, regardless of where the sturgeon were taken.

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