WSR 15-04-129

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed February 3, 2015, 3:53 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: The salmon recovery funding board will consider amendments to Title 420 WAC to (1) update definitions; (2) modify grant program requirements including applications, project agreements and long-term grant compliance; (3) add chapters on lead entities, regional organizations, and the governor's salmon recovery office; and (4) revise public records procedures. The amendments will also include nonsubstantive changes to reorganize chapters and update references throughout.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 77.85.120 (1)(d) and chapter 34.05 RCW.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The reasons for this proposal are to update grant program requirements to reflect current practices and to clarify the salmon recovery funding board's statutory obligations administering salmon habitat projects and salmon recovery activities. The proposal will also align public records procedures across the agency. The intended result of this rule making is to improve clarity of grant program requirements for lead entities, regional organizations, grant project sponsors and grant program staff. Alignment of the agency's public records procedures will provide a consistent process for the public when making a public records request.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: No other federal or state agencies regulate grant funding programs administered by the board and office.

Process for Developing New Rule: The recreation and conservation office will advance this proposal through a participatory process that includes distribution of the recommendations to stakeholders and partners, including those who are on the agency's WAC notification listing. We encourage comments via mail, e-mail, and in person at a scheduled salmon recovery funding board meeting. Based on comments received, revisions will be considered before presentation of the final proposed rule making to the salmon recovery funding board at an open public hearing.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Leslie Connelly, Rules Coordinator, Recreation and Conservation Office, 1111 Washington Street S.E., P.O. Box 40917, Olympia, WA 98504-0917, office (360) 902-3080, fax (360) 902-3026, leslie.connelly@rco.wa.gov.

February 3, 2015

Leslie Connelly

Rules Coordinator