WSR 15-20-116

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed October 7, 2015, 8:15 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is considering amendments to rules regarding charter stamps and other rules related to charter boat operators.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.055, and 77.15.047.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department needs a rule to prohibit fishing guides and charter-boat operators from reusing charter stamps rather than issuing a new stamp to each customer who needs a fishing license. The legislature passed a bill on the subject during the 2015 legislative session, and this rule project will compliment this legislation to ensure the charter stamp program is not abused. The proposed rule project will: (1) Lay out the process for validating charter stamps so the stamps cannot be reused; and (2) ensure that charter-stamp-validation violations and the reuse of stamps are penalized appropriately. Rules related to the responsibilities of charter operators, catch record cards and recording of catch, and definitions will be considered. Amendments to existing permanent rules may be included to achieve the goals of this rule-making project.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

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 Joanna Eide, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Rules Coordinator, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, phone (360) 902-2403, fax (360) 902-2155, e-mail Rules.Coordinator@dfw.wa.gov. Contact by November 25, 2015. Expected preproposal [proposal] filing on or after December 1, 2015.

October 7, 2015

Joanna M. Eide

Rules Coordinator