WSR 16-20-001 EMERGENCY RULES DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [Order 16-256—Filed September 21, 2016, 1:19 p.m., effective September 21, 2016, 1:19 p.m.] Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.
Purpose: Amends freshwater recreational fishing in the Columbia River.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-310-20000B and 220-310-20000D; and amending WAC 220-310-200.
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 emergency rule is needed to clarify the boundary of the Snake River Confluence Protection Area (SRCPA) in the lower Snake River. The SRCPA is further defined to include waters of the Snake River upstream to the railroad bridge between Burbank and Pasco approximately 0.75 miles from the navigation light on the point at Sacajawea State Park. This clarification will help anglers and also enforcement. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 2.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: September 21, 2016.
J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-310-20000D Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Columbia River.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-310-200:
(1) From McNary Dam to Hwy. 395 Bridge at Pasco (CRC 533), including the Snake River Confluence Protection Area, effective immediately through December 31, 2016, the steelhead daily limit is reduced to one hatchery steelhead.
(a) The Snake River Confluence Protection Area includes waters of the Snake River upstream to the railroad bridge between Burbank and Pasco 0.75 miles from the navigation light on the point at Sacajawea State Park.
(2) From Hwy. 395 Bridge to the Old Hanford townsite wooden powerline towers effective November 1 through December 31, 2016, only steelhead with both adipose fin clipped and ventral fin clipped may be retained.
REPEALER
This following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
The following section of the Washington Administrative code is repealed effective January 1, 2017:
Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040. | ||||||||