WSR 16-22-082

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed November 2, 2016, 9:32 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is considering the merger of Titles 220 and 232 WAC.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.055, 77.12.020, and 77.12.047.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department seeks to merge Titles 220 and 232 WAC to better organize and streamline existing fish and wildlife regulations. Currently, many of the provisions in chapters in Titles 220 and 232 WAC are poorly placed and under headings that they are not related to causing confusion to the public and to department staff. In addition, the WAC chapter headings need to be changed to better reflect the subject matter of the chapter. This rule making will make the following changes: (1) Merge Titles 232 and 220 WAC, (2) correct internally inconsistent WAC references in existing chapters caused by the recodification and (3) remove references to now defunct state agencies in existing chapters in Titles 220 and 232 WAC.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The Washington department of health regulates some of the same subject matter as the department. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the United States Department of Fish and Wildlife regulate the same subject matter as the department on a federal level.

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 Scott Bird, WDFW 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, by December 16, 2016. Expected proposal filing on or after January 4, 2017.

November 2, 2016

Scott Bird

Rules Coordinator