WSR 17-03-076

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed January 11, 2017, 2:47 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Changes to the Washington department of fish and wildlife's (WDFW) Puget Sound commercial salmon fishing rules, resulting from North of Falcon recommendations.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Puget Sound commercial salmon fishing rules are based on North of Falcon recommendations that change from year to year to reflect resource availability and to achieve conservation goals. Rule amendments to Puget Sound commercial salmon fishing rules are needed to implement the agreed-upon changes.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: NOAA fisheries and the National Marine Fisheries Service. These agencies, as well as WDFW, the Pacific Fisheries [Fishery] Management Council, and the Pacific Salmon Commission, all provide input and/or take part in the North of Falcon meetings and recommendations.

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 Kirt Hughes, WDFW Fish Program, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, phone (360) 902-2705, fax (360) 902-2158, email Kirt.Hughes@dfw.wa.gov. Contact by February 24, 2017. Expected proposal filing on or after March 1, 2017.

January 10, 2017

Scott Bird

Rules Coordinator