[Order 20-64—Filed May 1, 2020, 12:05 p.m., effective May 5, 2020]

Effective Date of Rule: May 5, 2020.

Purpose: The Washington department of fish and wildlife (WDFW) will reopen the spring bear hunting season on May 5, 2020. The spring bear hunting seasons were originally scheduled to end on May 31 for Game Management Units 627, 633, 681 and 684 and on June 15 for Game Management Units 101, 105, 108, 111, 117, 121, 154, 162, 166, 169, 172, 175, 178, 181, 186, 418, 642, 648, and 638. WDFW has extended the spring bear hunting season through June 30, 2020, to give hunters opportunity that they may have lost due to the COVID-19 closure.

WDFW is also is waiving the pelt sealing requirement for spring black bear as part of the state's efforts to maintain social distancing and limit the spread of COVID-19. The requirement to submit the black bear premolar tooth remains in effect per the usual procedure described in the WDFW hunting pamphlet.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-415-08000B; and amending WAC 220-415-080.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.055, 77.12.047, and 77.12.240.

Other Authority: None.

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: WDFW delayed the spring bear hunt as part of an effort to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. This decision is necessary to comply with Governor Inslee's recent statewide proclamation to extend "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" for all Washingtonians through May 4, 2020.

WDFW is reopening the spring bear hunting season beginning May 5, 2020, due to the Governor's Proclamation amendment 20-25.2 for the partial reopening of outdoor recreational activities.

WDFW is also extending the spring bear hunting season this year through June 30, 2020. With the WDFW offices remaining closed to the public during the COVID–19 situation, to protect the public and our staff, we are temporarily suspending the pelt sealing requirement. The requirement to submit the black bear premolar tooth remains in effect per the usual procedure described in the WDFW hunting pamphlet.

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 the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 1.

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: May 1, 2020.

WAC 220-415-08000C2020 Spring black bear special permits.

Effective immediately and until further notice, the following provisions of WAC 220-415-080 regarding harvest check, submitting biological samples and bear teeth, and hunt areas, permit levels, and season dates for each license year shall be as described below. All other provisions of WAC 220-415-080 not addressed herein remain in effect.

Harvest Check, Submitting Biological Samples and Bear Teeth: All successful bear hunters must validate (notch) their bear tag, notify the department within 72 hours of kill (excluding legal state holidays), provide the hunter's name, date and location of kill, and sex of animal. All permit hunters must comply with harvest reporting and submission of the black bear premolar tooth located behind the canine tooth of the upper jaw. Failure to comply with the submission of biological samples is a misdemeanor pursuant to RCW 77.15.280.

Hunt Areas, Permit Levels, and Season Dates for Each License Year:

Hunt Name	Hunt Area	Permits	Season Dates
Sherman	GMU 101 Note: Mandatory bear identification test required.	50	May 5 to June 30
Kelly Hill	GMU 105 Note: Mandatory bear identification test required.	50	May 5 to June 30
Douglas	GMU 108 Note: Mandatory bear identification test required.	40	May 5 to June 30
Aladdin	GMU 111 Note: Mandatory bear identification test required.	50	May 5 to June 30
49 Degrees North	GMU 117 Note: Mandatory bear identification test required.	100	May 5 to June 30
Huckleberry	GMU 121	100	May 5 to June 30
Blue Creek	GMU 154	18	May 5 to June 30
Dayton	GMU 162	18	May 5 to June 30
Tucannon	GMU 166	5	May 5 to June 30
Wenaha	GMU 169	60	May 5 to June 30
Mt. View	GMU 172	24	May 5 to June 30
Lick Creek	GMU 175	18	May 5 to June 30
Peola	GMU 178	5	May 5 to June 30
Couse	GMU 181	5	May 5 to June 30
Grande Ronde	GMU 186	5	May 5 to June 30
Kitsap	GMU 627	5	May 5 to June 30
Mason	GMU 633	5	May 5 to June 30
Bear River	GMU 681	20	May 5 to June 30
Long Beach	GMU 684	12	May 5 to June 30
North Skagit	That portion of GMU 418 that is designated as the hunt area by DNR, Sierra Pacific, Weyerhaeuser-Columbia Timber Lands, and Grandy Lake Timber company. Note: Mandatory bear identification test required.	30	May 5 to June 30
Copalis	GMU 642, 648, and 638 (excluding U.S. Forest Service lands).	50	May 5 to June 30

Reviser's note: The unnecessary underscoring 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.

REPEALER

The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective May 5, 2020:

WAC 220-415-08000B

2020 Spring black bear special permits. (20-56a)

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.