WSR 20-17-132
PROPOSED RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Filed August 18, 2020, 2:55 p.m.]
Supplemental Notice to WSR 20-10-116 and 20-15-068.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 20-07-046.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Target practice on Washington department of fish and wildlife (WDFW)Managed lands, the department has added subsection (9) to include "definitions" to its proposed amendments to WAC 220-500-140 Firearms and target practicing.
Hearing Location(s): On October 23-24, 2020, at 8:00 a.m., webinar and/or conference call.
This meeting will take place by webinar and/or conference call. The public may participate in the meeting. Visit our website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/commission/meetings or contact the commission office at 360-902-2267 or commission@dfw.wa.gov for instructions.
Date of Intended Adoption: October 23-24, 2020.
Submit Written Comments to: Wildlife Program, P.O. Box 43200, Olympia, WA 98504-3200, email wildthing@dfw.wa.gov, https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/wdfw-lands/public-conduct#firearms, by September 23, 2020.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Dolores Noyes, phone 360-902-2349, TTY 360-902-2207, email dolores.noyes@dfw.wa.gov, by September 23, 2020.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The purpose of this supplemental notice is to clarify how WDFW intends to define specific terms related to target practice regulations on WDFW-owned or managed lands. Specifically, the proposed revisions define the following terms: Backstop, biodegradable clay target, clay targets, department-designated recreational target shooting area, department-designated trail, and recreational target shooting.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: WDFW owns or manages about one million acres statewide, with thirty-three wildlife areas and nearly five hundred water access areas around the state. These public lands help sustain wildlife habitat and public recreation opportunities, which may include target practice, when compatible with healthy and diverse fish and wildlife populations and in a manner that addresses public safety concerns.
An increase in target shooting on WDFW-managed lands as well as an increase in visitors generally has created several challenges, including wildfires, concerns over public safety and user conflicts, impacts to private property, littering, and damage to wildlife habitat, and differences in rules for state-managed lands has also led to confusion among target shooters about the rules applicable to specific sites. These proposed amendments help address these challenges.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.055, 77.12.047, 77.12.210, and 77.12.240.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.055, 77.12.047, 77.12.210, and 77.12.240.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: WDFW, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation: Eric Gardner, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98501, 360-902-2515; and Enforcement: Steve Bear, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98501, 360-902-2373.
A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW 28A.305.135.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. A cost-benefit analysis is not required for this rule making under RCW 34.05.328.
This rule proposal, or portions of the proposal, is exempt from requirements of the Regulatory Fairness Act because the proposal:
Is exempt under RCW 19.85.025(4). This chapter does not apply to the adoption of a rule if an agency is able to demonstrate that the proposed rule does not affect small businesses.
Explanation of exemptions: The department is exempt from the requirements of chapter 19.85 RCW because the proposed target practice rules do not regulate small businesses; rather, the proposed rules regulate individual persons who undertake recreational use of department-managed lands. The proposed statewide target practice rules simply govern the time, place and manner for individual persons engaging in target practice activities on WDFW-managed lands.
August 18, 2020
Michele K. Culver
Rules Coordinator
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 17-05-112, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17)
WAC 220-500-140Firearms and target practicing.
(((1)(a) It is unlawful to discharge tracer or incendiary ammunition on department lands.
(b) It is unlawful to discharge firearms in those portions of department lands where or when such discharge is prohibited by department posted notice or from or within five hundred feet of a department designated campground. Violating this subsection is a gross misdemeanor if the violation creates a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to another person, pursuant to RCW 9A.36.050.
(c) It is unlawful to fail to remove expended shell casings, ammunition packaging, or other related target debris, excluding clay pigeons, when target practicing on department lands at the conclusion of the target practice session and prior to departure from the area. Failure to remove debris constitutes littering.
(d) The use of glass, signs, appliances, mattresses, TVs, furniture, and exploding items as targets in target practicing is prohibited.
(2) The department may designate locations and times for target practicing consistent with resource management or public safety concerns.))(1) The department may designate or restrict locations, times, and manner for recreational target shooting upon department land, consistent with resource management concerns, management agreements or requirements, recreational use compatibility, or public safety concerns.
(2) Persons must not recreationally target shoot on department land except as provided by this section.
(3) Department land is open to recreational target shooting under the conditions set forth in this section, unless closed or otherwise restricted by this section or by any department-posted signage or notice.
(a) Notwithstanding the allowances by this section, recreational target shooting is only permitted where a reasonable person, in consideration of all attendant circumstances, would believe the area between the person and the target, and the area beyond the target, is free of risk to person, animals, or property.
(b) Unless otherwise posted, recreational target shooting is only allowed one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
(c) Recreational target shooting using:
• Firearms firing single projectile ammunition of .17 caliber or greater or shot equal to or greater than BB; or
• Compressed gas or air guns capable of shooting any projectile at over eight hundred feet per second, is permitted only:
(i) On department-designated recreational target shooting areas and in compliance with posted regulations; or
(ii) In other areas containing an earthen backstop, as defined (reference to definitions), which must be utilized while target shooting. A backstop is not required while using shotguns discharging shot smaller than size BB. Targets must be placed in front of and within eight feet of the backstop, and the person must be shooting at the lower half of the backstop.
(d) Recreational target shooting using:
• Archery equipment, crossbows, air bows; or
• Shotguns discharging shot smaller than size BB, is permitted:
(i) On department-designated recreational target shooting areas and in compliance with posted regulations; or
(ii) In other areas consistent with (a) of this subsection.
(e) Recreational target shooting is specifically prohibited:
(i) On, from, at, along, across, or down:
(A) Any department-designated or department-developed water access site or boat launch, and associated parking area;
(B) Any road as defined in WAC 220-500-020;
(C) Any utility line, utility poles, or light posts;
(D) Any department-designated trail;
(E) Any water body or stream.
(ii) Within five hundred feet of the following (when not utilizing a department-designated recreational target shooting area):
(A) Residences, businesses, and/or other buildings or structures, including port-a-potties, etc.;
(B) Power stations, cell phone towers, utility poles, light posts, wind turbines, or other public utility structures;
(C) Campgrounds;
(D) Viewing platforms or structures;
(iii) In other areas posted by the department as restricted from shooting.
(4) Authorized targets for use on department lands are restricted to items, other than exploding targets, that are commercially manufactured for the specific purpose of target shooting, or similar targets privately manufactured that are consistent with this section, and as further restricted below.
(a) Steel targets that are manufactured for the specific purpose of target shooting are allowed subject to the following restrictions:
(i) When used on a department-designated recreational target shooting area, steel targets that are manufactured for the specific purpose of target shooting are allowed year round.
(ii) When used outside a department-designated recreational target shooting area, steel targets that are manufactured for the specific purpose of target shooting are allowed from October 1 to May 31, unless otherwise posted.
(b) Clay targets, when used, must be biodegradable clay targets.
(c) Items prohibited to be used as targets or to hold or post targets include, but are not limited to:
(i) Buildings;
(ii) Power stations, cell phone towers, utility poles, light posts, wind turbines, or other public utility structures;
(iii) Gates, fence posts or rails;
(iv) Vehicles, or parts thereof;
(v) Machinery, or parts thereof;
(vi) Signs, kiosks, or informational panels of any kind;
(vii) Appliances or electronics;
(viii) Furniture;
(ix) Pallets;
(x) Glass;
(xi) Explosive and incendiary items, including binary exploding targets (i.e., Tannerite);
(xii) Containers of liquids, chemicals, paints, or compressed gas;
(xiii) Standing or moving water;
(xiv) Live or dead trees or other vegetation;
(xv) Animals or animal carcasses.
(5) The discharge of tracer bullets or shells or incendiary ammunition is specifically prohibited on all department lands.
(6) At all times, it is unlawful for a person to discharge a firearm, crossbow, bow, or any other projectile shooting implement on department lands in a reckless or negligent manner. A violation of this subsection may be punishable under RCW 77.15.230, 77.15.460, 9A.36.050, 9A.36.031, 9A.36.021, 9A.32.070, 9A.32.060, or other relevant statute depending on the circumstances of the violation.
(7) It is unlawful for persons recreationally target shooting to fail to remove and transport from department lands for proper disposal all shell casings, shotgun hulls, ammunition packaging, and targets or target debris. Failure to remove any such item is prohibited and constitutes littering.
(8) Persons who recreationally target shoot are responsible for knowing other state, local, or federal laws that may govern their shooting activity, and compliance with this rule does not guarantee compliance with other applicable laws.
(9) Definitions.
(a) "Backstop" means an unobstructed earthen mound or bank at least eight feet in height which must stop the progress of and contain all projectiles, fragments, and ricochets in a safe manner.
(b) "Biodegradable clay target" means any clay target labeled by the manufacturer as biodegradable.
(c) "Clay targets," for purposes of this chapter, refers to those targets that are commonly referred to as clay pigeons and often saucer-shaped, which are:
(i) Designed to be thrown by hand or machine, such as in skeet or trap shooting, but may also be used as stationary targets; and
(ii) Designed to be easily and permanently broken by projectiles.
(d) "Department-designated recreational target shooting area" means an area designated and posted by the department for the purpose of recreational target shooting.
(e) "Department-designated trail" means any trail designated and posted by the department.
(f) "Recreational target shooting" is defined for purposes of this chapter as the act of shooting projectiles for practice, sighting in, or other reasons, and involves the discharging of firearms, compressed gas or air guns, air bows, crossbows, or archery equipment. Recreational target shooting does not include the activity of lawful hunting or hunting dog training.