PROPOSED RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 99-17-009.
Title of Rule: Volunteer cooperative project selection and funding.
Purpose: To provide an additional application acceptance period and allow uncommitted grant funds to be applied against qualifying applications as additional partnership opportunities arise.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 75.08.080.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 75.08.080.
Summary: To continue volunteer cooperative projects and allow additional applications to come to the program for consideration for inclusion as funds permit.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: Provides additional opportunities for public participation in funded volunteer activities and makes the best use of funds budgeted for such projects.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Dave Gadwa, Cooperative Projects Coordinator, Olympia, (360) 902-2806; Implementation: Jim Lux, Assistant Director, Business Services, Olympia, (360) 902-2444; and Enforcement: Bruce Bjork, Assistant Director, Enforcement, Olympia, (360) 902-2373.
Name of Proponent: Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, governmental.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: We intend to add one more funding decision deadline to the rule in order to extend the number of periods during which applications for volunteer cooperative grants may be accepted into the second year to each biennium and allow any grant funds which are not awarded through this process, plus grant funds which would otherwise be underutilized by previously approved projects to be awarded as opportunities occur. The effect should be to allow greater participation in the volunteer grants program and utilize the available funding to maximize the number of grants we underwrite.
Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: Adds additional date for funding decision deadline.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. Rule does not affect small businesses.
Section 201, chapter 403, Laws of 1995, does not apply to this rule adoption. Not hydraulics rules.
Hearing Location: Double Tree Hotel at the Quay, 100 Columbia Street, Vancouver, WA, on December 10-11, 1999, at 8:00 a.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Debbie Nelson, TDD (360) 902-2207, or (360) 902-2267.
Submit Written Comments to: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Evan Jacoby, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, fax (360) 902-2930, by December 9, 1999.
Date of Intended Adoption: December 10, 1999.
November 2, 1999
Evan Jacoby
Rules Coordinator
OTS-3580.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 99-44, filed 5/6/99, effective
6/6/99)
WAC 220-130-040
Review and selection process.
(1) The application method is on application forms provided by the department specifically for this purpose. Application forms will be available by request from the Olympia headquarters and at all regional offices of the department.
(2) Applications for projects may be submitted at any time, however, applications must be submitted at least sixty days prior to the funding decision deadlines to allow review and evaluation by the department.
(3) Funding decision deadlines will be June 30, September 30 and December 31 in odd-numbered years, March 31 and June 30 in even-numbered years.
(4) Exceptions to the funding deadline dates will only be allowed in the event of applications for volunteer projects which are responsive to an emergency situation which may arise and which has been declared to be an emergency by the director.
(5) The department will send each applicant, within forty-five days of receipt of each application, a written acknowledgment of the receipt of the application and give the applicant an estimated date when notification of acceptance or rejection of the proposal can be expected. The written acknowledgment will also provide the department's selection criteria and a general description of the review and selection process. Final decisions and notification of acceptance or rejection of proposals where funding is requested will be made only after the biennial budget is passed by the legislature and signed by the governor.
(6) The department will determine when a proposed project might affect the management programs of federal, other state, and local agencies and of treaty tribes and will make contact with these entities, when the department determines that it is appropriate to do so, during the review and selection process. If the department determines that ongoing coordination between a volunteer group and another agency or tribe would be appropriate, it may be required as a condition of the agreement, when issued.
(7) The department may provide suggested modifications to the proposal which would increase its likelihood of approval together with the name and telephone number of the person within the department responsible for monitoring the review of the proposal.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080 and 75.52.050. 99-11-004 (Order 99-44), § 220-130-040, filed 5/6/99, effective 6/6/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 85-04-045 (Order 85-07), § 220-130-040, filed 2/1/85.]