PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Bald eagle habitat rules; downlist bald eagle from threatened to sensitive; eliminate public meeting requirements from listing procedure; private lands wildlife management areas and seasons; and public safety cougar pursuit period.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 77.12.655, 77.12.020, 77.12.047.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: To change the bald eagle from threatened to sensitive to reflect improved status; change the bald eagle habitat rules to coincide with the downlisting of the bald eagle and update outdated information in the WAC; increase public safety posed by one or more cougar; and establish hunting seasons for private land wildlife management areas for recreation.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
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 Dave Brittell, Assistant Director, Wildlife Program, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, (360) 902-2504. Contact by October 12, 2001, rule proposal filing expected to be October 24, 2001.
September 4, 2001
Evan Jacoby
Rules Coordinator