WSR 17-18-022
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 17-216—Filed August 28, 2017, 10:24 a.m., effective August 30, 2017]
Effective Date of Rule: August 30, 2017.
Purpose: Amends recreational freshwater fishing rules for the Columbia River.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-312-06000R; and amending WAC 220-312-060.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, and 77.12.047.
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: Fall Chinook salmon are sedated in a chemical anesthetic, MS-222, during sampling at the Priest Rapids Dam. The United States Food and Drug Administration requires a twenty-one day withdrawal period before human consumption of fish anesthetized in MS-222. Washington department of fish and wildlife staff are applying the 1/4 inch diameter hole, which is punched in the upper lobe of the tail of sampled fish, so that anglers can visually identify fish that must be released. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: August 28, 2017.
J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-312-060000R Exceptions to statewide rules—Columbia River.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-312-060, effective August 30 through October 31, 2017, anglers are required to release chinook salmon with a 1/4 inch diameter (round) hole punched in the upper lobe of the caudal (tail) fin from the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco to Chief Joseph Dam.
Reviser's note: The section above appears as filed by the agency pursuant to RCW 34.08.040; however, the reference to WAC 220-312-060000R is probably intended to be WAC 220-312-06000R.
REPEALER
This following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective November 1, 2017:
WAC 220-312-06000R
Exceptions to statewide rules—Columbia River.