[Order 18-241—Filed September 13, 2018, 9:20 a.m., effective September 13, 2018]

Effective Date of Rule: September 13, 2018.

Purpose: Amend recreational salmon fishing rules for the Columbia River.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-312-06000X [see Reviser's note below]; and amending WAC 220-312-060.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 77.12.045, 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: This emergency rule is needed because at the current harvest rate, quota for the Hanford Reach area will be reached within three weeks. By lowering the daily limit to one adult Chinook there is sufficient quota to last the duration of the scheduled season; through October 31 from Hwy. 395 Bridge at Pasco to the Hanford townsite wooden powerline towers and October 15 from the powerline towers to Priest Rapids Dam. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: September 12, 2018.

WAC 220-312-06000YFreshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Columbia River.

Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-312-060, it is unlawful to violate the following provisions, provided that unless otherwise amended, all permanent rules remain in effect: effective September 13, 2018 until further notice:

(a) Mouth of the Columbia River from Buoy 10 to the HWY 395 Bridge at Pasco: Salmon and steelhead, immediately until further notice: Closed.

(b) HWY 395 Bridge at Pasco to the Old Hanford townsite powerline towers:

(i) Salmon, September 15 through October 31, 2018:

(A) Daily limit 6, up to 1 may be an adult.

(B) Release coho.

(i) Salmon, September 15 through October 15, 2018:

(A) Daily limit 6, up to 1 may be an adult.

(B) Release coho.

(d) Rock Island Dam to Rocky Reach Dam:

(i) Salmon, immediately through October 15, 2018:

(A) Daily limit 6, no more than 3 sockeye may be retained.

(B) Release adult Chinook and coho.

(e) Rocky Reach Dam to Wells Dam:

(i) Salmon, immediately through October 15, 2018:

(A) Daily limit 6, no more than 2 adult Chinook and 3 sockeye may be retained.

(B) Release wild adult Chinook and coho.

(f) Hwy. 173 Bridge at Brewster to Chief Joseph Dam:

(i) Salmon, immediately through October 15, 2018:

(A) Daily limit 6, no more than 2 adult Chinook and 3 Sockeye may be retained.

(B) Release wild adult Chinook and coho.

The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective September 13, 2018:

Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Columbia River. (18-238)

Reviser's note: The repealer appears above as filed by the agency pursuant to RCW 34.08.040; however WAC 220-312-06000X was not filed as a new section so cannot be repealed. This repealer will not appear in the WAC/WSR table.