WSR 20-08-065
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 20-52—Filed March 26, 2020, 9:55 a.m., effective March 26, 2020, 9:55 a.m.]
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.
Purpose: Washington department of fish and wildlife is amending WAC 220-400-050 to extend the deadline for sealing bobcat and river otter pelts to July 20, 2020.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-400-050.
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: Washington department of fish and wildlife offices are closed to the public during the COVID-19 threat. Therefore, to protect the public and our staff, we are extending the deadline for sealing requirements.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: March 26, 2020.
Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-400-05000ARequirements for sealing of pelts and collection of biological information for river otter, cougar, lynx, and bobcat.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-400-050, effective immediately, until further notice:
(1) It is unlawful to possess river otter, cougar, lynx, or bobcat taken in Washington unless it has a department identification seal attached to the raw pelt, on or off the carcass.
(2) The raw pelt of a bobcat or river otter must be presented to an authorized department employee, or authorized individual under permit with the department, for sealing and the associated harvest report must be submitted to the department by July 20th after the close of the appropriate hunting or trapping season in which it was killed.