EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.
Purpose: The purpose of this rule making is to provide for treaty Indian fishing opportunity in the Columbia River while protecting salmon listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This rule making implements federal court orders governing Washington's relationship with treaty Indian tribes and federal law governing Washington's relationship with Oregon.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-32-05100M; and amending WAC 220-32-051.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.130, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047.
Other Authority: United States v. Oregon, Civil No. 68-513-KI (D. Or.), Order Adopting 2008-2017 United States v. Oregon Management Agreement (Aug. 12, 2008) (Doc. No. 2546); Northwest Gillnetters Ass'n v. Sandison, 95 Wn.2d 638, 628 P.2d 800 (1981); Washington fish and wildlife commission policies concerning Columbia River fisheries; 40 Stat. 515 (Columbia River compact).
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: In SMCRA 1E, 1F, 1G, and 1H, salmon that are harvested after 6:00 p.m. February 29, 2012, may not be sold. Closes the John Day Pool (1H) for sales of sturgeon effective 6:00 p.m. March 1, 2012, as catch is near the quota set for that area. Fisheries are consistent with the 2008-2017 management agreement and the associated biological opinion. Rule is consistent with action of the Columbia River compact on January 26, 2012, and February 27, 2012. Conforms state rules with tribal rules. There is insufficient time to adopt permanent regulations.
The Yakama, Warm Springs, Umatilla, and Nez Perce Indian tribes have treaty fishing rights in the Columbia River and inherent sovereign authority to regulate their fisheries. Washington and Oregon also have some authority to regulate fishing by treaty Indians in the Columbia River, authority that the states exercise jointly under the congressionally ratified Columbia River compact. Sohappy v. Smith, 302 F. Supp. 899 (D. Or. 1969). The tribes and the states adopt parallel regulations for treaty Indian fisheries under the supervision of the federal courts. A court order sets the current parameters. United States v. Oregon, Civil No. 68-513-KI (D. Or.), Order Adopting 2008-2017 United States v. Oregon Management Agreement (Aug. 12, 2008) (Doc. No. 2546). Some salmon and steelhead stocks in the Columbia River are listed as threatened or endangered under the federal ESA. On May 5, 2008, the National Marine Fisheries Service issued a biological opinion under 16 U.S.C. § 1536 that allows for some incidental take of these species in the fisheries as described in the 2008-2017 U.S. v. Oregon Management Agreement.
Columbia River fisheries are monitored very closely to ensure consistency with court orders and ESA guidelines. Because conditions change rapidly, the fisheries are managed almost exclusively by emergency rule. As required by court order, the Washington (WDFW) and Oregon (ODFW) departments of fish and wildlife convene public hearings and invite tribal participation when considering proposals for new emergency rules affecting treaty fishing rights. Sohappy, 302 F. Supp. at 912. WDFW and ODFW then adopt regulations reflecting agreements reached.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1; Federal Rules or Standards: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at 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: February 28, 2012.
Philip Anderson
Director
1. Open Areas: SMCRA 1F,1G, 1H:
a. Season: Immediately through 6:00 p.m. March 21, 2012, except SMCRA 1H is closed effective 6:00 p.m. March 1, 2012.
b. Gear: Gill nets, hoop nets, dip bag nets, and rod and reel with hook and line. No mesh restriction on gillnets.
c. Allowable sale: Steelhead, sturgeon, shad, carp, catfish, walleye, bass, and yellow perch. Salmon may only be sold if caught prior to 6:00 p.m. February 29, 2012. Sturgeon between 38-54 inches in fork length in the Bonneville Pool (1F) and sturgeon between 43-54 inches in fork length in The Dalles pool (1G) may be sold or retained for subsistence purposes. When the John Day pool (1H) is open, sturgeon between 43-54 inches in fork length may sold, but otherwise may only be retained for subsistence purposes. Live release of all oversize and under-size sturgeon is required. Fish caught from platforms or hook-and-line fisheries in open commercial areas and caught during open periods are allowed to be sold.
d. River mouth sanctuaries (WAC 220-32-058) remain in effect, except for the Spring Creek Hatchery sanctuary (sub-section 5) of WAC 220-32-058.
2. Open Area: SMCRA 1E. Each of the four Columbia River treaty tribes has an MOA or MOU with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding tribal fisheries in the area just downstream of Bonneville Dam. Tribal fisheries in this area may only occur in accordance with the appropriate MOA or MOU specific to each tribe.
a. Participants: Tribal members may participate under the conditions described in the appropriate MOA or MOU specific to each tribe. Tribal members must carry an official tribal enrollment card.
b. Season: Immediately until further notice.
c. Gear: Hoop nets, dip bag nets, and rod and reel with hook-and-line, or as defined by each tribe's MOU or MOA.
d. Allowable sales: Steelhead, shad, carp, catfish, walleye, bass, and yellow perch. Salmon may only be sold if caught prior to 6:00 p.m. February 29, 2012. Sturgeon retention is prohibited; sturgeon may not be sold or retained for ceremonial or subsistence purposes. Sales may not occur on USACE property.
e. 24- hour quick reporting required for Washington wholesale dealers, WAC 220-69-240, for all areas.
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Reviser's note: The typographical errors in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.
Reviser's note: The unnecessary underscoring in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
| WAC 220-32-05100M | Columbia River salmon seasons above Bonneville Dam. (12-13) |