[Order 20-144—Filed August 31, 2020, 8:58 a.m., effective September 1, 2020]

Effective Date of Rule: September 1, 2020.

Purpose: The purpose of this rule is to correct the boundary descriptions for Game Management Units 506 (Willapa Hills) and 673 (Williams Creek).

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-410-050 and 220-410-060.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.055, 77.12.047, and 77.12.240.

Other Authority: None.

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: These rule amendments are needed to correct the description of the boundary between Game Management Units (GMUs) 506 (Willapa Hills) and 673 (Williams Creek), which were incorrectly specified during the setting of the 2020 hunting seasons earlier this year.

The error was brought to the Washington department of fish and wildlife's (WDFW) attention by local constituents who hunt these areas. This emergency rule reverts the boundary between these GMUs back to the description that has been in place for prior hunting seasons, and WDFW has communicated our intent to adopt this change prior to the opening of the fall hunting seasons, so hunters are aware of the revision and can plan accordingly.

Upon receiving notice of the error, WDFW staff conducted a site visit and confirmed the erroneous description. Harvest season recommendations are set at the GMU-level and the seasons for GMUs 506 and 673 are not the same. Making these corrections will align harvest levels for these GMUs with local black-tailed deer and elk populations and ensure long-term conservation goals are achieved.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: August 31, 2020.

WAC 220-410-05000AGame management units (GMUs) boundary descriptions—Region five.

Effective September 1, 2020, the following provisions of WAC 220-410-050 regarding game management unit boundary descriptions in Region five for GMU 506 (Willapa Hills) shall be as described below. All other provisions of WAC 220-410-050 not addressed herein, or otherwise amended by emergency rule, remain in effect:

GMU 506-WILLAPA HILLS (Wahkiakum, Pacific and Lewis counties):

Beginning at State Route (SR) 6 and 3rd St S at the town of Pe Ell; S on 3rd St S to Muller Rd; S on Muller Rd to Weyerhaeuser (Weyco) 1000 line; S on Weyco 1000 line to Weyco 1800 line; S on Weyco 1800 line to Weyco 500 line; SE on Weyco 500 line to SR 407 (Elochoman Valley Rd) at Camp 2; S on SR 407 to the Elochoman River; down the Elochoman River to Foster Rd; N on Foster Rd to Risk Rd; W and N along Risk Rd to SR 4; W on SR 4 to Skamokawa Creek; SW down Skamokawa Creek to the Columbia River; W along Columbia River to the mouth of the Deep River (including all islands in the Columbia River which are both north of the Washington state line and between Skamokawa Creek and Deep River); N along the Deep River to SR 4; NW on SR 4 to the Salmon Creek Rd; NE on Salmon Creek Rd to Weyco 5000 line; N on Weyco 5000 line (Deep River main line) to Weyco 5800 line; NE on Weyco 5800 line to power transmission line (Section 21, T11N, R8W); E, NE, then N on the power transmission line to the Trap Creek A Line; E and N on the Trap Creek A Line to SR 6; E on SR 6 to the town of Pe Ell and the point of beginning.

WAC 220-410-06000AGame management units (GMUs) boundary descriptions—Region six.

Effective September 1, 2020, the following provisions of WAC 220-410-060 regarding game management unit boundary descriptions in Region six for GMU 673 (Williams Creek) shall be as described below. All other provisions of WAC 220-410-060 not addressed herein, or otherwise amended by emergency rule, remain in effect:

GMU 673-WILLIAMS CREEK (Pacific County):

Beginning at US Hwy (US) 101 bridge crossing the Willapa River at the town of Raymond; S on US 101 to State Route (SR) 6; SE on SR 6 to the Trap Creek A line; S and W on the Trap Creek A line to power transmission lines; S and SW on the power transmission lines to Weyerhaeuser (Weyco) 5800 line (Section 22, T11N, R8W); SW along the Weyco 5800 line to Weyco 5000 line (Deep River main line); SW on the Weyco 5000 line to the Salmon Creek Rd; SW along the Salmon Creek Rd to SR 4; W on SR 4 to US 101 at Johnson's Landing; W on US 101 to the Naselle River bridge; W down the Naselle River to Willapa Bay; N along the east shore of Willapa Bay to the Willapa River; SE and NE up the Willapa River to the US 101 bridge and the point of beginning.