Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

     Purpose: To amend elk hunting rules described in WAC 232-28-360.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 232-28-36000C; and amending WAC 232-28-360.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 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: Due to limited access caused by fires across much of the state, once-in-a-lifetime permit hunts, and hunts designed for population management, were impacted by access restrictions. Therefore, we are extending the hunting opportunity for those hunters. These extensions provide a service to permit holders who would have otherwise lost the hunting opportunity provided by these permits. Immediate rule action is necessary to provide that opportunity.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: December 3, 2012.

Philip Anderson

Director

     Under the Quality elk section, Wynoochee modern firearm (WF) hunt, the additional time period of Dec. 16-31, 2012 is added.

     Under the Quality elk section, Satsop modern firearm (WF) hunt, the additional time period of Dec. 16-31, 2012 is added.

     Under the Quality elk section, Toutle, muzzleloader (WM) hunt, the additional time period of Dec. 17-31, 2012 is added.

     Under the Bulls elk section, Margaret, muzzleloader (WM) hunt, the additional time period of Dec. 17-31, 2012 is added.

     Under the Bulls elk section, Skokomish muzzleloader (WM) hunt, the additional time period of Dec. 16-31, 2012 is added.

     Under the Antlerless elk section, Winston, muzzleloader (WM) hunt, the additional time period of Dec. 17-31, 2012 is added.

     Under the Antlerless elk section, Margaret, muzzleloader (WM) hunt, the additional time period of Dec. 17-31, 2012 is added.

     Under the Antlerless elk section, Ryderwood, muzzleloader (WM) hunt, the additional time period of Dec. 17-31, 2012 is added.

     Under the Antlerless elk section, Toutle, muzzleloader (WM) hunt, the additional time period of Dec. 17-31, 2012 is added.

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     The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:

WAC 232-28-36000C

2012 Elk special permits.