Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is considering rule changes to WAC 220-413-030 Importation and retention of dead nonresident wildlife and 220-413-180 Special closures and firearm restriction areas.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: WAC 220-413-030 Importation and retention of dead nonresident wildlife. The purpose of WAC 220-413-030 is to prevent the introduction of chronic wasting disease (CWD) to Washington state by hunters that transport potentially infected carcasses of deer, elk, or moose from other states. The rule lists states from which the importation of ungulate carcasses is prohibited due to documented cases of CWD. A rule amendment is proposed to incorporate newly reported CWD states in the list of prohibited carcass importation areas.

WAC 220-413-180 Special closures and firearm restriction areas. A proposed amendment to this section is necessary to make it consistent with recently adopted amendments to WAC 220-410-040. The department designated Henry and Stuart Islands (in San Juan County) as standalone game management units (GMUs) and separate from the single GMU that covers the other islands in the county. A proposed amendment to WAC 220-413-180 would be an administrative change to reflect the newly separated GMUs and make this section consistent. This proposal does not involve changes to the management of or hunting regulations in these GMUs.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Eric Gardner, P.O. Box 43200, phone 360-902-2515, email RulesCoordinator@dfw.wa.gov, website https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/regulations.