WSR 08-08-053

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF

FISH AND WILDLIFE

[ Filed March 27, 2008, 2:21 p.m. ]

     Subject of Possible Rule Making: Administrative penalties for not reporting Puget Sound recreational Dungeness crab catch.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.32.070.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Current Puget Sound Dungeness crab reporting requirements have a high rate of noncompliance. This lack of timely and accurate information creates significant allocation issues and prevents a reliable implementation of the fish and wildlife commission policy on the sharing of the crab harvest in Puget Sound. An administrative penalty will encourage better and more timely reporting compliance.

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

     Process for Developing New Rule:      Agency study.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Lew Atkins, Fish Program Assistant Director, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98504-1091, phone (360) 902-2651. Contact by June 30, 2008. Expected proposal filing on or after July 2, 2008.

March 27, 2008

Morris W. Barker

for Lori Preuss

Rules Coordinator

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