WSR 17-19-109

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed September 20, 2017, 9:52 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Columbia River fisheries above the Bonneville Dam.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.055, and 77.15.005.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Parties have agreed through the U.S. v. Oregon fish management process and the regulatory consistency committee to amend inconsistent rules to ensure uniformity, to provide clarity, and to increase enforceability of regulations in waters of concurrent jurisdiction. Portions of Title 220 WAC require amendments to reflect changes already implemented by Oregon and tribal governments concerning this federal case.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Oregon, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries and Columbia River tribes have agreed to rule language through the committee process assigned by the judge in the ongoing case of U.S. v. Oregon.

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 Deputy Chief Mike Cenci, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, phone 360-902-2938, email Mike.Cenci@dfw.wa.gov; or Scott Bird, Rules Coordinator, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, phone 360-902-2403, email Rules.Coordinator@dfw.wa.gov.

September 20, 2017

Scott Bird

Rules Coordinator