WSR 17-24-047

EMERGENCY RULES

[Order 17-331—Filed December 1, 2017, 8:07 a.m., effective December 1, 2017, 8:07 a.m.]

Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.

Purpose: Amends recreational fishing rules for the Methow River.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-312-050.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 77.12.045, 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: This emergency rule is necessary because of the very limited allowable impacts to Endangered Species Act listed upper Columbia River steelhead. The whitefish season in the Methow River from Gold Creek to the Twisp River has a high steelhead encounter rate. Closing this section of the Methow River provides greater assurance the other whitefish seasons will remain open as long as possible. There is insufficient time to adopt permanent rules.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: November 30, 2017.

Joe Stohr

for J. W. Unsworth

Director