The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) started the rule making process to revise Hydraulic Code Rules in chapter 220-660 WAC to implement elements of Engrossed Substitute House Bill (ESHB) 1261. This bill became effective June 11, 2020 and amended, in part, the law governing Construction Projects in State Waters - chapter 77.55 Revised Code of Washington (RCW), better known as the Hydraulic Code.
The new rules:
- Change and add definitions related to mineral prospecting;
- Require proof of compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act as part of a complete application for an individual Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) permit for mineral prospecting not covered under the Gold and Fish pamphlet;
- Require an individual HPA permit for motorized or gravity siphon aquatic mining that discharges to waters of the state.
How to comment
You can participate in development of the proposed rules by submitting your comments to HPARules@dfw.wa.gov.
Contact
Randi Thurston, Habitat Program Protection Division Manager
HPARules@dfw.wa.gov
Rule Making - Materials and Timeline
| Dates | Actions |
|---|---|
| June 2020 |
Announce rulemaking and invite comments about scoping rules on this topic
|
Final 2020 Chinook salmon abundance (2SHB 1579) rule-making documents
Rules in response to 2SHB 1579 regarding Chinook salmon abundance were adopted by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission on April 24, 2020 and went into effect on June 12, 2020.
The new rules:
- Specify a preapplication process for projects landward of the Ordinary High Water Line to determine whether or not a HPA is required;
- Establish civil compliance rules, including a penalty schedule;
- Specify that marine bank protection plans must show the location of the structure using benchmarks for a HPA permit application to be statutorily complete.
Learn more about the HPA application process.
Rulemaking documents
- CR-103 Rule-Making Order (WSR 20-11-019 published on May 12, 2020)
- Concise Explanatory Statement (April 24, 2020)
- Summary of Comments and Responses (April 21, 2020)
- Implementation Plan (April 21, 2020)
- Final Regulatory Analysis (April 21, 2020)
- Proposed Rules for Adoption (April 21, 2020)
- Supplemental CR-102 form (WSR 20-06-053 published on March 2, 2020)
- CR-102 Proposed Rule Making (WSR 1924-081 published on Dec. 3, 2019)
- CR-101 Preproposal Statement of Inquiry (WSR 19-19-056 published on Sep. 16, 2019)
Final 2019 HPA Suction Dredge rule-making documents
As of Nov. 1, 2019, suction dredgers are no longer able to conduct suction dredging activities under the Gold and Fish pamphlet. The new rules also require suction dredgers to begin recording their activities starting Jan. 1, 2020, and submit annual reports each year. The first annual report is due Feb. 1, 2021.
All suction dredge equipment used in any Washington waters must be decontaminated according to department specifications before being used in a different water. Information about decontamination methods is available on the WDFW Aquatic Invasive Species webpage.
Suction dredge equipment used outside of Washington must be inspected for aquatic invasive species by an authorized department employee or agent before being used in Washington waters. Anyone bringing suction dredge equipment from outside Washington is urged to call the department's aquatic invasive species (AIS) hotline (1-888-WDFW-AIS) to determine how to receive an inspection before entering the state.
Rulemaking documents
- CR-103 Rule Making Order (WSR 19-12-126 filed on June 5, 2019)
- Concise Explanatory Statement (June 4, 2019)
- Response to Comments (For Fish and Wildlife Commission) (May 3, 2019)
- Implementation Plan (May 8, 2019)
- Final Regulatory Analysis (May 6, 2019)
- Final Small Business Economic Impact Statement (April 18, 2019)
- CR-102 Proposed Rule Making (WSR 19-05-094 published on March 6, 2019)
- CR-101 Preproposal Statement of Inquiry (WSR 18-11-037 published on May 28, 2018)