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 Construction Projects in State Waters - chapter 77.55 Revised Code of Washington (RCW), which gives WDFW hydraulic permitting authority.
The proposed 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 mineral prospecting involving motorized or gravity siphon equipment.
How to comment
Comments are due by Jan. 30, 2021.
Send written comments via email to HPARules@dfw.wa.gov.
Mail written comments to:
Theresa Nation, WDFW Habitat Program
PO Box 43200
Olympia, WA 98504-3200
Fax
Send comments via fax to 360-902-2946, Attn: Theresa Nation
Rule-making documents
- CR-102 form (WSR 20-24-121, Dec. 2, 2020)
- SEPA #20059 (Dec. 16, 2020)
- Small Business Economic Impact Statement (Dec. 10, 2020)
- CR-101 form (WSR 20-12-052, May 29, 2020)
- Draft Regulatory Analysis for ESHB 1261 Rule Making (Dec. 22, 2020)
Watch the narrated presentation below to learn more about the legislative background, rule proposal, State Environmental Policy Act, and how to submit comments. To see the map of water bodies that do not fall under prohibitions established in ESHB 1261, visit the Washington Department of Ecology's website.
Rulemaking timeline
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June
Announce rule making
Public invited to comment about scoping rules on this topic.
- CR-101 form (WSR 20-12-052, May 29, 2020)
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Dec. 16
Public comment period begins for rule proposal and SEPA
Publish rule proposal in the Washington State Registrar. Release State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) determination. Comment periods begin for both the rule proposal and SEPA.
- CR-102 form (WSR 20-24-121, Dec. 2, 2020)
- SEPA #20059 (Dec. 16, 2020)
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Jan. 29
Public hearing
Public hearing and Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission briefing; SEPA comment period closes.
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Jan. 30
Rule-making comment period ends
2021
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.
Rule-making documents
- CR-103 Rule-Making Order (WSR 20-11-019, 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, March 2, 2020)
- CR-102 Proposed Rule Making (WSR 1924-081, Dec. 3, 2019)
- CR-101 Preproposal Statement of Inquiry (WSR 19-19-056, 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.
Rule-making documents
- CR-103 Rule Making Order (WSR 19-12-126, 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, March 6, 2019)
- CR-101 Preproposal Statement of Inquiry (WSR 18-11-037, May 28, 2018)