Public comments sought on draft environmental impact statement for proposed game plan

OLYMPIA - Public comments are being accepted through Aug. 26 on a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) recently issued for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's (WDFW) proposed six-year game species management plan.

The plan is being developed to define management direction for the next six years for the state's game species, including elk, deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, moose, black bear, cougar, waterfowl, mourning dove, band-tailed pigeon, coot, snipe, wild turkey, mountain quail, forest grouse and other upland game birds, small game animals, furbearing animals and unclassified wildlife.

The DEIS, developed after a scoping period in June, identifies several key public issues associated with the management plan including the level of public support for hunting as a management tool, hunter ethics, scientific management of game animals, predator management, hunt season preferences and hunter access to lands.

The draft impact statement may be viewed in WDFW's Olympia headquarters and regional offices or on the Internet.

Written comments should be mailed to: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Cynthia Pratt
Responsible Official
Habitat Program
600 Capitol Way North
Olympia WA 98501-1091

Public meetings on the DEIS, all of which run from 7 to 9 p.m., are scheduled as follows:

• Aug. 13- Yakima Valley Regional Library, 102 North 3rd St., Yakima.
• Aug. 14- Student Union Building #17- Lounge A & B , Spokane Falls Community College, 3410 Ft. George Wright Drive, Spokane.
• Aug. 15- Moses Lake Fire Hall, 701 East Third Ave., Moses Lake.
• Aug. 20- WDFW Mill Creek Regional Office, 16018 Mill Creek Boulevard, Mill Creek.
• Aug. 21- WDFW Vancouver Regional Office, 2108 Grand Blvd., Vancouver.
• Aug. 22- Building 200, Room 220, Grays Harbor Community College, 1620 Edward P. Smith Drive, Aberdeen.