SAWS Action Alert: WDFW proposed
chapter 232-13
Comment deadline: SAWS
suggests that you send your comment
letter within the next 30 days. Final decision is expected the second week of
October.
Comments should be addressed to:
Washington Department of
Fish and Wildlife Commission
Mark Quinn, Lands Division Manager, WDFW
600 Capitol Way North
Olympia, WA 98501-1091
commission@dfw.wa.gov
quinnmmq@dfw.wa.gov
The Washington Department of Fish
& Wildlife (WDFW) is proposing a new chapter 13 to Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 232. Chapter 232-13 will
regulate public use and conduct on WDFW managed public land. Although there are
several sections contained within this proposed new chapter with questionable language,
this SAWS alert will concentrate on WAC 232-13-200 (Vehicle use).
This
section states:
“Except for permitted use by persons with
disabilities, or for persons holding valid grazing permits or agricultural leases
on department lands, it is unlawful to possess or operate any motorized
vehicle, including snowmobiles, on
or across department lands, except on roads, unless posted otherwise.”
Obviously,
this section would restrict snowmobiles to roads on all WDFW managed lands.
To view maps of WDFW managed lands, refer to the links below:
http://wdfw.wa.gov/mapping/gohunt/index.html
http://wdfw.wa.gov/webmaps/gohunt/wildlife_area_pdf/wlau_lt_murray.pdf
http://wdfw.wa.gov/webmaps/gohunt/wildlife_area_pdf/wlau_colockum.pdf
Below are
links to the WDFW news release dated July 23, 2007, and a link to the proposed new
chapter 232-13.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/do/newreal/release.php?id=jul2307a
http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/proposed_wac_232-13.pdf
SAWS is requesting that our members write
a short “polite” letter to the Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission and Mark Quinn, Lands Division Manager, WDFW. We also encourage you to
write a separate letter to your state representative in Olympia and request that they exert
influence on the WDFW Commission to revise the language in section 200 of this
chapter to exclude snowmobiles from being restricted to roads as the language
in this section currently reads.
Here is a
link to a SAWS sample comment letter for reference. Please modify the
wording in your comment letter from the provided sample to personalize it to
your situation and family.
http://www.snowmobile-alliance.org/07/misc/SAWS_WDFW_Chapter_WAC_232-13_Sample_Comment_Letter.htm
Find your
WA state representative here:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx
Dave Hurwitz
Snowmobile Alliance
of Western States
Copyright 2007, Snowmobile Alliance of
Western States. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted
to distribute this information, in whole or in part, as long as Snowmobile
Alliance of Western States (SAWS) is
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