Volume 42 - Issue 26 - June 29, 2023

State of Kansas

Wildlife and Parks Commission

Notice of Hearing on Proposed Administrative Regulations

A public hearing will be conducted by the Wildlife and Parks Commission (the Commission) at 12:00 p.m., Thursday, August 17, 2023, at Pittsburg State University, Bicknell Center VIP Room, 1711 S. Homer St., Pittsburg, KS 66762, to consider the approval and adoption of proposed administrative regulations of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

The public hearing will begin at 12:00 p.m., August 17, 2023, at the location above. Other Commission business will follow and will include general discussions, which may include educational presentations, workshop sessions, and public comment opportunities following the public hearing and again toward the end of the meeting. The meeting will continue until all business is complete.

Any individual with a disability may request an accommodation in order to participate in the public hearing and may request the proposed regulations and economic impact statements in an accessible format. Requests for accommodation to participate in the hearing should be made at least five working days in advance of the hearing by contacting Sheila Kemmis, Commission Secretary, at 620-672-5911. Persons with a hearing impairment may call the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 1-800-432-0698 to request special accommodations.

This 30-day notice period prior to the hearing constitutes a public comment period for the purpose of receiving written public comments on the proposed administrative regulations.

All interested parties may submit written comments prior to the hearing to the Chairman of the Commission, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, 1020 S. Kansas Ave., Suite 200, Topeka, KS 66612, or to sheila.kemmis@ks.gov, if submitted electronically. All interested parties will be given a reasonable opportunity at the hearing to express their views orally regarding the adoption of the proposed regulations. During the hearing, all written and oral comments submitted by interested parties will be considered by the Commission as a basis for approving, amending and approving, or rejecting the proposed regulations.

The regulations that will be heard during the regulatory hearing portion of the meeting are as follows:

K.A.R. 115-25-7. This regulation amendment covers the provision and restrictions for the antelope open season, bag limit, and permits.

Economic Impact Summary: No implementation or compliance costs for any sector or individuals is anticipated and any economic impact would be minimal due to the minimal extent of the changes being made. The number of general resident draw permits is reduced by a total of two (2) permits, and the landowner tenant permits are also reduced by a total of two (2). Overall reduction from 160 draw permits to 156, a 2.5% decrease, resulting in anticipated lost revenue to KDWP of $150. The regulation also would eliminate the late archery season which would impact approximately forty (40) archery hunters, who hunt only the late season. The estimated loss to KDWP is $2,000 (40 X $50). The general economic loss created by the reduction of those forty (40) permits is expected to be minimal because historically those late season antelope hunters are concurrently deer hunters, so the goods and services they purchase would be expected to be unchanged.

K.A.R. 115-25-8. This regulation amendment covers the provision and restrictions for the elk open season, bag limit, and permits.

Economic Impact Summary: No enhancement or restriction of business growth is anticipated. No implementation or compliance costs is anticipated, and the only changes made by the proposed regulation involves the dates for the open seasons. No changes related to the number of permits available are involved, so no economic impact is anticipated. Businesses with direct involvement with the dates of the open elk season may be affected. No benefits/costs have been identified; the proposed regulation is benefit/cost neutral. There are no costs or impacts which are anticipated to businesses or economic development, so no measures to minimize same are indicated.

K.A.R. 115-25-9. This regulation amendment covers the provision and restrictions for the deer open season, bag limit, and permits.

Economic Impact Summary: No implementation or compliance costs for any municipal sector or private individuals is anticipated. The number of antlerless deer hunting days will increase slightly in Deer Management Unit #12 (DMU12), which is anticipated to provide more hunting opportunity as well as reduce crop damage due to an increased deer harvest. The benefits of the proposed rule are intended to be increased hunting opportunity in DMU12 and increased antlerless deer harvest in areas experiencing excessive crop damage. No immediate or long-range impact is anticipated to any category of employer, municipality, or individual members of the public.

Copies of the complete text of the regulations and economic impact statements may be obtained by writing the Chairperson of the Commission at the address above, electronically on the Department’s website at http://www.ksoutdoors.com, or by calling 785-296-2281.

Gerald Lauber
Chairman
Wildlife and Parks Commission

Doc. No. 051271