This permanent regulation delineates the boundaries of deer management units. Proposed changes include the exclusion of landowner deer management program areas and a minor expansion of Unit 19 to include a larger portion of the City of Leavenworth to assist in conducting urban deer management. PASSED AS PRESENTED, VOTE 5-0.

The proposed amendments are not anticipated to have any appreciable economic impact on the department, other agencies, or the public.

This new permanent regulation delineates the boundaries of new archery deer management units. PASSED AS PRESENTED, VOTE 5-0.

The proposed regulation is not anticipated to have any appreciable economic impact on the department, other agencies, or the public.

for K.A.R. 115-15-1. Threatened and endangered species; general provisions. and K.A.R. 115-15-2. Nongame species; general provisions.

This permanent regulation designates the endangered and threatened species within the boundaries of the state. The proposed amendments would add one new endangered species, the Silver chub, and remove two threatened species, the Texas night snake and White-faced ibis, from the list of species designated. PASSED AS PRESENTED, VOTE 5-0.

The economic impact of the proposed amendments is expected to be minimal due to a number of factors, including the current existence of other species in the same habitat that are already listed as threatened or endangered (concerning the Silver chub). To the extent the proposed amendments would lead to additional review of projects that would impact one of this species or its habitat, the economic impact would be anticipated to be small. State law requires a permit of such a project only if publicly funded or if a state or federal permit is already required. Of approximately 1000 to 1500 projects reviewed annually, only 20-30 require a permit, and less than 5 percent are required to perform additional mitigation. The proposed amendments would impose some cost on the department for the development and implementation of a recovery plan for the silver chub. However, the plan would be developed based on a priority list of all listed species. No other economic impact on the public or other state agencies is anticipated.

of K.A.R. 115-15-1. Threatened and endangered species; general provisions.

This permanent regulation designates species in need of conservation (SINC species) within the boundaries of the state. SINC species do not receive the same level of protection as threatened or endangered species. The proposed amendments would add the Night snake, Delta hydrobe, and Brindled madtom and remove the Red-shouldered hawk and Eastern chipmunk from the list of SINC species. PASSED AS PRESENTED, VOTE 5-0.

Listing a species as a SINC species provides no special protection or permit requirements other than a prohibition on the intentional taking of such species. Therefore, the proposed amendments would not be anticipated to have an economic impact of the public or other state agencies. Adding a new SINC species would create some cost to the department for the development of a recovery plan for that species.