2009-2010 Fishing, Wildlife Diversity, and Boating
Regulation Review and Amendment Process
The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries review and amend all of the Virginia regulations governing wildlife and boating biennially, in two separate processes, with different regulations being under review in alternating years.
In 2009-2010 the Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries is conducting its Fishing, Wildlife Diversity, and Boating Periodic Regulation Review and Amendment Process, in which it addresses and considers possible amendments to all Virginia state regulations governing inland sportfish and fishing, wildlife species other than those hunted, fished, or trapped, and boating.
Key elements of the regulation review and amendment process are:
- Three Board meetings.
- March 2, 2010: Regulatory Issues. Staff presents the regulatory issues identified during the scoping period to the Board for its consideration and modification as desired.
- June 8, 2010: (Staff Proposal-Stage Recommendations and) Board Proposals. Staff presents proposal-stage recommendations, the Board hears public comments, deliberates, and proposes regulation amendments.
- October 5, 2010: (Staff Final-Stage Recommendations and) Board Final Action. Staff presents its final recommendations, the Board hears public comments, deliberates, and adopts final regulation amendments.
- Three public comment, public discussion, or scoping periods.
- September 1 - November 30, 2009: Regulatory Issues Scoping Period. Scoping period for staff, including solicitation of public input on fishing, wildlife diversity, and boating regulatory issues.
- March 12 - May 11, 2010: Sixty-Day Regulatory Issues Public Discussion Period. Public discussion of identified regulatory issues and opportunity for the public to raise additional issues.
- July 16 - September 16, 2010: Proposed Regulations Public Comment Period. Additional meetings for receiving public input may be scheduled at appropriate locations depending on subject matter, level of public interest, and at the Board's discretion.
- Effective dates.
- Regulatory changes adopted in this biennial review process will be January 1, 2011, unless otherwise specified by the Board.
DGIF strongly encourages the public's participation in the regulation review process. Other than via the DGIF website, other methods for participating during this biennial review are:
- Email sent to RegComments@dgif.virginia.gov.
- Mailed letters sent to: Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries, Attn: Policy Analyst and Regulatory Coordinator, P.O. Box 11104, Richmond VA 23230-1104
- Public comment at a total of five Board meetings. (Public comment on the regulatory matters under review is accepted at any Board meetings held during regulatory public discussion or public comment periods.): March 2; April 20; June 8; August 17; and October 5, 2010; all are 9 AM at 4000 West Broad Street, Richmond Virginia.
- Meetings on request. On request and subject to availability, DGIF staff will meet with constituent groups, local government officials, or other groups in local communities to address specific regulatory issues of interest.
