Volume 44 - Issue 41 - October 9, 2025

State of Kansas

Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission

Notice of Hearing on Proposed Administrative Regulations

A public hearing will be conducted by the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission (the Commission) at 12:00 p.m. Thursday, January 8, 2026, at the Territory Ballroom, 117-119 W. Main St., Council Grove, KS 66846, to consider the approval and adoption of proposed administrative regulations of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Other Commission business will follow and will include general discussions, which may include educational presentations, workshop sessions, and public comment opportunity following the public hearing. The meeting will continue until all business is complete. The public hearing will be conducted in person and via video conferencing system.

This 90-day notice period prior to the hearing constitutes the 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 Chair of the Commission, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, 1020 S. Kansas Ave., Suite 200, Topeka, KS 66612, or to megan.deters@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.

Copies of the complete text of the regulations, economic impact statement, and environmental benefit statement may be obtained by writing the Chair of the Commission at the address above, may be accessed electronically on the Department’s website at http://www.ksoutdoors.gov, or by calling 785-2966373.

Any individual with a disability may request an accommodation to participate in the public hearing and may request the proposed regulations, economic impact statement, and environmental benefit statement in an accessible format. Requests for accommodation to participate in the hearing should be made at least ten (10) business days in advance of the hearing by contacting Megan Deters at 785-296-6373. Persons with a hearing impairment may call the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 800-432-0698 to request special accommodation.

Summaries of the proposed regulations, their economic impact, and environmental benefit follow. (Note: Statements indicating that “The proposed amendment/new regulation will have minor to no economic impact” are intended to indicate that no economic impact on the Commission, other state agencies, persons subject to the proposed regulations, or the general public have been identified.)

K.A.R. 115-15-1

This permanent regulation designates threatened and endangered species in Kansas. The proposed amendments would remove three species from the threatened species list: the Shoal Chub, the Broad-headed Skink, and the Northern Map Turtle. The regulation also updates common and scientific names of listed species and adds a durable date for when an individual must have an approved affidavit allowing the individual to possess species listed in the regulation.

Economic Impact

No substantial negative economic impact to the department, other state agencies, small businesses, or individual members of the public is anticipated.

Environmental Benefit

Following a statutorily mandated review of protected species, the Department learned recent data suggests that the Board-headed Skink, Northern Map Turtle, and Shoal Chub are more broadly distributed and/or use a wider range of habitats than previously understood. As a result, their current designation as threatened species is no longer justified.

K.A.R. 115-15-2

This permanent regulation designates nongame species in need of conservation (SINC) in Kansas. The proposed amendments would add three new SINC species that were previously classified as threatened: the Shoal Chub, the Broad-headed Skink, and the Northern Map Turtle. The regulation also updates common and scientific names of listed species and adds a durable date for when an individual must have an approved affidavit allowing the individual to possess species listed in the regulation.

Economic Impact

No substantial negative economic impact to the department, other state agencies, small businesses, or individual members of the public is anticipated.

Environmental Benefit

Following a statutorily mandated review of protected species, the Department learned recent data suggests that the Board-headed Skink, Northern Map Turtle, and Shoal Chub are more broadly distributed and/or use a wider range of habitats than previously understood. As a result, their current designation as threatened species is no longer justified.

Whitney Damron
Chair
Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission

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