PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Increase grain inspection program fees by an amount not to exceed the Office of Financial Management (OFM) fiscal growth rate factor for fiscal years 2003 and 2004. The department is considering increasing selected hourly fees and hourly-based unit fees. The department is also considering changing the format of the fee schedule to make it easier to read and understand.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapters 22.09 and 34.05 RCW.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The grain inspection program is supported entirely by the fees it generates from the services it provides. Fee increases are necessary to offset inflationary increases in grain inspection program operating expenses. The proposed inspection fee increases will not exceed the OFM fiscal growth rate factor for fiscal years 2003 and 2004, respectively.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, Federal Grain Inspection Service (GIPSA, FGIS) must approve changes in the WSDA grain inspection program's fee schedule.
Process for Developing New Rule: The fee increases will be developed by the grain inspection program staff based upon program needs and recommendations from the Grain Inspection Program Advisory Committee.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. You can contact the Grain Inspection Program Manager, Randall R. Deike, Commodity Inspection Division, 1111 Washington Street S.E., P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504, phone (360) 902-1921, fax (360) 902-2085, TDD (360) 902-1996, e-mail rdeike@agr.wa.gov, and/or contact the Grain Inspection Program Advisory Committee. Also, you can submit comments during the public comment period and participate in the public hearing process.
January 7, 2003
Robert W. Gore
Assistant Director