PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The following sections in chapter 16-301 WAC will be amended: WAC 16-301-250 Annual bluegrass quarantine -- Definitions, 16-301-265 Annual bluegrass quarantine -- Regulated articles, 16-301-270 Annual bluegrass quarantine -- Conditions governing movement of regulated articles, 16-301-310 Rough bluegrass quarantine -- Definitions, 16-301-325 Rough bluegrass quarantine -- Regulated articles, 16-301-330 Rough bluegrass quarantine -- Conditions governing movement of regulated articles, and 16-301-335 Rough bluegrass -- Procedure for clearing seed stocks.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 17.24.011, 17.24.041, and chapter 34.05 RCW.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Based upon recommendations from the Seed Program Advisory Committee, amendments will be proposed to amend WAC 16-301-250, 16-301-265, and 16-301-270 to remove range, reclamation, and forage type grasses from the annual bluegrass quarantine requirements; and amend WAC 16-301-310, 16-301-325, 16-301-330, and 16-301-335 to remove range, reclamation, and forage type grasses from the rough bluegrass quarantine requirements.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: The proposed amendments will be developed by the WSDA seed program operations manager with input from the seed industry through the Seed Program Advisory Committee. Interested parties can also submit comments during the public comment period and can participate in the public hearing process.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Victor Shaul, Operations Manager, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Seed Program, 21 North 1st Avenue, Suite 203, Yakima, WA 98902, phone (509) 225-2630, fax (509) 454-4395, e-mail seed@agr.wa.gov.
October 20, 2003
Robert W. Gore
Assistant Director