PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Based upon requests from the seed industry and the seed program advisory committee, the department plans to amend WAC 16-302-385 Grass seed standards for certification.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 15.49.310, 15.49.370(3), and chapter 34.05 RCW.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Proposal is in response to an industry request to modify the certification standards for thickspike wheatgrass so the amount of slender wheatgrass allowed in the certified class can be increased. Such an amendment to WAC 16-302-385 will make Washington's grass seed certification standards uniform with other western states. Such uniformity will facilitate the marketing of Washington produced grass seed by allowing Washington producers to more fairly compete against seed certified in other western states.
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 Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) seed program staff will develop rule amendment language based upon suggestions and recommendations from the seed industry and the WSDA seed program advisory committee.
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, (509) 225-2630, fax (509) 454-4395.
December 23, 2003
Robert W. Gore
Assistant Director