Subject of Possible Rule Making: Amendments to asbestos, chapter 296-62 WAC, General occupational health standards; chapter 296-65 WAC, Asbestos removal and encapsulation; chapter 296-307 WAC, Safety standards for agriculture, Part Y-6; and chapter 296-841 WAC, Respiratory hazards.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, and 49.17.050.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department is proposing to rewrite and clarify requirements relating to asbestos. This rule making is part of our long-term plan to rewrite our general occupational and health rules. This proposal will move all requirements relating to asbestos from chapters 296-62 and 296-65 WAC and place them into two new chapters. There will be no increases in requirements.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), is the only other agency known to regulate the safety and health of employees as it relates to asbestos exposure.

     Process for Developing New Rule: Parties interested in the development of these proposed rules may contact the individual listed below. The public may also participate by commenting after amendments are proposed by providing written comments or giving oral testimony during 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 Jamie Scibelli, WISHA Services Division, Department of Labor and Industries, P.O. Box 44620, Olympia, WA 98504-4620, phone (360) 902-4568, fax (360) 902-5619, e-mail Scij235@lni.wa.gov.

October 18, 2005

Gary Weeks

Director

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