PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 16-06 WAC, Public records.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 42.56.308, 42.56.610, 43.23.025, and chapter 34.05 RCW.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: In 2006, the legislature passed amendments to the public disclosure law, finding that certain information submitted for participation in the state or national animal identification program and the results of animal disease testing done at the request of the animal owner should be not subject to public disclosure. In addition, RCW 42.56.610 directs the department to adopt public disclosure rules relating to the disclosure of information from dairies, animal feeding operations, and concentrated animal feeding operations not required to apply for a permit. The department is also reviewing chapter 16-06 WAC for possible housekeeping changes, plain talk modifications, and possible revisions to bring it up-to-date with current information.
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) staff will develop the rule proposal and will communicate with stakeholders and other interested parties for their review and comment. Interested parties can also participate in the public hearing/public comment process, the dates of which will be announced when the department files the rule proposal with the code reviser.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Dannie McQueen, WSDA Administrative Regulations Program Manager, P.O. Box 42560, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504-2560, phone (360) 902-1809, e-mail dmcqueen@agr.wa.gov.
August 14, 2008
Betty Ramage
Assistant Director