PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 16-752 WAC, Noxious weed control, the department is considering adding additional species to the wetland and aquatic weed quarantine and the noxious weed seed and plant quarantine, revising permit requirements for educational or training materials, and adding language regarding botanical synonyms. In addition, the department may amend the existing language to increase its clarity and readability, remove obsolete definitions, and update the language to conform to current industry and regulatory standards.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapters 17.10, 17.24, and 34.05 RCW.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The intrusion into this state of nonnative, invasive weed species continues to be a concern. The spread of these weeds presents a risk to the economic well-being of the agricultural, forest, horticultural, and floricultural industries, and the environmental quality and natural resources of the state. Initiating quarantines forbidding entry or distribution of weed species may be critical for their exclusion or control.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: Department staff will discuss any proposed amendments with affected stakeholders. Affected stakeholders will also have an opportunity to submit written comments on the proposed rules during the public comment period and will be able to present oral testimony at the public hearing.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Mary A. Martin Toohey, Assistant Director, Plant Protection Division, Washington State Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, phone (360) 902-1907, fax (360) 902-2094, e-mail mtoohey@agr.wa.gov; or Tom Wessels, Plant Services Program Manager, Plant Protection Division, Washington State Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, phone (360) 902-1984, fax (360) 902-2094, e-mail twessels@agr.wa.gov.
April 29, 2009
Mary A. Martin Toohey
Assistant Director