Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 16-750-004, 16-750-005, 16-750-011, 16-750-015, and 16-750-020.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 17.10.080, 17.10.070, and 17.10.010(5).

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The state noxious weed control board is charged with updating the state noxious weed list on an annual basis to ensure it accurately reflects the noxious weed control priorities and noxious weed distribution.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: No other state agency regulates this subject. Federal agencies are subject to federal noxious weed laws that require them to coordinate with state regulations. Federal agencies in Washington are invited to participate in all stages of noxious weed rule making.

     Process for Developing New Rule: The state noxious weed control board annually solicits proposed changes to the noxious weed list from county weed boards, weed districts, state agencies, federal agencies, interest groups, and the general public. The noxious weed committee of the board (which includes representation from the Washington Native Plant Society, county weed boards, the nursery industry and several scientific advisors) meets at least twice to review and research these suggestions. A public hearing is scheduled, and a press release and information regarding the proposed changes are widely distributed to newspapers, stakeholders, and the general public. The board makes its final decisions after considering comments received at the hearing.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Interested parties can:

•	Submit suggested changes to the noxious weed list and/or other sections of chapter 16-750 WAC.
•	Attend noxious weed committee meetings and/or state noxious weed control board meetings.
•	Testify at the public hearing and/or submit written testimony.

     Information on participating in the decision-making process can be obtained from Alison Halpern, Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, phone (360) 902-2053, fax (360) 902-2094, e-mail ahalpern@agr.wa.gov.

July 24, 2012

Alison Halpern

Executive Secretary

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