WSR 14-14-013

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed June 20, 2014, 4:06 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 16-390 WAC, WSDA fruit and vegetable inspection districts, inspection fees and other charges. The Washington state department of agriculture (WSDA) is reviewing this chapter and proposes to update and amend it to simplify the fruit and vegetable inspection fee structure, as well as to reflect the current cost of providing inspections and other services.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 15.17.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Rules on this subject will be amended to simplify the existing fee structure for fruit and vegetable inspections to make it easier for both industry and program staff to understand, and to reflect the current cost of providing these inspections and other services.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

Process for Developing New Rule: 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.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Jeff Larsen, 1111 Washington Street S.E., P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, (360) 902-1960, fax (360) 902-2085, jlarsen@agr.wa.gov.

June 20, 2014

Brad J. Avy

Assistant Director