WSR 14-17-030

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed August 13, 2014, 9:41 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 16-29 WAC, Animal disease traceability.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 16.36.150 and chapter 34.05 RCW.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: During the 2011 legislative session, the Washington state department of agriculture (WSDA) was given authority to assess a fee of no more than forty cents per head on cattle sold or slaughtered in the state or transported out-of-state. The generated revenue will be used to administer animal disease traceability activities for cattle in Washington. WSDA is considering developing a new WAC within Title 16 WAC that would establish a proposed fee and describe the department's process in assessing and collecting the fee.

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 with the help of industry input. Interested parties will be given the opportunity to participate during the public hearing and 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 Jodi Jones, Washington State Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504, phone (360) 902-1889, fax (360) 902-2087, e-mail jjones@agr.wa.gov.

August 13, 2014

Lynn M. Briscoe

Assistant Director