WSR 15-23-081

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed November 17, 2015, 8:53 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 16-301-490 to 16-301-580, crucifer quarantine. As a result of the recent change to the crucifer quarantine to include eastern Washington, and as a result of a petition received requesting rule making on the topic, the department is considering changing the process for the field inspection of trial grounds.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 15.49.005, 17.24.041, and chapter 34.05 RCW.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: To keep black leg out of Washington, the department has adopted permanent rules adding eastern Washington to the regulated area of the crucifer quarantine, and requiring testing of all crucifer seed lots. As a result of these changes to the crucifer quarantine, it has become necessary to change the trial ground process to make it applicable to eastern Washington production practices.

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 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; or Victor Shaul, 21 North 1st Avenue, Suite 203, Yakima, WA 98902, (509) 249-6955, fax (509) 454-4395, vshaul@agr.wa.gov.

November 17, 2015

Brad J. Avy

Assistant Director