WSR 16-15-096

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed July 20, 2016, 10:55 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 16-71 WAC, Equine diseases in Washington state.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 16.36.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department is considering amending chapter 16-71 WAC to reduce the number of days equine with vesicular stomatitis are held in quarantine after the last documented observation of new lesions.

It has been determined that infected animals shed virus for only a few days after they develop lesions, even in cases when the lesions are slow to heal. Reducing the number of days equine with vesicular stomatitis are held after the last appearance of new lesions on an infected premises is considered a safe quarantine period, after which there would be a high degree of confidence that no virus would be shedding from the quarantined animals.

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 Jodi Jones, Washington State Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 42577, Olympia, WA 98504, phone (360) 902-1889, fax (360) 902-2087, e-mail jjones@agr.wa.gov.

July 20, 2016

Lynn M. Briscoe

Assistant Director