(1) The department may inspect any onion plant, plant part, or plantings within the pest-free area to determine whether Sclerotium cepivorum is present. If Sclerotium cepivorum is detected at any stage of production or transportation or in soil, the department may impound any infested onions or other articles and by written order direct the control and eradication of an infestation.

(2) Movement of infested onions or other articles within the pest-free area or removal of infested onions or other articles from the pest-free area is prohibited, except when the infested onions or other articles are accompanied by a written permit issued by the department. Requests for permits must be addressed to: Plant Services Program Manager, Plant Protection Division, Washington State Department of Agriculture, 1111 Washington St. S.E., P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560; fax 360-902-2094; email: nursery@agr.wa.gov.

(3) Control and eradication methods that may be used are limited to those approved by the department. They may include:

(a) Destroying onions from an infested lot, bin, or location, and other infested articles;

(b) Prohibiting the production of onions in part or all of any infested area;

(c) Preventing off-flow of irrigation or rainwater from any infested area;

(d) Prohibiting the pasturing of animals on any infested area;

(e) Requiring equipment, tools and machinery used on an infested area be cleaned and sanitized as described in WAC 16-470-320 prior to removal from the area.