WSR 97-24-099

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Filed December 3, 1997, 10:27 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: To reevaluate chapter 16-497 WAC, Hop disease quarantine, due to a new strain of hop powdery mildew.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapters 17.24 and 15.14 RCW.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The introduction of a strain of hop powdery mildew, a pest not previously widespread throughout Washington state has made reevaluation of this rule necessary.

Process for Developing New Rule: Several affected industry groups have requested reevaluation of this rule. Representatives of the Washington State Department of Agriculture discuss options for specific provisions of the proposal with industry and then publish rule proposal.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Mary Toohey, Assistant Director, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Laboratory Services Division, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, phone (360) 902-1907, FAX (360) 902-2094, e-mail mtoohey@agr.wa.gov; or Ann George, Administrator, Washington Hop Commission, 504 North Naches Avenue, Suite 11, Yakima, WA 98901, phone (509) 453-4749, FAX (509) 457-8561.

December 3, 1997

Mary A. Martin Toohey