Purpose: To allow specific exemptions for agricultural operations transporting certain hazardous materials to be in effect prior to July 1, 1998.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 446-65-010.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 46.48.170.

Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.

Reasons for this Finding: Recent federal rule making under HM200 preempts the state's authority to regulate the intrastate transportation of hazardous materials. Under HM200 states are allowed to provide certain specific exemptions for agricultural operations transporting hazardous material if specifically authorized by a state statute or regulation in effect before July 1, 1998. In order for the state's agricultural operations to continue to operate as in the past the state must adopt the following rules prior to July 1, 1998.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, amended 1, repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, amended 1, repealed 0.

Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

June 19, 1998

Annette M. Sandberg

Chief

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 96-22-035, filed 10/31/96, effective 12/1/96)

WAC 446-65-010  Transportation requirements. (1) The Washington state patrol hereby adopts the following parts of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations, for motor carriers used in intrastate or interstate commerce, in their entirety: Parts 390 General, 391 Qualification of drivers, 392 Driving of motor vehicles, 393 Parts and accessories necessary for safe operation, 395 Hours of service of drivers, 396 Inspection, repair, and maintenance, 397 Transportation of hazardous materials; driving and parking rules, provided, however, motor carriers operating vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating between 10,001 lbs. and 26,000 lbs. operating solely intrastate, and not used to transport hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placarding, are exempt from Parts 390 General, 391 Qualifications of drivers, 392 Driving of motor vehicles, 395 Hours of service, and 396 Inspection, repair, and maintenance.

(2) As provided in Part 395, exemption for agricultural transporters, the harvest dates are defined as starting February 1 and ending November 30 of each year.

(3) Agricultural operations exceptions:

(a) Agricultural operations transporting agricultural products other than Class 2 material (Compressed Gases), over roads, other than the National System of Interstate Defense Highways, between fields of the same farm, is excepted from part 397 when:

(i) The agricultural product is transported by a farmer who is an intrastate private motor carrier.

(ii) The movement of the agricultural product conforms to all other laws in effect on or before July 1, 1998, and 49 CFR 173.24, 173.24a, and 173.24b.

(b) The transportation of an agricultural product to or from a farm within one hundred fifty miles of the farm, is excepted from the requirements of 49 CFR part 172 subpart G (emergency response information) and H (training requirements) when:

(i) The agricultural product is transported by a farmer who is an intrastate private motor carrier;

(ii) The total amount of agricultural product being transported on a single vehicle does not exceed:

(A) Sixteen thousand ninety-four pounds of ammonium nitrate fertilizer properly classed as Division 5.1, PGIII, in bulk packaging; or

(B) Five hundred two gallons for liquids or gases, or five thousand seventy pounds for solids, of any other agricultural product;

(iii) The packaging conforms to the requirements of state law and is specifically authorized for transportation of the agricultural product by state law and such state law has been in effect on or before July 1, 1998; and

(iv) Each person having any responsibility for transporting the agricultural product or preparing the agricultural product for shipment has been instructed in the applicable requirements of 49 CFR adopted in this section.

(C) Formulated liquid agricultural products in specification packaging of fifty-eight gallon capacity or less, with closures manifolded to a closed mixing system and equipped with a positive dry disconnect device, may be transported by a private motor carrier between a final distribution point and an ultimate point of application or for loading aboard an airplane for aerial application.

(4) Copies of Title 49 CFR, parts 390 through 397, now in force are on file at the code reviser's office, Olympia and at the Washington state patrol headquarters, commercial vehicle enforcement section, Olympia. Additional copies may be available for review at Washington state patrol district headquarters offices, public libraries, Washington utilities and transportation commission offices, and at the United States Department of Transportation, Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety Office, Olympia. Copies of the CFR may be purchased through the Superintendent of Documents, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.33.020. 96-22-035, § 446-65-010, filed 10/31/96, effective 12/1/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 46.32.020. 95-13-080, § 446-65-010, filed 6/20/95, effective 7/21/95; 94-01-178, § 446-65-010, filed 12/22/93, effective 1/22/94; 91-06-066 (Order 90-005), § 446-65-010, filed 3/1/91, effective 4/1/91.]