WSR 00-05-004

ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE


[ Filed February 3, 2000, 2:41 p.m. ]


NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION

WASHINGTON ATTORNEY GENERAL



The Washington Attorney General issues formal published opinions in response to requests by the heads of state agencies, state legislators, and county prosecuting attorneys. When it appears that individuals outside the Attorney General's Office have information or expertise that will assist in the preparation of a particular opinion, a summary of that opinion request will be published in the state register. If you are interested in commenting on a request listed in this volume of the register, you should notify the Attorney General's Office of your interest by February 23, 2000. This is not the due date by which comments must be received. However, if you do not notify the Attorney General's Office of your interest in commenting on an opinion request by February 23, 2000, the opinion may be issued before your comments have been received. You may notify the Attorney General's Office of your intention to comment by calling (360) 586-4218, or by writing to the Solicitor General, Office of the Attorney General, P.O. Box 40100, Olympia, WA 98504-0100. When you notify the office of your intention to comment, you will be provided with a copy of the opinion request in which you are interested; information about the Attorney General's Opinion process; information on how to submit your comments; and a due date by which your comments must be received to ensure that they are fully considered.


The Attorney General's Office seeks public input on the following opinion request(s).


00-01-07 Request by: Vim Wright, Chair
Washington State Conservation Commission

1. Are farm plans, developed in whole or in part by conservation district staff, public documents under the state Public Records Act, RCW 42.17.250?


2. If farm plans are public documents, must they be disclosed under the Public Records Act if so requested?


3. When a request for disclosure of such farm plans under the state Public Records Act is received by a conservation district and that act requires disclosure of documents, is a conservation district precluded from disclosure by the preemptive effect of federal laws, specifically, the Economic Espionage Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1831 et. seq.; the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552; and the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)?

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