PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Ballast water management.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Title 77 RCW.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Nonindigenous species introduced into Washington waters via ballast water from shipping vessels have the potential to cause economic and environmental damage. To monitor the effectiveness of management efforts vessels must report management information to the department, and ballast water must be sampled and tested.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The United States Coast Guard (USCG) currently has a voluntary ballast water management program in place. The department intends to use forms and procedures acceptable to the USCG.
Process for Developing New Rule: Agency study.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Representatives of the shipping community will be involved in the rule-making process.
Agency Contact: Scott S. Smith, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, (360) 902-2724. Contact by July 3, 2000. Expected proposal filing July 5, 2000.
May 1, 2000
Evan Jacoby
Rules Coordinator