PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Aquaculture disease control rules.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 77.12.047.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The current shellfish aquaculture disease control rules do not distinguish between importation of shellfish for aquaculture and importation for research. The categorical rule requiring a permit impacts research facilities that have closed system quarantine, and pose no disease threat. By amending the rule to allow imports for research to be outside the individual permit requirement, it will help research into shellfish diseases.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
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 by contacting Lew Atkins, Fish Program, Assistant Director, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, phone (360) 902-2651. Contact by December 31, 2001, expected proposal filing January 2, 2002.
November 6, 2001
Evan Jacoby
Rules Coordinator