Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 16-401 WAC, Nursery inspection fees, the department is considering increasing the nursery inspection fees and the permit fee for businesses exempted from a nursery dealer's license by the office of financial management fiscal growth factor for fiscal year 2008 (5.53%).

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapters 15.13, 15.14, and 34.05 RCW.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Current fee income is not adequate to cover costs associated with providing program services.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

     Process for Developing New Rule: Department staff will discuss any proposed amendments with affected stakeholders. Affected stakeholders will also have an opportunity to submit written comments on the proposed rules during the public comment period and will be able to present oral testimony at the public hearing.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Mary A. Martin Toohey, Assistant Director, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Plant Protection Division, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, phone (360) 902-1907, fax (360) 902-2094, e-mail mtoohey@agr.wa.gov; or Tom Wessels, Program Manager, Plant Services Program, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Plant Protection Division, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, phone (360) 902-1984, fax (360) 902-2094, e-mail twessels@agr.wa.gov.

January 23, 2007

Mary A. Martin Toohey

Assistant Director

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