WSR 97-09-078
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR AND INDUSTRIES
[Filed April 22, 1997, 11:41 a.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 296-62 WAC, Methylene chloride.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, and 49.17.050.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: On January 10, 1997, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) adopted a new regulation for methylene chloride, a widely used solvent. (See Federal Register, Vol. 62, No. 7.) As required by the OSHA/WISHA state plan agreement, the department must adopt rules that are identical to or at-least-as-effective-as OSHA rules. The department intends to adopt a rule identical to the OSHA regulation.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: No other known state or federal agencies regulate this subject.
Process for Developing New Rule: The department must adopt rules identical or at-least-as-effective-as OSHA rules as required by the OSHA/WISHA state plan agreement. Parties interested in the development of these rule proposals may contact Dan Locke, Industrial Hygienist, at the address listed below. The public may also participate in the rule adoption process by providing written or oral testimony concerning the proposed rules during the public hearing process.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Dan Locke, Industrial Hygienist, Department of Labor and Industries, Consultation and Compliance Division, P.O. Box 44620, Olympia, WA 98504-4620, phone (360) 902-5524, FAX (360) 902-5529.
April 22, 1997
Gary Moore
Director