WSR 97-15-124

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Filed July 23, 1997, 8:45 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Establishment of a penalty matrix relative to requirements of the apiary statute; in particular registration of bee hives, marking apiaries with owner identification, collection and remittance of pollination service and other fees, requirements pertaining to beekeeper records, and establishing a fee for bee broker registration.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 15.60.025 and 15.60.170(2).

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: An equitable and uniform penalty process is necessary to ensure progress toward the program goal of full voluntary compliance. A progressive penalty structure is preferable to exercising the full extent of monetary penalties (up to $1,000 per violation) authorized by statute. A uniform approach to records is necessary to ensure equity in collection of apiary program fees. Rule making would also achieve fairness in registration fees between bee brokers and beekeepers.

Process for Developing New Rule: Industry and public meetings, including those of the Apiary Advisory Committee and the public meetings held in several locations throughout the state to discuss the future direction and stakeholder expectations for the program.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting James C. Bach, Washington State Department of Agriculture, State Apiarist, 2015 South 1st Street, MS:7, Yakima, WA 98903, phone (509) 576-3041, FAX (509) 454-7858.

July 23, 1997

Mary A. Martin Toohey