WSR 97-19-100

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Filed September 17, 1997, 11:20 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 16-532 WAC, amend authority of the board of the Washington Hop Commission to grant credit against assessments or refund payments to growers for individual marketing efforts.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Washington State Agricultural Enabling Act of 1961, chapter 15.65 RCW.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The credit and refund for individual marketing efforts may no longer be required or necessary to carry out the objective of the chapter.

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

Process for Developing New Rule: The amendment of a marketing order shall be accomplished according to the procedures set forth in chapter 15.65 RCW, which includes conducting a referendum vote of the affected producers.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Walter Swenson, Agriculture Programs Administrator, Washington State Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, phone (360) 902-1928, FAX (360) 902-2089.

September 17, 1997

William E. Brookreson

Assistant Director