WSR 97-20-118

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

MILITARY DEPARTMENT

(Emergency Management Division)

[Filed October 1, 1997, 8:40 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 118-40 WAC, Hazardous chemicals emergency response planning and community right-to-know planning.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 38.52 RCW.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Revisions are required for the following reasons: Bring chapter 118-40 WAC into compliance with chapter 38.52 RCW; and accurately reflect the interagency restructuring between the Military Department, Department of Ecology, and Washington State Patrol.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Federal: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency and Occupational Safety and Health Administration. State: Military Department, Department of Ecology, Washington State Patrol, Department of Transportation, Department of Health, and State Emergency Response Committee (SERC).

Process for Developing New Rule: Agency study. An interagency work group has been convened by the Emergency Management Division.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Information will be disseminated through public meetings (east and west of the Cascades), SERC, Tribal Emergency Response Commission, and forty-seven Local Emergency Planning Committees. Written comments may also be sent to Daniel Staber, Washington State Military Department, Emergency Management Division, P.O. Box 40955, Olympia, WA 98504-0955, office (360) 459-9191, desk (360) 923-4573, FAX (360) 923-4591, e-mail staber@gate.emd.wa.gov.

June 9, 1997

Gregory P. Barlow

Major General