WSR 98-03-088

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Filed January 21, 1998, 11:44 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Adjust the grain inspection fee schedule relative to overtime, hourly rates, and the elimination of weekly averaging. Also, clarify the wording and format of the fee schedule document.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 22.09 RCW.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The current fee schedule is not representative of grain inspection operating costs, as required by statute. Amendments to the fee schedule will closer align the fee document with statutory requirements and will be easier to read and understand.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The federal grain inspection service must approve fee schedule changes.

Process for Developing New Rule: [No information supplied by agency.]

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Randall R. Deike, Grain Inspection Program Manager, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Commodity Inspection Division, 1111 Washington Street S.E., P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, phone (360) 902-1921, FAX (360) 902-2085, TDD (360) 902-1996.

January 22 [21], 1998

Dannie McQueen