WSR 98-04-077

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Filed February 4, 1998, 10:53 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: To change WAC 16-752-500 through 16-752-660 pertaining to noxious weed seeds and plants, which may include actions such as adding Cabomba caroliniana (fanwort), Lysimachia vulgaris (garden loosestrife), and deleting Hypericum perforatum (common St. Johnswort).

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapters 17.10 and 17.24 RCW.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: As market conditions change, the sale of aggressive plant species in our state contributes to their spread as weeds and compromises ongoing control work. The Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board would prefer to focus quarantine efforts on new invaders and to delete currently established species.

Process for Developing New Rule: The Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board has requested the changes to this rule. Representatives of the Washington State Department of Agriculture discuss options for specific provisions of the proposal with the board and then publish the rule proposal.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Mary Toohey, Assistant Director, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Laboratory Services Division, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, phone (360) 902-1907, FAX (360) 902-2094, e-mail mtoohey@agr.wa.gov; or Lisa Lantz, Executive Secretary, Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board, 1851 South Central Place, Suite 211, Kent, WA 98031-7507, phone (253) 872-2972, FAX (253) 872-6320, e-mail waweeds@wolfenet.com.

February 4, 1998

Mary A. Martin Toohey