WSR 98-04-078

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Filed February 4, 1998, 10:54 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: To add Skagit County to the existing apple maggot quarantine area.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 17.24.041.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Insect trapping data from 1996 and 1997 indicates that apple maggot, an economically significant pest of apples, has become established in portions of Skagit County. The proposed rule change is intended to prevent or minimize the possible movement of apple maggot from Skagit County into uninfested areas, such as the commercial apple-growing areas of eastern Washington.

Process for Developing New Rule: The apple maggot working group, which represents the affected industry, has requested this change. Representatives of the Washington State Department of Agriculture discuss options for specific provisions of the proposal with this group and then publish rule proposal.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Mike Klaus, Project Entomologist, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Laboratory Services Division, 2015 South 1st Street, Mailstop 7, Yakima, WA 98903, phone (509) 454-4189, FAX (509) 454-7858, e-mail mklaus@agr.wa.gov; or 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.

February 4, 1998

Mary A. Martin Toohey