PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 16-449 WAC, Washington controlled atmosphere storage requirements for winter pears; chapter 16-459 WAC, Controlled atmosphere storage; and chapter 16-690 WAC, Fruit storage.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 15.17 RCW, Standards of grades and packs and chapter 34.05 RCW, Administrative Procedure Act.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department has conducted a rule review mandated by Executive Order 97-02 and concluded that chapters 16-449, 16-459, and 16-690 WAC should be:
• Combined into one Washington Administrative Code chapter in order to streamline the regulations and eliminate redundancies.
• Rewritten in plain English and reformatted so the rules are easier to understand, use, and administer.
• Updated to reflect current industry practice and technology.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The Washington State Department of Agriculture is the only agency that regulates the subject of these rules.
Process for Developing New Rule: Fruit and vegetable inspection program staff will develop proposed rule language utilizing industry recommendations. Industry representatives will review the proposed rule language once it is developed. Finally, members of the industry and the general public will have an opportunity to comment on the department's proposed rule language during the public hearing/public comment process required by chapter 34.05 RCW.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Jim Quigley, Program Manager, Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Program, Washington State Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, fax (360) 902-2085, phone (360) 902-1833.
August 7, 2002
Robert W. Gore
Assistant Director