PROPOSED RULES
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 02-13-113.
Title of Rule: New rule sections related to determining penalties, WAC 16-200-7401 through 16-200-7407.
Purpose: To establish a procedure to uniformly and fairly assess penalties for violations of the fertilizer law (chapter 15.54 RCW) and the rules adopted under it.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 15.54 RCW, Fertilizers, minerals and limes and chapter 34.05 RCW, the Administrative Procedure Act.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 15.54.474.
Summary: The proposed rules establish how the department will assess penalties for violation of chapter 15.54 RCW and the rules adopted under it. It is similar to the pesticide penalty language found in WAC 16-228-110 [16-228-1010] through 16-228-1150 and includes a penalty assignment schedule to determine appropriate penalties.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: The proposed rules ensure a uniform and fair process for determining penalties.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation: Ted Maxwell, 1111 Washington Street, Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 902-2026; and Enforcement: Ted Maxwell, (360) 902-2026, and Ali Kashani, (360) 902-2027, 1111 Washington Street, Olympia, WA 98504.
Name of Proponent: Department of Agriculture, governmental.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: The department currently has the authority to assess civil penalties up to $7,500.00 and deny/cancel a bulk fertilizer distribution license, for violations of the fertilizer law or rules adopted under it. The proposed rule establishes the process by which the department will determine the amount of the civil penalty, as well as when a bulk fertilizer license may be cancelled or denied.
The proposed language is very similar to that found in the general pesticides regulations, WAC 16-228-1100 through 16-228-1150.
Proposal does not change existing rules.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The proposed rule amendments establish how the department will assess penalties for violations of chapter 15.54 RCW, Fertilizers, minerals and limes, and the rules adopted under it. There is no economic impact for persons complying with the fertilizer law or rules. The proposed amendments impact only those persons who violate state law or regulations.
RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to this rule adoption. The Washington State Department of Agriculture is not a listed agency under RCW 34.05.328 (5)(a)(i).
Hearing Location: Three DIS Interactive Technology sites simultaneously via videoconference: 710 Sleater Kinney Road S.E., Suite Q, Lacey, WA; 1101 North Argonne, Suite 109, Spokane, WA; and 8551 Gage Boulevard, Suite H, Kennewick, WA 99336, on December 3, 2002, at 6:00 p.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Laurie Mauerman by November 19, 2002, TDD (360) 902-1996.
Submit Written Comments to: Laurie Mauerman, Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, e-mail lmauerman@agr.wa.gov, fax (360) 902-2093, by 5:00 p.m., December 4, 2002.
Date of Intended Adoption: January 2, 2003.
October 23, 2002
Bob Arrington
Assistant Director
OTS-5977.1
NEW SECTION
WAC 16-200-7401
Statement of purpose -- Penalty
assignment.
For the purpose of fair, uniform determination of
penalty as set forth in WAC 16-200-7401 through 16-200-7407,
the director hereby declares:
(1) Regulatory action is necessary to deter violations of the Fertilizer Regulation Act and rules adopted under it, and to educate persons about the consequences of such violation(s); and
(2) Any regulatory action taken by the department against any person who violates the provisions of chapter 15.54 RCW and/or rules adopted under it shall be commensurate with the seriousness of the violation under the circumstances; and
(3) Each person shall be treated fairly in accordance with the rules set forth in this chapter and in adherence with the Administrative Procedure Act (chapter 34.05 RCW).
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(1) "Adverse effect(s)" means that the effects resulting from violations of chapter 15.54 RCW or the rules adopted under it actually causes, or creates the possibility of damage or injury to humans, animals, plants, property or the environment, or causes or creates the possibility of a threat to public health.
(2) "Level of violation" means that the alleged violation is a first, second, third, fourth, or more violation(s).
(a) First violation. This means the alleged violator has committed no prior violation within three years of committing the current alleged violation.
(b) Second violation. This means the alleged violator committed one prior violation within three years of committing the current alleged violation.
(c) Third violation. This means the alleged violator committed two prior violations within three years of committing the current alleged violation.
(d) Fourth violation. This means the alleged violator committed three or more prior violations within three years of committing the current alleged violation.
(e) For purposes of calculating the level of violation, prior violations will be measured from the date that a final action was taken by the department and not from the date that the violation(s) occurred.
(3) "Not probable" means that the alleged violator's conduct more likely than not would not have an adverse effect.
(4) "Probable" means that the alleged violator's conduct more likely than not would have an adverse effect.
(5) "Violation" means commission of an act or acts prohibited by chapter 15.54 RCW, and/or rules adopted under it.
(6) "Civil penalty" means a monetary penalty administratively issued by a regulatory agency for noncompliance with state or federal law, or rules. The term does not include any criminal penalty, damage assessment, wages, premiums, taxes owed, interest or late fees on any existing obligation.
(7) "Notice of correction" means a document issued by the department that describes a condition or conduct that is not in compliance with chapter 15.54 RCW, or the rules adopted under it and is not subject to civil penalties as provided for in RCW 43.05.110. A notice of correction is not a formal enforcement action, is not subject to appeal and is a public record.
(8) "Notice of intent" means a document issued by the department that alleges specific violations of chapter 15.54 RCW, or any rules adopted under it. A notice of intent is a formal enforcement document issued with the intent to assess civil penalties to the alleged violator and/or to deny or cancel a license issued under the authority of chapter 15.54 RCW.
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(2) Prior to issuing a civil penalty for a violation of chapter 15.54 RCW and/or the rules adopted under it, the department shall comply with the requirements of RCW 43.05.110. RCW 43.05.110 allows the department of agriculture to issue a civil penalty provided for by law without first issuing a notice of correction if:
(a) The person has previously been subject to an enforcement action for the same or similar type of violation of the same statute or rule or has been given a previous notice of the same or similar type of violation of the same statute or rule; or
(b) Compliance is not achieved by the date established by the department in a previously issued notice of correction, if the department has responded to any request for review of such date by reaffirming the original date or establishing a new date; or
(c) The violation has a probability of placing a person in danger of death or bodily harm, has a probability of causing more than minor environmental harm, or has a probability of causing physical damage to the property of another in an amount exceeding one thousand dollars; or
(d) The violation was committed by a business that employed fifty or more employees on at least one day in each of the preceding twelve months.
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(2) Adjustment of median penalty.
(a) The department reserves the right to increase the civil penalty when certain aggravating factors are present. Such aggravating factors include, but are not limited to:
(i) Situations where the civil penalty assessed is not substantially equivalent to the violator's economic benefit derived from the violation;
(ii) The number of separate alleged violations contained within a single notice of intent;
(iii) The high magnitude of the harm, or potential harm, including quantity and/or degree, to humans, animals, plants, property or the environment caused by the violation(s);
(iv) The similarity of the current alleged violation to previous violations committed within the last three years;
(v) The extent to which the alleged violation is part of a pattern of the same or substantially similar conduct.
(b) The department also reserves the right to decrease the civil penalty when certain mitigating factors are present. Such mitigating factors include, but are not limited to:
(i) Situations involving voluntary disclosure of a violation;
(ii) Situations involving a low magnitude of the harm, or potential harm, including quantity and/or degree, caused by the violation;
(iii) Voluntary taking of remedial measures that will result in increased public protection, or that will result in a decreased likelihood that the violation will be repeated.
(3) The department considers each violation to be a separate and distinct event. When a person has committed multiple violations, the violations are cumulative for purposes of calculating the appropriate civil penalty. The penalties are added together.
(4) Violation(s) committed during the period when a bulk fertilizer distribution license is denied or canceled shall be subject to the maximum civil penalty of seven thousand five hundred dollars and/or cancellation of the bulk fertilizer distribution license for a period of up to five years.
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(a) The penalty schedule allows for cancellation; and/or
(b) One or more aggravating factors are present.
(2) In circumstances where the department determines cancellation to be appropriate, the period of cancellation shall be determined at the discretion of the department, but in no instance shall exceed five years.
(3) The department may deny an applicant a license when the applicant has committed a violation(s) of chapter 15.54 RCW and/or the rules adopted under that chapter. The duration of denial shall be determined based upon the penalty provisions of this chapter. In circumstances where the department determines denial to be appropriate, the period of denial shall not exceed five years.
(4) Nothing shall prevent the department from denying an applicant a license when the applicant has an outstanding civil penalty owed to the department from a previous violation(s).
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(1) Choosing not to pursue a civil penalty or bulk fertilizer distribution license denial or cancellation.
(2) Issuing a notice of correction in lieu of pursuing a civil penalty, or bulk fertilizer distribution license denial or cancellation.
(3) Negotiating settlement(s) of cases on such terms and for such reasons as it deems appropriate. Prior violation(s) covered by a prior settlement agreement may be used by the department for the purpose of determining the appropriate penalty for the current alleged violation(s) if not prohibited by the agreement.
(4) Referring violations or alleged violations to any federal, state or county authority with jurisdiction over the activities in question.
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| Level of Violation | Adverse Effects Not Probable | Adverse Effects Probable | ||||
| Minimum | Median | Maximum | Minimum | Median | Maximum | |
| First | $400 | $600 | $1000 | $700 | $900 | $1100 |
| Second | $700 | $1000 | $2000 | $1200 | $2600 | $4000 and/or license denial or cancellation |
| Third | $1400 | $2000 | $4000 | $1600 and/or license denial or cancellation | $4800 and/or license denial or cancellation | $7500 and/or license denial or cancellation |
| Fourth or more | $1800 and/or license denial or cancellation | $4000 and/or license denial or cancellation | $6000 and/or license denial or cancellation | $2000 and/or license denial or cancellation | $7500 and/or license denial or cancellation | $7500 and license denial or cancellation |
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