PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: To amend chapter 16-401 WAC, Nursery inspection fees, for fiscal year 2003 and fiscal year 2004.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 15.13 RCW, Horticultural plants and facilities.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: These fees fund the nursery inspection program and allow plant services staff to provide requested services to the industry. These services include phytosanitary certification for shipping nursery stock. An increase in applicable rates and charges and in miscellaneous charges equal or less than the fiscal growth factor is necessary to offset increased operational expenses.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: The Nursery Advisory Committee, representing affected stakeholders, recommended this proposal to Washington State Department of Agriculture.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Mary A. Martin Toohey, Assistant Director, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Plant Protection Division, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, phone (360) 902-1907, fax (360) 902-2094, or e-mail mtoohey@agr.wa.gov; or Tom Wessels, Plant Services Program Manager, Washington State Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, phone (360) 902-1984, fax (360) 902-2094, or e-mail twessels@agr.wa.gov.
November 20, 2002
Mary A. Martin Toohey
Assistant Director for
Plant Protection