PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Based upon requests from the seed industry and the seed program advisory committee, the following sections in chapter 16-301 WAC will be amended: WAC 16-301-365 Bean seed quarantine -- Establishing quarantine, 16-301-375 Regulated articles, 16-301-380 Regulated diseases, 16-301-395 General requirements for planting bean seed in the regulated area, 16-301-410 Additional requirements for planting bean seed in quarantine Area I, 16-301-415 Additional requirements for planting bean seed in quarantine Area II, 16-301-420 Quarantine -- Exceptions and exemptions, 16-301-430 Identification and disposition of diseased bean seed and infected bean fields, 16-301-435 Notice of destruction, and 16-301-440 Penalties.
Based upon requests from the seed industry and the seed program advisory committee, the following sections in chapter 16-301 WAC will be repealed: WAC 16-301-450 Bean seed-borne viral disease quarantine -- Establishing the quarantine, 16-301-455 Bean seed-borne viral disease quarantine -- Regulated articles, 16-301-460 Bean seed-borne viral disease quarantine -- Regulated disease, 16-301-465 Bean seed-borne viral disease quarantine -- Quarantine area, 16-301-470 Bean seed-borne viral disease quarantine -- Regulated area, 16-301-475 Bean seed-borne viral disease quarantine -- Requirements for planting bean seed in the regulated area, 16-301-480 Bean seed-borne viral disease quarantine -- Identification and disposition of diseased bean seed, and 16-301-485 Bean seed-borne viral disease quarantine -- Penalties.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 15.49.310, 17.24.041, 17.24.011 and chapter 34.05 RCW.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Proposal is in response to industry request to simplify the requirements of the two current bean quarantines. This proposal combines the two current bean quarantines into one rule, simplifies the compliance and reporting requirements, and adds clarification as to the diseases that are regulated by the quarantine.
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 WSDA seed program staff will develop rule amendment language based upon suggestions and recommendations from the seed industry and the WSDA seed program advisory committee.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Victor Shaul, Operations Manager, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Seed Program, 21 North 1st Avenue, Suite 203, Yakima, WA 98902, (509) 225-2630, fax (509) 454-4395.
December 23, 2003
Robert W. Gore
Assistant Director