PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: (1) Requiring phytosanitary certification for all crucifer seed to be use for vegetable seed, cover, or oilseed crops in western Washington; and (2) adding wild radish and black mustard to the "restricted noxious weed seeds."
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 15.49 RCW, Seeds.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The Department of Agriculture received a petition for rule making to address the two issues outlined above, as well as to address modification of rapeseed rules to include all cruciferous genera and species that could be grown for vegetable seed, cover, or oilseed crops. Also requested is the development of additional guidelines for crucifer vegetable, cover and oilseed crops.
At the present time, it appears that the department does not have the statutory authority required to pursue rule making relative to rapeseed, but the subject should be thoroughly discuss with affected industry representatives.
Process for Developing New Rule: The department is establishing a work group made up of members of the seed, rapeseed industry and research community to begin examining the request for rules and to advise the department of the future direction of the request.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting George Huffman, Rules Coordinator, Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, phone (360) 902-1802, fax (360) 902-2092, e-mail ghuffman@agr.wa.gov; or Fawad Shah, Manager, WSDA Seed Program, 21 North First Avenue, Suite 203, Yakima, WA 98902, phone (509) 225-2630, fax (509) 454-4395, e-mail fshah@agr.wa.gov.
September 15, 2004
William E. Brookreson
Deputy Director