WSR 97-05-067
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
[Filed February 19, 1997, 10:54 a.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Amend chapter 16-532 WAC to change assessment procedures and add new hop varieties subject to labeling requirements.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 15.65.280.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: (1) The Hop Board has the fiduciary responsibility to prepare budgets covering anticipated income and expenses and conduct advertising and research programs that benefit hop growers. Changes in hop processing technology and marketing channels have made assessment collection methods and budgeting less effective. (2) New varieties of hops have been released for commercial use.
Other federal and state agencies that regulate this subject and the process coordinating the rule with these agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: A notice of the proposed changes will be sent to all affected producers. Written comments will be accepted up to the date of the public hearing.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. In addition to notices being sent to affected producers, a public hearing will be set to give interested parties an opportunity to participate and comment on the proposed rule changes. The assessment and collection procedure changes may be subject to a referendum of the growers. Please contact Ann George, Washington Hop Commission, 504 North Naches Avenue #11, Yakima, WA 98901, phone (509) 453-4749, FAX (509) 457-8561; or Walter Swenson, Washington State Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, phone (360) 902-1928, FAX (360) 902-2089.
February 19, 1997
William E. Brookreson
Assistant Director
Agency Operations