WSR 99-02-066
PROPOSED RULES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
[Filed January 6, 1999, 10:50 a.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 98-18-044.
Title of Rule: Weights and measures--Hops.
Purpose: The rule will specify standard weights and tare weights for hop bales.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 19.94.190.
Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 19.94 RCW.
Summary: The rule will specify tare weight for the materials used in baling hops, provide a standard for tare weights and provide bale size rules.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: The statute, chapter 19.92 RCW, governing bread and hops is outdated and will likely be repealed by the legislature during the 1999 session. Upon repeal hops will not be covered by statute. The rule will provide regulation for weighting and measuring aspects of this commodity.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Jerry Buendel, 1111 Washington Street, Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 902-1856.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: This rule specifies standard sizes for hop bales and fixes tare weights for baling materials. The current bread and hop law, chapter 19.92 RCW may be repealed during the current legislative session. The rule would insure hop standards are set and regulated by the state.
Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: This proposal promulgates a new rule to regulate the weights and measures aspect [of the] hops industry.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. This rule does not impose any additional costs to small businesses.
Section 201, chapter 403, Laws of 1995, does not apply to this rule adoption. The Washington State Department of Agriculture is not a listed agency in section 201.
Hearing Location: Washington State Department of Agriculture, Second Floor Conference Room, 21 North 1st Avenue, Yakima, WA, on February 11, 1999, at 1:00 p.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Cathy Jensen by February 9, 1999, TDD (360) 902-1996, or (360) 902-1976.
Submit Written Comments to: Washington State Department of Agriculture, Jerry Buendel, Program Manager, P.O. Box 42560 or 1111 Washington Street, Olympia, WA 98504-2506, fax (360) 902-2086, by February 9, 1999.
Date of Intended Adoption: February 26, 1999.
January 4, 1999
Julie C. Sandberg
Assistant Director
OTS-2692.1
NEW SECTION
WAC 16-645-005 Hops--Bale. The standard weight for a bale of hops is fixed at from one hundred seventy-five to two hundred ten pounds.
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NEW SECTION
WAC 16-645-010 Hops--Tare. (1) The amount of tare to be deducted from the gross weight of each bale of hops grown and sold is fixed at five pounds per bale for bales wrapped in burlap cloth. The tare for bales wrapped in plastic baling cloth is fixed at zero.
(2) Any vendor of hops using heavier sacking than specified above or using any extraneous material in the baling thereof shall have the additional sacking or extraneous material deducted as additional tare.
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