Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 296-62 WAC, General occupational health standards; chapter 296-67 WAC, Safety standards for process safety management and highly hazardous chemicals; chapter 296-79 WAC, Safety standards for pulp, paper, and paperboard mills and converters; chapter 296-305 WAC, Safety standards for firefighters; and chapter 296-307 WAC, Safety standards for agriculture.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The Department of Labor and Industries is proposing to clarify and amend requirements relating to emergency response. We propose to rewrite and reorganize the rule for clarity, while eliminating unnecessary requirements, outdated terminology, and incorporate requirements to be at least as effective as OSHA.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: No other state or federal agencies (other than OSHA) are known that regulate this subject.

     Process for Developing New Rule: The department must adopt rules identical to or at least as effective as OSHA rules as required by the OSHA/WISHA state plan agreement. Parties interested in the formulation of these rules for proposal may contact the individuals listed below. The public may also participate by commenting after amendments are proposed by providing written comments or giving oral testimony during the public hearing process.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Jim Hughes, Project Manager, Department of Labor and Industries, WISHA Services Division, P.O. Box 44620, Olympia, WA 98504-4620, phone (360) 902-4504, e-mail hugw235@lni.wa.gov, fax (360) 902-5529.

October 3, 2001

Gary Moore

Director

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