PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 16-674 WAC, Weights and measures -- Sealing, marking, retesting devices.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 19.94 RCW, Weights and measures, RCW 19.94.190 and 15.80.410.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: This rule may be retitled and amended to clarify weighmaster licensing and operating requirements. The changes may also update exemptions for certain weighing or measuring devices or instruments. Three sections regarding fees for inspections, tests, grain elevator scale tests and railroad track scales may be repealed. These repealed fee sections may be modified and moved to chapter 16-675 WAC. In this process, these fees may be increased within the fiscal growth factor for FY03. The proposal would include alteration of existing text to clear and readable format and updating to conform with current industry and regulatory standards.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: Agency will coordinate with Weights and Measures Advisory Group.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Washington State Department of Agriculture, Jerry Buendel, Program Manager, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, phone (360) 902-1856, fax (360) 902-2086, e-mail jbuendel@agr.wa.gov.
April 3, 2002
Mary A. Martin Toohey
Assistant Director