RCW 17.24.003 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a strong system for the exclusion of plant and bee pests and diseases through regulation of movement and quarantines of infested areas to protect the forest, agricultural, horticultural, floricultural, and apiary industries of the state; plants and shrubs within the state; and the environment […]
RCW 17.24.007 Definitions. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter. (1) “Department” means the state department of agriculture. (2) “Director” means the director of the state department of agriculture or the director’s designee. (3) “Quarantine” means a rule issued by the department that prohibits or regulates the […]
RCW 17.24.011 Regulation of plant, plant product, bee movement, and genetically engineered organisms. Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 17.24.041, the director may: (1) Make rules under which plants, plant products, bees, hives and beekeeping equipment, and noxious weeds may be brought into this state from other states, territories, or foreign countries; and (2) Make rules […]
RCW 17.24.021 Inspection and investigation. (1) The director may intercept and hold or order held for inspection, or cause to be inspected while in transit or after arrival at their destination, all plants, plant products, bees, or other articles likely to carry plant pests, bee pests, or noxious weeds being moved into this state from […]
RCW 17.24.031 Determination of origin. The director may demand of a person who has in his or her possession or under his or her control, plants, bees, plant products, or other articles that may carry plant pests, bee pests, or noxious weeds, full information as to the origin and source of these items. Failure to […]
RCW 17.24.041 Power to adopt quarantine measures—Rules. If determined to be necessary to protect the forest, agricultural, horticultural, floricultural, beekeeping, or environmental interests of this state, the director may declare a quarantine against an area, place, nursery, orchard, vineyard, apiary, or other agricultural establishment, county or counties within the state, or against other states, territories, […]
RCW 17.24.051 Introduction of plant pests, noxious weeds, or organisms affecting plant life—Special transit permit for brush, yard waste, or debris generated inside a quarantine area for apple maggot. (1) The introduction into or release within the state of a plant pest, noxious weeds, bee pest, or any other organism that may directly or indirectly […]
RCW 17.24.061 Protection of privileged or confidential information—Procedure—Notice—Declaratory judgment. (1) In submitting data required by this chapter, the applicant may: (a) Mark clearly portions of data which in his or her opinion are trade secrets or commercial or financial information; and (b) submit the marked material separately from other material required to be submitted under […]
RCW 17.24.071 Compliance agreements. The director may enter into compliance agreements with a person engaged in growing, handling, or moving articles, bees, plants, or plant products regulated under this chapter. [ 1991 c 257 § 11.]
RCW 17.24.081 Prohibited acts. It shall be unlawful for a person to: (1) Sell, offer for sale, or distribute a noxious weed or a plant or plant product or regulated article infested or infected with a plant pest declared by rule to be a threat to the state’s forest, agricultural, horticultural, floricultural, or beekeeping industries […]
RCW 17.24.091 Impound and disposition. (1) If upon inspection, the director finds that an inspected plant or plant product or bees are infected or infested or that a regulated article is being held or transported in violation of a rule or quarantine of the department, the director shall notify the owner that a violation of […]
RCW 17.24.100 Penalties—Second and subsequent offenses. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, every person who violates or fails to comply with any rule or regulation adopted and promulgated by the director of agriculture in accordance with and under the provision of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor. (2) A second […]
RCW 17.24.101 Statewide survey and control activity. If there is reason to believe that a plant or bee pest may adversely impact the forestry, agricultural, horticultural, floricultural, or related industries of the state; or may cause harm to the environment of the state; or such information is needed to facilitate or allow the movement of […]
RCW 17.24.111 Director’s cooperation with other agencies. The director may enter into cooperative arrangements with a person, municipality, county, Washington State University or any of its experiment stations, or other agencies of this state, and with boards, officers, and authorities of other states and the United States, including the United States department of agriculture, for […]
RCW 17.24.121 Acquisition of lands, water supply, or other properties for quarantine locations. The director may acquire, in fee or in trust, by gift, or whenever funds are appropriated for such purposes, by purchase, easement, lease, or condemnation, lands or other property, water supplies, as may be deemed necessary for use by the department for […]
RCW 17.24.131 Requested inspections—Fee for service—Disbursements in lieu of fee. To facilitate the movement or sale of forest, agricultural, floricultural, horticultural and related products, or bees and related products, the director may provide, if requested by farmers, growers, or other interested persons, special inspections, pest identifications, plant identifications, plant diagnostic services, pest control activities, other […]
RCW 17.24.141 Penalties—Criminal and civil penalty. Whenever the director finds that a person has committed a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, and that violation has not been punished pursuant to RCW 17.24.100, the director may impose upon and collect from the violator a civil penalty not exceeding five thousand dollars per […]
RCW 17.24.151 Violations—Costs of control. A person who, through a knowing and willful violation of a quarantine established under this chapter, causes an infestation to become established, may be required to pay the costs of public control or eradication measures caused as a result of that violation. [ 1991 c 257 § 19.]
RCW 17.24.161 Funds for technical and scientific services. The director may, at the director’s discretion, provide funds for technical or scientific services, labor, materials and supplies, and biological control agents for the control of plant pests, bee pests, and noxious weeds. [ 1991 c 257 § 20.]
RCW 17.24.171 Determination of imminent danger of infestation of plant pests or plant diseases—Emergency measures—Conditions—Procedures. (1) If the director determines that there exists an imminent danger of an infestation of plant pests or plant diseases that seriously endangers the agricultural or horticultural industries of the state, or that seriously threatens life, health, economic well-being, or […]
