Chapter 16-470 WAC

As a result of a petition for rule making, the department is considering expanding the apple maggot quarantine area in Okanogan County.

The apple maggot is an invasive insect pest native to Eastern North America. Its hosts include apples, crabapple, and native and ornamental hawthorn. During the larval stage, apple maggot can cause extensive damage to fruit. It is also economically significant to Washington’s apple industry because fruit from the pest-free areas has greater access to international markets.

The department is considering a recommendation by a sub-committee of the Apple Maggot Working Group to expand the quarantine area in Okanogan County. Recent apple maggot surveys provide evidence that the state's apple maggot population has expanded its range into pest-free areas of the county. Changes to the existing rule may better protect the environment and agricultural crops of the state by slowing possible movements of apple maggot from infested areas into the pest-free area, and by securing access to international and interstate markets.

Comments Due: [To be determined]
Proposed Adoption Date: [To be determined]
Proposed Effective Date: [To be determined]

How you might be impacted

Under the apple maggot quarantine, backyard fruit and green waste (such as yard waste, woody debris, and fresh fruits) must remain in the quarantine area to prevent the spread of apple maggot. This means that if the quarantine were to go into effect, community members in the impacted area would no longer be able to place green waste into their curbside trash container or haul it to the nearest transfer station, in Ellisforde. The waste hauler in the area, Upper Valley Disposal, would no longer be able to accept curbside trash containers with green waste in them, or self-haul loads containing green waste at the Ellisforde Transfer Station.    

Seeking your input

WSDA is seeking  input from community members to determine how the proposed rule might impact them.

Please visit fill our this short survey to have your voice heard. 
 

The department will hold public hearings to receive information and comments regarding the proposed amendments on:

Send written comments using one of the following:

By mail:
Gloriann Robinson, Agency Rules Coordinator
Washington State Dept. of Agriculture
PO Box 42560
Olympia, WA 98504-2560

By fax: (360) 902-2092
By email: wsdarulescomments@agr.wa.gov

Written comments must be received no later than 5:00 PM [TBD].​

Written submissions about the proposed rule may be inspected at:

Washington State Dept. of Agriculture
Natural Resources Building
1111 Washington Street SE
Olympia, WA 98504-2560

Please contact Sven Spichiger to discuss how you can participate in the development of the rule and formulation of the proposed rule language before publication.

By mail:
Sven Spichiger, Pest Program Manager
Plant Protection Division
Washington State Dept. of Agriculture
PO Box 42560
Olympia, WA 98504-2560

By phone: (360) 280-6327
By email:  SSpichiger@agr.wa.gov