The WSDA Trap Door Spider

When I was young I used to look for trap door spiders. For those unfamiliar with them they are spiders who live underground. The dig a tunnel and coat it with a silky substance and make this unique camouflage trap door by mixing the silk with earth. Finding a trap door spider is a bit of work but with a little determination it can be done. It appears as if Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is imitating the trap door spider.

The Process of Back Door Agency Regulation

There is a whole system of regulation behind the scene where nobody knows except those that the agency wants “in the know”. Here is how it works!

· An agency can change the WAC’s (those are the “how to” regulations) by publishing for 20 days in the State Registry. The State Registry is a place that all proposed regulations are published for public comment. It is kind of like the Legislative newspaper.

· The public has 20 days to comment. You can write, e-mail or fax your comments to the address noted in each proposal.

· You can favor or oppose.

· The agency then has a hearing. Usually the public does not know about the hearing unless you are for the agencies proposal.

· The Agency will respond to comments, especially ones noted For the Record.

· Soon after the hearing the WAC(s) are amended (changed). This can be the day after the hearing.

How can I know what is going on?

• Once a week go to the Washington State Register and see what has been posted. The link is below.

• Go to: http://www1.leg.wa.gov/documents/wsr/2007/07+WSR+Index+A.htm (if it doesn’t work cut and paste)

• Scroll down until you see what agency or topic interests you. For instance:

• Animal Industry:

• disease reporting PROP 07-03-123

• disposal of dead livestock PROP 07-03-172

• importation of animals PROP 07-03-173

• livestock inspection and identification PROP 07-03-124

• Next click on the blue Proposition (PROP) above (it is a sequence of three sets of numbers). Read the Proposition carefully.

Now what?

• · To retain your ‘right to oppose’ create a Memorial of (either Opposition or Favor):

• State your name and contact information

• State: For the Record: A Memorandum of either Opposition or Approval

• State why you are opposed or just that you are studying the matter (because you just discovered it) and will send them
• Your statement of fact(s )on your position.
• Summarize you position
• Thank the committee for listening to your comments.

In Summary:

It is important to understand that in today’s society agencies are actively engaged in the rule-making process creating the standards by which we will live our lives. For instance, in the livestock identification, towards the bottom it has a *new* schedule of fines that you will be required to pay should you violate anyone of the RCW’s stated above the fees. Another interesting note is that for branded livestock the brad must be in Arabic. Isn’t that interesting? I wonder why? The process sounds complicated at first but after the first few times of engaging in the process you will get the process down. Remember if you don’t take a few moments to speak up you lifestyle will soon be altered in a very dramatic way. Lastly, please check the Washington State Register once a week because this is an on going process. New things will continually pop up. With a little time and patience you too can hunt for trap door spiders. Let me know if you find one we haven’t seen before and I will post it. It takes us working as a team to prevail.