Section 317-31-230 - Modification of accepted industry standards for fishing vessels(1) This provision establishes a process for establishing and modifying accepted industry standards for fishing vessels. The purpose of this section is to establish a process that results in enforceable standards while affording vessels owners and operators substantial input and notice.(2) The fishing vessel inspection advisory council is hereby established. The council shall make recommendations based on international and federal laws and regulations applicable to fishing vessels, and on the actual practices of the Washington-based fishing industry as revealed in the boarding results presented by the office. The council may recommend higher standards than the actual practices of the Washington-based fishing industry and those in applicable international and federal laws and regulations only where reasonably necessary to protect public health and safety, and the environment. The office shall review the council's recommendations and publish in the state register proposed standards. After the date of publication, the office shall allow thirty days for public comment. After consideration of council recommendations and public comment, the office shall adopt the proposed industry standards by publication of a notice of adoption and availability of the standards in the state register.(3) Council members and their replacements shall be appointed by the office and serve a term of two years. The council chair shall be appointed by the office. Each council member may designate one alternate who may exercise that member's vote. The office shall invite the U.S. Coast Guard to participate as a nonvoting advisor to the council. The council shall comprise at least six members who represent the following interests: (a) Commercial fishing vessels;(b) Commercial fish processing vessels;(c) Environmental organizations;(d) Native American tribes;(e) Washington state department of ecology;(f) Washington state office of marine safety; and(4) A meeting of the council may be held fourteen days after the notice of the meeting is published in the state register. The meeting notice shall state the date, time, and place of the meeting, and the names of the organizations represented. Meetings of the council may be convened either by the office or the council's chair. At the first meeting of the council, the office shall present a compilation of boarding results under the boarding checklist for the council's review.(5) The office shall provide staff and administrative support for the council. The office shall also maintain council minutes, public comment, boarding results, and other council records in a file available to the public.(6) Until the council has established accepted industry standards under this section, the office shall use an interim standard to determine substantial risk for fishing vessels under WAC 317-31-210. The office will board fishing vessels as provided in WAC 317-31-210(2) using a boarding checklist developed through agreement with a representative of the fishing industry as published in the Washington State Register, No. 95-06-063.Wash. Admin. Code § 317-31-230
Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21I.030. 97-10-097, §317-31-230, filed 5/7/97, effective 6/7/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 88.46.050 and 43.21I.030. 96-12-077, §317-31-230, filed 6/5/96, effective 7/6/96.