RCW 17.10.010 Definitions.

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(1) "Noxious weed" means a plant that when established is highly destructive, competitive, or difficult to control by cultural or chemical practices.

(2) "State noxious weed list" means a list of noxious weeds adopted by the state noxious weed control board. The list is divided into three classes:

(a) Class A consists of those noxious weeds not native to the state that are of limited distribution or are unrecorded in the state and that pose a serious threat to the state;

(b) Class B consists of those noxious weeds not native to the state that are of limited distribution or are unrecorded in a region of the state and that pose a serious threat to that region;

(c) Class C consists of any other noxious weeds.

(3) "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, firm, the state or any department, agency, or subdivision thereof, or any other entity.

(4) "Owner" means the person in actual control of property, or his or her agent, whether the control is based on legal or equitable title or on any other interest entitling the holder to possession and, for purposes of liability, pursuant to RCW 17.10.170 or 17.10.210, means the possessor of legal or equitable title or the possessor of an easement: PROVIDED, That when the possessor of an easement has the right to control or limit the growth of vegetation within the boundaries of an easement, only the possessor of the easement is deemed, for the purpose of this chapter, an "owner" of the property within the boundaries of the easement.

(5) As pertains to the duty of an owner, the words "control", "contain", "eradicate", and the term "prevent the spread of noxious weeds" means conforming to the standards of noxious weed control or prevention in this chapter or as adopted by rule in chapter 16-750 WAC by the state noxious weed control board and an activated county noxious weed control board.

(6) "Agent" means any occupant or any other person acting for the owner and working or in charge of the land.

(7) "Agricultural purposes" are those that are intended to provide for the growth and harvest of food and fiber.

(8) "Director" means the director of the department of agriculture or the director's appointed representative.

(9) "Weed district" means a weed district as defined in chapters 17.04 and 17.06 RCW.

(10) "Aquatic noxious weed" means an aquatic plant species that is listed on the state weed list under RCW 17.10.080.

(11) "Screenings" means a mixture of mill or elevator run mixture or a combination of varying amounts of materials obtained in the process of cleaning either grain or seeds, or both, such as light or broken grain or seed, weed seeds, hulls, chaff, joints, straw, elevator dust, floor sweepings, sand, and dirt.

[ 1997 c 353 § 2; 1995 c 255 § 6; 1987 c 438 § 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 13 § 1; 1969 ex.s. c 113 § 1.]

NOTES:

Effective date—1995 c 255: See RCW 17.26.901.