OLYMPIA, Washington USA — Thanks to the efforts of one individual, Ken McGoffin, the Washington state code for model and experimental rocketry (WAC 212-20) has been repealed in its entirety.

The repeal was a direct outgrowth of McGoffin's efforts, beginning in January of 1997, to prod the state fire marshal to either update or repeal the obsolete code, or to adopt by reference the NFPA codes 1122 and 1127. The repeal of WAC 212-20, an apparently never-enforced code, removes a potential source of embarassment and legal trouble for both model and high power rocketry enthusiasts in the state of Washington.

The old WAC 212-20 code was an almost verbatim copy of NFPA 1122 as it existed back in 1979. As such, all of high power rocketry, reloadable motors, and rockets weighing more than 16 ounces at time of launch would have been technically illegal, with misdemeanor penalties. As it turned out, WAC 212-20 was written as primarily an advisory in nature and was meant to replace an old user permit-based system.

Because of the structure of Washington law, there was no way to publish a strictly advisory code, so it became necessary to write the advisory in the form of a Washington Administrative Code (WAC). Because of this, WAC 212-20 remained on the books, potentially available to have been enforced at any time by any police agency, fire marshal, or other authority having similar powers. Also, the continuing de facto violation of state law by rocketry hobbyists was not conducive to efforts to maintain a public image of hobby rocketry enthusiasts as law abiding citizens.

Copies of the relevant entries in the Washington State Register are available online at the following URL's:

1. WSR 99-21-018 Oct.12, 1999 notification of intent to repeal
   http://Search.leg.wa.gov/pub/textsearch/default.asp
   Enter "rocketry" and click on the box marked "State Register 1999."
2. WSR 00-01-077 Dec. 14, 1999 notification of repeal
   http://Search.leg.wa.gov/pub/textsearch/default.asp
   Enter "rocketry" and click on the box marked "State Register 2000--as of ."
   The text of the repealed code is apparently not available online.