S-3552.1  _______________________________________________

                    SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8023

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     2000 Regular Session

By Senators Benton, Rossi, Morton, Zarelli, Honeyford, Deccio, Sellar, Hochstatter, Swecker, Stevens, Johnson, Sheahan and Oke

Read first time 01/20/2000.  Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation.

Requesting open public lands for small scale prospecting and mining.

    TO THE HONORABLE WILLIAM J. CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR:

    We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

    WHEREAS, The free use of publicly held lands for recreation by the public has long been a hallmark of this nation; and

    WHEREAS, The wholesome enjoyment of our nations' public lands by families across this nation is essential to the health and well-being of the citizens of our nation; and

    WHEREAS, The traditional policy of our public lands is to allow for multiple use of the resources; and

    WHEREAS, Recreational prospecting and mining is a family activity that is conducted in accordance with all laws; and

    WHEREAS, Agency policy cannot abrogate rights secured and reserved to the people by the United States Constitution;

    NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the policy on all federal lands will continue to be one of openness and accessibility to all citizens of the United States, and that protection of the environment will be carefully balanced to ensure such public access.

    BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of the United States, the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.

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