SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESB 6635

              As Passed Senate, February 13, 1996

Title:  An act relating to application fees for mines used primarily for public works projects in counties with 1993 populations of less than twenty thousand.

Brief Description:  Concerning application permits for small public works projects mines.

Sponsors:  Senators Morton and Drew.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources:  1/30/96, 2/1/96 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/13/96, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Drew, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; A. Anderson, Haugen, Morton, Oke, Owen, Snyder, Strannigan and Swecker.

Staff:  Vic Moon (786-7469)

Background:  Small counties operating portable rock crushers and small mining sites are concerned that the fees established by the Department of Natural Resources for permits and reclamation plans are too great a cost.

Summary of Bill:  Mining fees for public works projects with less than seven acres of disturbed area per mine are waived when they are primarily used for a public works project if the mines are owned and primarily operated by counties with a 1993 population of less than 20,000 persons.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 25, 1996.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The permit fees for small counties are costing up to $3,500 per site and some counties have 50-60 sites.  This is a statewide problem and it needs to be addressed in the interim for all counties.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Art Stearns, Dept. of Natural Resources (pro).