SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5860
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines, February 26, 2001
Ways & Means, March 8, 2001
Title: An act relating to surface mining reclamation permit fees.
Brief Description: Increasing the fee for a surface mining reclamation permit.
Sponsors: Senators Jacobsen and Oke; by request of Department of Natural Resources.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines: 2/22/01, 2/26/01 [DP‑WM, DNP].
Ways & Means: 3/7/01, 3/8/01 [DP, DNP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, PARKS & SHORELINES
Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.
Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Constantine, McDonald and Oke.
Minority Report: Do not pass.
Signed by Senators Hargrove and Morton.
Staff: Vic Moon (786‑7469)
SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Brown, Chair; Constantine, Vice Chair; Fairley, Vice Chair; Fraser, Kline, Kohl‑Welles, Rasmussen, Regala, B. Sheldon, Snyder and Spanel.
Minority Report: Do not pass.
Signed by Senators Hewitt, Honeyford, Rossi, Sheahan and Zarelli.
Staff: Richard Ramsey (786-7412)
Background: The surface mining reclamation program conducted by the Department of Natural Resources is funded by application fees paid to the department by persons that have applied or have been granted a surface mining permit. The present amount of the application is $650. It is unclear in current law whether the application fee is refundable.
Summary of Bill: Each public or private reclamation permit applicant must pay a nonrefundable fee of $1,200 after January 1, 2001. After June 30, 2001, each public or private permit holder must pay an annual permit fee of $1,200.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For (Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines): The surface mining program is funded by application and permit fees; to carry out an adequate program, the fees need to be increased.
Testimony Against (Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines): None.
Testified (Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines): PRO: Ron Teissere, DNR; Willy O'Neil, AGC; Bruce Chattin, WA Aggregates and Concrete Assn.
Testimony For (Ways & Means): Without this fee increase the surface mining program will be reduced and the length of time to obtain a permit will increase from several months to more than a year. The surface mining industry is willing to accept a fee increase in order to have a more responsive regulatory agency.
Testimony Against (Ways & Means): None.
Testified (Ways & Means): PRO: Ron Teissere, DNR; Steve Buckner, WA Aggregate and Concrete Assn.