BILL REQ. #:  H-0746.1 

Read first time 01/24/2005.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks.

     AN ACT Relating to small scale mineral extraction; and amending RCW 77.55.270.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 77.55.270 and 1997 c 415 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Small scale prospecting and placer mining shall not require written approval under this chapter if the prospecting and placer mining is conducted in accordance with provisions established by the department.
     (2) ((By December 31, 1998,)) The department shall adopt rules applicable to small scale prospecting and placer mining activities subject to this section. The department shall develop the rules in cooperation with the ((recreational)) small scale placer mining community and other interested parties.
     (3) Within two months of adoption of the rules, the department shall distribute an updated gold and fish pamphlet that describes methods of ((mineral)) prospecting and placer mining that are consistent with the department's rule. The pamphlet shall be written to clearly indicate the prospecting and placer mining methods that require written approval under this chapter and the prospecting and placer mining methods that require compliance with the pamphlet. To the extent possible, the department shall use the provisions of the gold and fish pamphlet to minimize the number of specific provisions of a written approval issued under this chapter.
     (4) For the purposes of this chapter, "small scale prospecting and placer mining" means only the use of the following methods((: Pans, nonmotorized sluice boxes, concentrators, and minirocker boxes)) for the discovery and recovery of minerals:
     (a) Pans, either motorized or nonmotorized;
     (b) Motorized and nonmotorized sluice boxes, concentrators, and rocker boxes;
     (c) Motorized suction dredges;
     (d) Nonmotorized equipment and hand tools used in the collecting of mineral samples;
     (e) Motorized power sluice and combination suction dredges and power sluice; and
     (f) Nonmotorized equipment used for crevice cleaning.