SB 6149-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST OF PROPOSED 1ST SUBSTITUTE)

Requires the departments of fish and wildlife, natural resources, and ecology to work cooperatively with the small scale mining community to attend educational meetings and demonstrations to encourage methods of conducting mining activities in ways that provide for the proper protection of the state's natural resources.

Requires the departments to work with the small scale mining community to study and determine if any regulation of small scale mining is needed. The departments shall report on this process to the 2005 legislature with legislative recommendations, if needed. The departments shall survey other states' regulation of gold panning as part of the study.

Declares that all small scale prospecting and mining, as that term is defined in RCW 77.55.270, is exempt from the requirements of this chapter.

Provides that any person may engage in small scale prospecting and mining, as that term is defined in RCW 77.55.270, on aquatic lands where both the surface and mineral rights are owned by the state without that person first obtaining a permit, lease, license, or other form of permission from the department, and without being charged a rent or fee.