BILL REQ. #:  H-3701.1 

Read first time 01/17/08.   Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources.

     AN ACT Relating to penalties for small scale prospecting and mining violations; amending RCW 77.15.300; and prescribing penalties.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 77.15.300 and 2000 c 107 s 239 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A person is guilty of unlawfully undertaking hydraulic project activities if the person constructs any form of hydraulic project or performs other work on a hydraulic project and:
     (a) Fails to have a hydraulic project approval required under chapter 77.55 RCW for such construction or work; or
     (b) Violates any requirements or conditions of the hydraulic project approval for such construction or work.
     (2)(a) Except for actions involving small scale prospecting and mining that are in violation of the requirements of the gold and fish pamphlet published by the department under RCW 77.55.091, unlawfully undertaking hydraulic project activities is a gross misdemeanor.
     (b) For actions involving small scale prospecting and mining that are in violation of the requirements of the gold and fish pamphlet published by the department under RCW 77.55.091 only, unlawfully undertaking hydraulic project activities is a natural resources infraction punishable under chapter 7.84 RCW.