Proposed Mineral Prospecting Rules Withdrawn News WDFW has withdrawn its proposed mineral prospecting rules. We will be proposing new rules and accepting written comment on them soon. Letter of Withdrawal [ PDF format ] Small-Scale Mineral Prospecting White Paper DECEMBER 2006 PDF Format [5.29MB] Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has withdrawn its recently proposed mineral prospecting rules. WDFW developed the proposed rules in cooperation with representatives from the mineral prospecting community, other state and federal agencies, tribes, and environmental interests during a series of meetings in 2007. Following consideration of written comments received from the public, WDFW will propose new rules. WDFW will accept written comments from the public on these new rules as soon as they are published. Verbal comments will be accepted at the rule adoption hearing during an upcoming Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting held on a date to be announced. Background In 1997 the Legislature passed legislation that defined “small scale mining and prospecting” as “the use of pans, non-motorized sluice boxes, concentrators, and mini-rocker boxes for the discovery and recovery of minerals.” That legislation, now codified as RCW 77.55.091, made it unnecessary for persons to obtain a written Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) prior to conducting small scale mining and prospecting if the prospecting was conducted in accordance with rules established by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) as described and published in the Gold and Fish pamphlet HPA. The Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted rules for small-scale mining and prospecting in December 1998 and WDFW issued a new Gold and Fish pamphlet HPA in January 1999. On August 11, 2006, the Fish and Wildlife Commission passed a motion directing WDFW to initiate the rule-making process for new mineral prospecting rules as expeditiously as possible. On August 11, 2006, WDFW took the first step in rulemaking by filing a Preproposal Statement of Inquiry with the Office of the Code Reviser. Additionally, a consultant was hired to undertake a review of the scientific literature associated with small-scale mineral prospecting and mining. The consultant’s report is available via the link on the right sidebar. WDFW has formed a Mineral Prospecting Rule Development Workgroup composed of interested individuals to assist us in the rule development process. Workgroup Composition Greg Hueckel, Assistant Director for WDFW's Habitat Program is leading the workgroup for the agency. Mike Bireley, Special Assistant to the Director, will facilitate workgroup meetings. In order to provide for balanced representation of interested parties, the workgroup is composed of people with varying interests in mineral prospecting. If you have concerns you'd like the workgroup to consider please contact any of the workgroup members (See member roster below). Mineral Prospecting Workgroup Members and Other Contacts As of January 8, 2007 Nominee Primary Alternate Interest Group Representing Street Address / PO Box City/State/Zip Phone FAX Kreitman, Gayle X   Agency NOAA Fisheries 510 Desmond Drive SE, Suite 103 Lacey, WA 98503-1263 360-753-9887 360-753-9517 Lange, Sandra   X Agency Washington Dept. of Ecology 3190 160th Ave SE Bellevue, WA 98008 360-407-0273 360-407-6902 Morgan, David T.   X Agency US Fish & Wildlife Service 215 Melody Lane, Suite 119 Wenatchee, WA 98801 509-665-3508 x24 509-665-3509 Peterschmidt, Mark X   Agency Washington Dept. of Ecology 15 W. Yakima Avenue, Suite 200 Yakima, WA 98902-3407 509-454-7843 509-575-2809 Rechner, Michal X   Agency Washington Dept. of Natural Resources PO Box 47027 Olympia, WA 98504-7027 360-902-1075 360-902-1786 Romanski, Tim X   Agency US Fish & Wildlife Service 510 Desmond Drive SE, Suite 102 Lacey, WA 98503 360-753-5823   Stearns, Richard X   Agency US Forest Service 215 Melody Lane, Suite 119 Wenatchee, WA 98801 509-664-9237 or 9200 509-664-9285 Whitlam, Rob X   Agency Wa. Dept. of Archaeology & Hist. Preservation PO Box 48343 Olympia, WA 98504-8343 360-586-3080 360-586-3067 Beardslee, Kurt X   Environmental Washington Trout PO Box 402 Duvall, WA 98019 425-788-1167 425-788-9634 Atkinson, Scott X   Prospectors Northwest Mineral Prospectors 4626 NE St. James Rd Vancouver, WA 98663 360-600-4984   Beatty, Bruce X   Prospectors Washington Miners Council 4602 Alameda Ave. N University Place, WA 98466 253-564-0954 253-564-1674 Carstensen, Robert X   Prospectors Himself, metal detectors 195 W. Pinehurst Way Bremerton, WA 98312 360-830-4709 360-830-0213 Christensen, Greg X   Prospectors Resources Coalition 4256 Hoff Rd Bellingham, WA 98225 360-734-9494 360-715-9194 Cunningham, Robert X   Prospectors Northwest Treasure Supply PO Box 4212 Bellingham, WA 98225 360-733-5750 360-733-5758 Thomas, William S. X   Prospectors Washington state prospectors 2130 E. Parkway, Dr Mt Vernon, WA 98273 360-425-2036   Wilson, Ron   X Prospectors Resources Coalition 21612 161st Ave E Graham, WA 98338 360-893-6037   Fisher, Chris X   Tribe Colville Confederated Tribes PO Box 155 Nespelem, WA 99150 509-422-7427   Morris, Gregory X   Tribe Yakama Nation PO Box 151 Toppenish, WA 98948 509-865-5121 x6351 509-865-6293 Hueckel, Greg X   WDFW Wash. Dept. of Fish & Wildlife 600 Capitol Way N Olympia, WA 98501-1091 360-902-2416 360-902-2946 WDFW Staff X   WDFW Wash. Dept. of Fish & Wildlife 600 Capitol Way N Olympia, WA 98501-1091     If you have any questions, please call Greg Hueckel, Habitat Program Assistant Director, at (360) 902-2416.  WDFW Mineral Prospecting Rules and Information Home