New HPA Permitting Process Announced and Proposed Changes to Hydraulic Code Rules Revealed

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today a streamlined application process for Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) permits.  The new system is online and, according to the program managers, will make it easier to apply for and monitor one's HPA applications.

For example, instead of the former 14 page application, the online "Aquatic Protection Permitting System" reduces the workload to 3 pages.  Moreover, the new system makes completed applications visible to the public on the WDFW website.

The news release announcing the initiation of the online program lists the following features:

Using the new system, HPA applicants can now go online to:

• Submit an application and any necessary supporting documents.
• Pay for their HPA, using a credit card or bank transfer.
• Check the status of their application and correspond with WDFW staff.
• Obtain a text version of their application that can be copied and pasted into applications for other permits that may be required by other state agencies.
• Receive and print an HPA via email.

Anyone interested in work permitted by HPAs can also use the new online tool to search for projects, receive notifications about project applications, and submit comments to WDFW online.

The WDFW news release summarized above may be viewed in its entirety at the link here.

The webpage with the link for accessing the online HPA application is at the link below:

 http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/hpa/

Tucked away at the bottom of the page with the link to the online HPA application is a section titled, "Changes proposed to Hydraulic Code Rules."  The substance of this section is that WDFW is "preparing  a set of updates to the hydraulic code rules" that should be of some concern to the small-scale mining community.

The section goes on to state that:

Starting July 16, the public will have 30 days to comment on the proposed hydraulic code rules and an associated Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will schedule a public hearing before considering adoption of WDFW’s proposals later this year.

The draft of the proposed changes to the rules may be found in the download section in the upper right-hand corner of the Hydraulic Code Rulemaking page.  A quick scan of the proposed rules reveals that most of the changes would involve mining on the ocean beaches, although there are a few changes to the work times in the various creeks and rivers.

It's always a good idea to keep a close watch on these sorts of goings on.