Update on WDFW's Proposed Prospecting Rules

In the ongoing saga to revise Washington's small-scale prospecting and mining regulations, commonly known as the "Gold and Fish Pamphlet", we observe that WDFW now has the following notice posted on it's web page:

WDFW has extended the deadline for accepting written comments on the rules until further notice.

The good news here is: we all have more time to study the proposed rules and submit comments.

In news relating to the Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting scheduled for tomorrow, WDFW is asking the Commission to "Delay the presentation of the proposed rules and the public hearing to a future date." According to a "Green* Sheet" from WDFW, this situation came about as a result of "significant discontent about the proposed rules not only among members of the prospecting community, but also among those prospectors that sat on the workgroup." This "discontent" was evidenced at the four public workshops and in the comments received by WDFW. The "Sheet" goes on to state that "Prospectors have expressed significant dissatisfaction with proposed work windows, numerous specific work requirements, and in the rule development process itself. Because of this, Habitat Program is delaying presentation of the proposed rules to the Commission until outstanding issues can be resolved."

It does indeed sound like the mining community is making itself heard.

* Interesting choice of word.