Proposed Mineral Prospecting Rules Changes to be Subject of WDFW Commission Briefing

The proposed changes to the mineral prospecting rules (see, here) will be the subject of a briefing at the WDFW Commission meeting January 10 and 11 at the Comfort Inn Conference Center,
1620 74th Avenue SW, Tumwater, WA.

According to the summary on the Commission website, the proposed changes to the rules are:

Multiple sections have been combined into a single section. A new section on mineral prospecting on ocean beaches has been added, including where beach prospecting may occur and what equipment may be used. The provisions for mineral prospecting on ocean beaches prospecting are included in the Gold and Fish pamphlet. Authorized work times for mineral prospecting in Nooksack and Wenatchee Rivers have been changed and are listed in a table. The timing in the Nooksack River changes from July 16 – August 15 to submit application. The timing in the Wenatchee River from the mouth to Leavenworth changes from July 1 – July 31 to July 15 – September 30 and from Leavenworth to Lake Wenatchee changes from July 31 [Sic...July 1] – July 31 to July 15 – August 15.

As pointed out in the reminder on this topic in the Resource Coalition's January newsletter, the draft rules are not open for discussion at this time but public comments may be made to the Commission regarding the process, lack of science, and manipulated studies that are being used as a basis for these proposed rules.  Persons interested in commenting at this meeting should be aware that the only times allowed on the meeting agenda for this activity are 8:45am on Friday, January 10 and 8:30am on Saturday, January 11.  The "Procedure for Public Testimony" may be found here.  "Be aware that items may be taken out of order, and that the times listed are estimates only."