jog
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I received this today, looks like they need all the miners to show up! Just getting the word out there, pass it along....
From: pnwprospector@comcast.net
To: suction@resourcescoalition.org; wpma_board@washingtonprospectors.org
Subject: Thursday's Hearing
Hello everybody,
Thursday, February 12, 2015, the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee will have a public hearing on House Bill 1162 "Concerning motorized mineral prospecting." The mineral prospecting and mining community needs to fill the room to standing in opposition to this bill.
You should by now have a clear understanding of the consequences should this bill be enacted, but the devil is always in the details, in this case, the Fiscal Note where the agencies explain how they will implement this bill to the tune of $1,235,470 for 2015 through 2017 and then $8,800 every year thereafter.
Here are some disturbing statements gleaned from the Fiscal notes:
From Ecology:
"Section 2 would temporarily suspend the gold and fish pamphlet and not allow mineral prospecting that uses a suction dredge or other form of motorized mineral prospecting within the wetted perimeter of a stream or river until October 31, 2016." Not Accurate, section 2 will allow motorized equipment by individual HPA, Section 3 will prohibit "motorized mineral prospecting in any segment of a river or stream where all fishing is prohibited either by the commission or the federal government."
From WDFW:
They make no comment regarding Section 3 which bans motorized equipment in rivers or streams where no fishing is allowed.
"We assume that many prospectors will forego motorized prospecting during this time period because of their opposition to paying fees." They probably are right.
"For this fiscal note, the Department estimates that 1,000 prospectors will apply for individual permits in FY 2016." Really, a thousand prospectors dredging? Or is it 1000 permits?
"We further assume that we will issue general permits on a statewide basis, so that all locations will be covered in a single permit. Therefore, multiple permits will not be required for each individual and $150,000 will be generated in FY 2016." Are you reading this, they are saying that we (1000 of us) can ask for all of our prospecting locations on 1 ONE application and it will be granted. This has not been the policy and NOTE.... if the application is denied, you will not get all your money back.
"We estimate that 300 individual permits will be issued generating $45,000 in FY 2017." So 300 more people or 1300 dredgers in this state. Realistic, don't think so.
"After this time we anticipate that motorized prospecting will be authorized by the Gold & Fish pamphlet in most cases; therefore no revenue above current-law levels will be generated." This is because they will have completed the 2nd of 2 comprehensive rule making sessions which would incorporate the study results and those conjured up by the other parties.
"The Department will conduct the scientific literature review in-house, rather than contracting to a university. This will require Fish and Wildlife Research Scientist 2 in FY 2016 to identify and analyze published literature on the subject, write the literature review, and present to the work group identified in this section. The remaining Fish and Wildlife Research Scientist 2 in FY 2016 and in FY 2017 will be required for working with the advisory work group to develop the anticipated research project required by this section, designing, implementing, and overseeing the research project, compiling the report to the workgroupof the findings, and assisting in designing recommendations to the legislature for any policy changes for
regulating prospecting as outlined in this section. The research project will require three two-person crews (6FTEs) Scientific Technician 2 over the course of the field research. We assume all crews will be headquartered in Olympia, but will spend the majority of their time in the field for FY 2016. Each crew will require one 4X4 SUV at standard rental rates and are anticipated to drive 1,000 miles/month for a cost in FY 2016 of $9,912. We
further assume that each FTE will spend 3 nights/week in travel status in FY 2016, resulting in reimbursement at the low-cost rate of $129/night for a total of $27,864. In addition, we assume that the Research Scientist will spend 1 night/week in travel status in FY 2016 at the same reimbursement rate. That total will be $6,192. No field research will be conducted in FY 2017." I suppose that the Area Habitat Biologists are unfamiliar with the area that there is a need to send people from Olympia into the field. and will need 4X4 SUV's to get there. I smell fraud waste and abuse by the department.
"The research scientist will be a new staff addition and so will require cubicle space at the standard rate in FY 2016." New hire
?
"Will require development and publishing two new versions of the Gold and Fish pamphlet following the two versions of rulemaking mandated by this bill."Any rule making done under 77.55 is considered to be legislative rule making and can not be accomplished overnight as there are specific requirements for accomplishment. Remember it took darn near 3 years to develop the current rules.
There is so much more in this section that people should take the time to read.
From DNR
"DFW is estimating five quarterly workgroup meetings in Olympia at a state office location from July 1, 2015 through October 31, 2016. It is further assumed there will be a single representative from each group and agency. Based on the subject matter, DNR will provide a geologist (Natural Resource Scientist 3) with a mining background for participation in the work group meetings, and that additional preparation time prior to each
meeting will be needed. Expenses include staff and associated costs, for a total of $5,000 in FY 2016 and $2,000 in FY 2017."
The small scale mineral prospecting and mining community needs to fill the room beyond capacity for this legislation. Pass this information around, take the day off, bring the spouse and children (they get civics credits) and prepare a testimony to be provided to the committee. We will meet at the sundial at 1 PM. See You There.
Bill Thomas
From: pnwprospector@comcast.net
To: suction@resourcescoalition.org; wpma_board@washingtonprospectors.org
Subject: Thursday's Hearing
Hello everybody,
Thursday, February 12, 2015, the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee will have a public hearing on House Bill 1162 "Concerning motorized mineral prospecting." The mineral prospecting and mining community needs to fill the room to standing in opposition to this bill.
You should by now have a clear understanding of the consequences should this bill be enacted, but the devil is always in the details, in this case, the Fiscal Note where the agencies explain how they will implement this bill to the tune of $1,235,470 for 2015 through 2017 and then $8,800 every year thereafter.
Here are some disturbing statements gleaned from the Fiscal notes:
From Ecology:
"Section 2 would temporarily suspend the gold and fish pamphlet and not allow mineral prospecting that uses a suction dredge or other form of motorized mineral prospecting within the wetted perimeter of a stream or river until October 31, 2016." Not Accurate, section 2 will allow motorized equipment by individual HPA, Section 3 will prohibit "motorized mineral prospecting in any segment of a river or stream where all fishing is prohibited either by the commission or the federal government."
From WDFW:
They make no comment regarding Section 3 which bans motorized equipment in rivers or streams where no fishing is allowed.
"We assume that many prospectors will forego motorized prospecting during this time period because of their opposition to paying fees." They probably are right.
"For this fiscal note, the Department estimates that 1,000 prospectors will apply for individual permits in FY 2016." Really, a thousand prospectors dredging? Or is it 1000 permits?
"We further assume that we will issue general permits on a statewide basis, so that all locations will be covered in a single permit. Therefore, multiple permits will not be required for each individual and $150,000 will be generated in FY 2016." Are you reading this, they are saying that we (1000 of us) can ask for all of our prospecting locations on 1 ONE application and it will be granted. This has not been the policy and NOTE.... if the application is denied, you will not get all your money back.
"We estimate that 300 individual permits will be issued generating $45,000 in FY 2017." So 300 more people or 1300 dredgers in this state. Realistic, don't think so.
"After this time we anticipate that motorized prospecting will be authorized by the Gold & Fish pamphlet in most cases; therefore no revenue above current-law levels will be generated." This is because they will have completed the 2nd of 2 comprehensive rule making sessions which would incorporate the study results and those conjured up by the other parties.
"The Department will conduct the scientific literature review in-house, rather than contracting to a university. This will require Fish and Wildlife Research Scientist 2 in FY 2016 to identify and analyze published literature on the subject, write the literature review, and present to the work group identified in this section. The remaining Fish and Wildlife Research Scientist 2 in FY 2016 and in FY 2017 will be required for working with the advisory work group to develop the anticipated research project required by this section, designing, implementing, and overseeing the research project, compiling the report to the workgroupof the findings, and assisting in designing recommendations to the legislature for any policy changes for
regulating prospecting as outlined in this section. The research project will require three two-person crews (6FTEs) Scientific Technician 2 over the course of the field research. We assume all crews will be headquartered in Olympia, but will spend the majority of their time in the field for FY 2016. Each crew will require one 4X4 SUV at standard rental rates and are anticipated to drive 1,000 miles/month for a cost in FY 2016 of $9,912. We
further assume that each FTE will spend 3 nights/week in travel status in FY 2016, resulting in reimbursement at the low-cost rate of $129/night for a total of $27,864. In addition, we assume that the Research Scientist will spend 1 night/week in travel status in FY 2016 at the same reimbursement rate. That total will be $6,192. No field research will be conducted in FY 2017." I suppose that the Area Habitat Biologists are unfamiliar with the area that there is a need to send people from Olympia into the field. and will need 4X4 SUV's to get there. I smell fraud waste and abuse by the department.
"The research scientist will be a new staff addition and so will require cubicle space at the standard rate in FY 2016." New hire
"Will require development and publishing two new versions of the Gold and Fish pamphlet following the two versions of rulemaking mandated by this bill."Any rule making done under 77.55 is considered to be legislative rule making and can not be accomplished overnight as there are specific requirements for accomplishment. Remember it took darn near 3 years to develop the current rules.
There is so much more in this section that people should take the time to read.
From DNR
"DFW is estimating five quarterly workgroup meetings in Olympia at a state office location from July 1, 2015 through October 31, 2016. It is further assumed there will be a single representative from each group and agency. Based on the subject matter, DNR will provide a geologist (Natural Resource Scientist 3) with a mining background for participation in the work group meetings, and that additional preparation time prior to each
meeting will be needed. Expenses include staff and associated costs, for a total of $5,000 in FY 2016 and $2,000 in FY 2017."
The small scale mineral prospecting and mining community needs to fill the room beyond capacity for this legislation. Pass this information around, take the day off, bring the spouse and children (they get civics credits) and prepare a testimony to be provided to the committee. We will meet at the sundial at 1 PM. See You There.
Bill Thomas
