The bill amends RCW 78.44.085 to establish new surface mine reclamation permit fees and revise existing fee structures. It specifies that applicants for various types of reclamation permits—including revisions, expansions, new permits, or combinations of existing permits—must pay a nonrefundable application fee of $4,500. Additionally, the annual permit fee for public or private permit holders is set at $3,500, with a reduced fee of $2,500 for public permit holders operating mines exclusively for public works projects. The bill also clarifies that annual fees for counties with mines under specific conditions shall not exceed $1,000.

Furthermore, the bill ensures that any production records, mineral assessments, and trade secrets submitted to the department remain confidential and are not subject to public records requests. It establishes that appeals of department determinations do not delay the requirement to pay annual fees, and failure to pay may lead to suspension of mining operations or cancellation of permits. The bill also allows the department to refer delinquent fees to a collection agency and mandates that all fees collected be deposited into the surface mining reclamation account.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 78.44.085
Bill as Passed Legislature: 78.44.085
Session Law: 78.44.085