The bill amends RCW 78.44.085 to establish new surface mine reclamation permit fees and clarify the application process for various types of permits. It specifies that applicants for a revision of an existing reclamation permit, an expansion of a permitted surface mine, a new reclamation permit, or the combination 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, while public permit holders for mines used exclusively for public works projects will pay a reduced fee of $2,500.

The bill also includes provisions to ensure confidentiality for production records and trade secrets submitted to the department, and it establishes that appeals do not delay the requirement to pay annual fees. Failure to pay these fees may result in suspension of surface mining operations or cancellation of the reclamation permit. Furthermore, all fees collected will be deposited into the surface mining reclamation account, and the department may delegate enforcement responsibilities to local governments, allowing for the allocation of collected funds to those entities.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 78.44.085