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ID H0510
Bill
Status
2/16/2016
Primary Sponsor
Resources and Conservation Committee
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AI Summary
House Bill 510 - Summary
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Establishes legislative findings that prospecting and small-scale suction dredge mining are important to Idaho's heritage, provide economic benefits, and can be conducted without harm to fish habitat or water quality.
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Exempts small-scale suction dredge mining (using dredges with 8-inch or smaller subsurface hose, drawing no more than 5 cubic yards per hour) from regulation under the Idaho Dredge and Placer Mining Protection Act and the Idaho Stream Channel Alteration Act.
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Prohibits state agencies and political subdivisions from adopting rules, regulations, or policies that would prohibit prospecting or small-scale suction dredge mining.
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Clarifies that small-scale suction dredge mining and prospecting shall not be prohibited in designated protected rivers (natural or recreational) under comprehensive state water plans.
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Defines "prospecting" to include hand panning, hand shoveling, and use of nonmotorized sluice or rocker boxes; declares the act effective immediately as an emergency measure.
Legislative Description
Amends and adds to existing law to provide exceptions to certain prohibited activities associated with the Comprehensive State Water Plan; to provide that certain provisions of specified law shall not apply to prospecting and small-scale suction dredge mining and to preclude certain prohibition of prospecting and small-scale suction dredge mining; to revise provisions regarding exploration using certain suction dredges; and to provide that small-scale suction dredge mining shall be exempt from specified regulation.
PROSPECTING AND SMALL-SCALE SUCTION DREDGE MINING
Last Action
Reported Printed and Referred to Resources & Conservation
2/17/2016