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News Release 12-010

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
1111 Israel Road S.W., P.O. Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504-2650, (360) 902-8500
Don Hoch, Director

Media contact:
Lisa Lantz, (360) 725-9777 Lisa.Lantz@parks.wa.gov
Sandy Mealing, (360) 902-8559 Sandy.Mealing@parks.wa.gov
Wash. Telecommunications Relay Service: (800) 833-6388

Public invited to information meeting about small-scale mining on ocean beaches

OLYMPIA – Feb. 1, 2012 – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission invite the public to attend an informational meeting to discuss about recently adopted state regulations on small-scale mineral prospecting and mining on ocean beaches.

The meeting will be held 6:30 p.m. Feb. 16, at the Montesano City Hall, 112 North Main Street, Montesano. Information will be provided about small-scale beach prospecting rules enacted by State Parks in 2011 to regulate this activity on ocean beaches. The public is welcome to share opinions and preferences about the rules and regulations during the discussion.

WDFW and State Parks conducted a two-year, legislatively mandated pilot program from 2008 to 2010 on small-scale mineral prospecting and mining on ocean beaches. The agencies reported their findings and recommendations on the activity to the Legislature in December 2010. Based on the results of the pilot program, State Parks adopted rules that allow mineral prospecting and mining on a small, recreational scale, under certain restrictions. The pilot program findings and the State Parks rules on small-scale beach prospecting are available online at www.parks.wa.gov/rules. Large-scale commercial mining is prohibited on ocean beaches in Washington. For more information about the informational meeting, write Lisa.Lantz@parks.wa.gov or call (360) 725-9777.

The Commission manages a diverse system of more than 100 state parks and recreation programs, including long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation. The 98-year-old park system will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013.

Washington State Parks is on Twitter at WaStatePks_NEWS and YouTube at WashingtonStateParks.

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