Washington State proposed law

[biddysere]

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Folks,



The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is proposing to prohibit rock collecting and surface artifact collecting on State Land under their supervision. The only person that could authorize any collection would be the Director of the WDFW.



“Enforcement Program Deputy Chief Mike Cenci, proposing amendments to WAC 232-12-251 Removal of minerals, wood and artifacts from department lands.”



The proposed amendment:





Revised Code of Washington



Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 232-12-251





Removal of minerals, wood and artifacts from department lands.



It is unlawful to remove petrified wood, minerals, fossils, wood products or artifacts from department lands unless such removal is authorized by the director.





This would effectively prohibit rock collecting on Washington State lands as well as collecting arrowheads found on the surface.



It also changes state law on collecting arrowheads exposed on the surface. The law, as it currently exists has a specific exception for artifact collecting:



RCW 27.53.060 Specific Exception - (5) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the removal of artifacts found exposed on the surface of the ground which are not historic archaeological resources or sites.



The WDFW Commission is set to review this proposed amendment between now and early January. While the ‘official’ period of public comment is over (no one new about it), it is not too late to influence the commission’s decision.



To make your opinions count, send an email or write a letter stating your objection to this proposed amendment, to the following (as soon as possible):



Governor Chris Gregoire - Contact Governor Gregoire

Your State Legislator - Find Your Legislator

WDFW Commission - commission@dfw.wa.gov

[PacificNorthWest-Relics]

The Departmet of Fish and Wildlife will host a Commission Meeting on Saturday, December 4, 2010.

Location:
Natural Resources Building, Room 172
First Floor, Room 175 & 172
1111 Washington St. SE
Olympia, Washington 98501

At 8:30 AM they will open the floor for discussion on REMOVAL OF MINERALS, WOOD AND ARTIFACTS FROM DEPARTMENT LANDS – RULE BRIEFING & PUBLIC HEARING:
Department staff will brief the Commission on proposed amendments to WAC 232-12-251 Removal of minerals, wood and artifacts from department lands, which would implement harsher penalties for unlawfully cutting down and/or taking timber, trees, wood, soil, minerals, fossils, plants, etc., from Department lands.

The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments at its January 7-8, 2011, meeting in Olympia.
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Summary (PDF):

The rule (currently addressed in WAC 232-12-251, which was filed in 1990) prohibits removing petrified wood, minerals, fossils, wood products, and artifacts from Department lands without a permit. However, it does not contain a penalty section and does not provide comprehensive protection.

Current rules treat such acts as "Unlawful use of Department lands" and is a misdemeanor. The new proposed penalty is "Theft" - and depending on value can be anything from a misdemeanor to a felony.

[RedHawk_ArtifactHunter]

Does the government think they own EVERYTHING??????

[Flyjunkie]

Originally Posted by RedHawk_ArtifactHunter

Does the government think they own EVERYTHING??????

It does Seem at Times doesn't it....

[rokdok]

The federal government is going to take away all of our collecting rights, as well as our land.The civil war was not initiated because of slavery, as is taught to our children, but because of the federal government usurping states rights. Now, the feds are constantly taking away our individual freedoms.I have had several friends who inherited family farms, who have had to sell significant parts of them to pay estate taxes when their parents died.The federal, state, and local governments have artificially inflated land values to the point where many Americans cannot afford the taxes on it.When will it end? When the federal government and the multinational corporations who control it have all of it. It doesen't take a rocket scientist to figure out that if families have to continue to pay 55% of what our forefathers own in taxes, that in a few generations we will all(except for the ceo's and crooked bankers and super-rich families like the Kennedys who have much of their holdings in corporations) will be living in rented apartments, and working "fo the comp'ny sto".

[RedHawk_ArtifactHunter]

Sounds to me like we are in need of an American Revolution. How much can they take from us before we revolt?

[fldwlkr]

New to the site and already see some like minds.

need more ammo,
fldwlkr

[paleo_joe]

The thread on Arrested is worth a read.

I live next to a lot of public land, and if someone got on there and logged/mined/dug/whatever and took those resources home or to sell as their private property, I would have an issue with it.

Where are my rights as part owner of that public property?

Why should my tax dollars pay for someone else's profit and recreation?

Just my $0.02.

[mootsman]

I suggest taking a deep breath and looking around at the rest of the world. Revolt? Against what? A duly elected executive office and congress? Don't like them? Vote them out. Billions of people on this planet don't have that opportunity.

Incoming!!

[fldwlkr]

Hate to open this can of worms... I used to vote religiously... now I only punch tabs for the issues and levies. Can't bring myself to vote for any politicians I see on the ballot. Crook #1 or Crook #2 ? From my perspective they do not care about what is best for good ol' USA. They are lining their pockets and the special interests that pay them. Political office was once a position a private citizen took for a term and then returned to their farm or business. Now it is a career track for lawyers and the wealthy.

I don't have the answer but I'm sure the guys in DC don't either,

fldwlkr
Trying to improve my part of the world one kid at a time.