Panel Weighs Tradeoffs of Raising Surface‑mine Permit Threshold from 3 to 7 Acres

The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee took testimony on HB 2454 on Jan. 23, which would change the Surface Mining Act’s acreage threshold so sites with 7 acres or less of disturbance (instead of the current 3 acres) generally would not need a state reclamation permit.

Representative Andrew Engel, the bill’s sponsor, said the change aims to help small gravel‑pit operators who face fees and permitting costs he described as onerous for family businesses. “The permit fees alone eats up about half of his gross sales,” Engel said, describing consolidation in the industry and the competitive pressure that small operators face.

Anna Schafer, acting assistant state geologist and acting director of the Washington Geological Survey at DNR, cautioned that acreage alone does not determine site complexity and that the bill could allow larger operations to proceed with little or no geotechnical review. Schafer said permits also allow DNR to provide technical assistance often used by smaller operations, and warned of potential indirect adverse impacts felt disproportionately by nearby property owners, tribes, and marginalized communities.

Committee members probed alternatives and requested follow-up. Schafer said DNR had considered fee and tiering changes in previous proposals and that the agency is open to alternative mechanisms to identify site complexity and triggers for technical review. Industry testimony from Corey Hedrick (Versatile Industries) said county permits and SEPA would still apply and that reducing state permitting would help small sources remain competitive.

Staff read sign‑ins for HB 2454 (143 pro, 3 con, 0 other). The committee closed the hearing; no vote was taken during this meeting.