• HOUSE BILL 1271 -  Status -  Increasing rock collecting opportunities on state lands
• HOUSE BILL 1271  - Text -  Increasing rock collecting opportunities on state lands 
•  HOUSE BILL 1271 Comment on this bill

In Washington State the anti-Ivory forces are hard at work trying to enact another draconian Ivory ban. House Bill 1131 has been introduced that is similar to the draconian Ivory bans enacted in New York and New Jersey last year. It also would include Mammoth Ivory in the ban.

Spokane Rock Rollers 1st Annual BLM Cleanup Day

Washington / Oregon BLM  -  New Website  Posted 4-14-2017

Washington / Oregon BLM Contacts - New Website Posted 4-14-2017

Learn About Public Land Access Issues in Washington State

Find Your Legislator

Our Public Lands Today - New Article 12-16-2012

What's Happening in Washington State - Andy Johnson ALAA Eastern Washington

• Status of SB 6057   Active ( State Bill )
• Text of SB 6057
• Status of HB 2600   Active  ( State Bill )
• Original Text of HB 2600

In late 2009 the WDFW proposed a rule change that would make rock collecting (as well as other resource collecting – firewood, mushrooms, berries, etc) a gross misdemeanor or felony – as opposed to a simple citation.  This started the effort by rock hounds and flintknappers to change to law to allow recreational rock collecting on state lands.  Our approach has been to get state law to align with federal law, particularly the BLM’s Guide to Rock Collecting in Washington and Oregon (see attached).  

In December 2009, a number of flintknappers (via the Puget Sound Knappers Association and its website PugetSoundKnappers.com) and a number of rock hounds affiliated with the Washington State Mineral Council, as well as some prospectors, started a campaign via email, phone calls and personal visits to legislators to not only stop the proposed rule changes (CR-101 -
and CR-102 - ), but to get the original prohibitions on rock collecting removed.

We are continuing our efforts via our legislators as well as encouraging participation by all rock hound clubs, flintknappers and other interested parties.
For more information contact James C. Keffer jckeffer@comcast.net

 By Michelle Dupler, Tri-City Herald Mid-Columbians soon could have access to the summit of Rattlesnake Mountain with the unanimous passage of a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday opening the mountain to the public.
The bill was introduced in August by Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., who has argued the mountain -- which is part of the Hanford Reach National Monument -- belongs to the American people and should be open for public visits.
"The 3,600-foot summit of Rattlesnake holds one of the best views of central Washington and the Columbia River, but has been closed to the public," Hastings said in a statement.
Read More:

Recreational Rock collecting -------- Washington State ---- UPDATE

Plan gives OHV riders legal access to more routes - Some may lead to Collecting Sites

• Paleontological Resources Preservation (Public Law 111-11 Subtitle D)
• Collecting Fossils: When a Permit is Required

American Forest Resource Council  (AFRC)

Weyerhaeuser Lease Land Access Policy and contact information for Washington State

Access road closed to Barbecue Flats  Read More

• Effective immediately
• Meloy Road is closed one mile from the junction of Wenas and Audubon Roads.
  There is no turn-around point.
• Barbecue flats is not accessible due to road closure on adjacent private land. DNR is working on an agreement with private landowners to restore access.
• Media Contact: Diana Lofflin, Recreation Program Communications Manager, 360-902-1169, Diana.Lofflin@dnr.wa.gov

• Free-Use Mineral Permit

Washing State Legislature

Washington State Symbols