Description: The Washington Geological Survey was established in 1890. One of the main directives was to collect drawings, maps, reports, minerals, and other information relating to the mineral industry and make this information accessible to the public. In 2011 the Washington State Geological Survey began a collaborative effort with the National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program (NGGDPP) to electronically preserve and make available thousands of documents, maps, and combine data from multiple sources to improve access and analysis of these data. Thisfeatureclass is a result of that effort.
Description: These data show the approximate location of mines with active surface mining reclamation permits. The Washington Geological Survey administers the Surface Mine Reclamation Act. The intent of this law is that Washington’s surface mines are successfully reclaimed. In general, surface mines are defined as areas where extraction of minerals (clay, coal, gravel, industrial minerals, metallic substances, peat, sand, stone, topsoil, etc) results in more than 3 acres of mine-related disturbance, or has a high-wall that is both higher than 30 feet and steeper than 45 degrees. In Washington, "reclamation" means rehabilitation of disturbed areas resulting from surface mining. The basic objective is to reestablish on a perpetual basis the vegetative cover, soil stability, and water conditions appropriate for the approved subsequent use and to prevent or mitigate future environmental degradation. Subsequent uses are consistent with local land use and zoning ordinances. See Chapter 78.44 Revised Code of Washington [RCW] and Chapter 332-18 Washington Administrative Code [WAC].