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Rules, Regulations, and Forms
The Washington Geological Survey regulates surface mine reclamation, metals mining and milling, oil and gas drilling, and geothermal drilling. Rules, fees, and forms for each type of activity can be found below.
- Surface Mining and Reclamation
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Important Notice
Effective July 27, 2025, surface mine reclamation permit fees will change, as described in Surface Mining Act (Act), specifically RCW 78.44.085. The fee for revision of an existing reclamation permit or reclamation plan is increased from $2,500 to $4,500. The annual fee is increased from $2,000 to $3,500, except that the annual fee for a public permit holder for mines used exclusively for public works projects is $2,500, and annual fees paid by a county for mines used exclusively for public works projects and having less than seven acres of disturbed area per mine shall not exceed $1,000.
Reclamation of surface-mined lands means rehabilitation of disturbed areas resulting from surface or underground mining for the appropriate future use of the site as determined by the local jurisdiction. The basic objective of reclamation at mines is to reestablish the vegetative cover, soil stability, and water conditions at the site. As a second beneficial use, mines are reclaimed for fish and wildlife, grazing, forestry, agriculture, wetlands, recreation, residential, and commercial and industrial uses.
The original Act passed in 1971 and was amended in 1993 to ensure that mines in the state are thoroughly reclaimed. Ensuring reclamation of Washington’s permitted mines is a key responsibility of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Washington Geological Survey, as DNR has sole authority to regulate reclamation of surface-mined lands above a certain threshold of ground disturbance as defined in the Act, specifically RCW 78.44.031(17).
Operations are regulated by local jurisdictions at surface mines and by other agencies, such as Washington Department of Ecology and local jurisdictions, at underground mines.
Forms
Application for Surface Mine Reclamation Permit
Form name Download link Application for Reclamation Permit Form SM-8A Microsoft Word Instructions for form SM-8A PDF Additional information requirements for mines with potentially unstable or steep slopes Microsoft Word Additional information requirements for hydrologically sensitive areas Microsoft Word Additional information requirements for flood plain mines Microsoft Word Local Approval for Mining
Form name Download link County or municipality approval for surface mining Form SM-6 PDF form Performance Security Forms, Instructions and Calculation Methods
Form name Download link Surface mining reclamation bond Form SM-1 PDF form Instructions for performance securities Microsoft Word Surface mining savings account assignment Form SM-4 PDF form Surface mining savings certificate assignment Form SM-5 PDF form Standard performance security calculation Form SM-10 Microsoft Excel Irrevocable letter of credit Form SM-11
Bank must have office in Washington StateMicrosoft Word--Must be printed on bank letterhead Blanket performance security statement of financial ability Form SM-12 Microsoft Word Template Blanket performance security notice of risk of lien and landowner acknowledgment Form SM-13 Microsoft Word Surface mining reclamation blanket bond Form SM-14 Microsoft Word Transferring Permit or Changing Name of Permit Holder
Form name Download link Request for transfer of surface mine reclamation permit Form SM-2B PDF State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Forms, Rules, and Handbook
Form name Download link SEPA forms—Department of Ecology Website Current SEPA actions Website Application for an Exploration Reclamation Permit
Form name Download link Application for an exploration reclamation permit Form SM-2E Microsoft Word Mineral exploration well / drill hole plugging and abandonment PDF Precipitation Guides
Precipitation guide Download link Washington's climate summaries website 10-year, 24-hour precipitation—isopluvials PDF 25-year, 24-hour precipitation—isopluvials PDF Fees
As of July 27, 2025:
Application Fee Schedule
Fee type Amount New permits $4,500 Combining two or more permits $4,500 Expanding existing plan (depth and/or acreage) $4,500 Revising existing plan (same depth and acreage) $4,500 Annual Permit Fee
Fee amount for sites that are not used exclusively for public works:
Permit holder type Amount Private permit holder or Public permit holder of any type $3,500 Fee amounts for sites with a Public permit holder where the site is used exclusively for public works:
Public permit holder type Amount Public agency (non-county, i.e. WSDOT, DNR) $2,500 Counties (>7 acres disturbed) $2,500 Counties (<7 acres disturbed) $1,000 - Oil and Gas
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RCWs & WACs
The Department of Natural Resources, through the Washington Geological Survey, regulates drilling and related activities under the Oil and Gas Conservation Act and Department of Natural Resources rules (chapter 78.52 RCW and chapter 344-12 WAC). (In 1994, the Legislature dissolved the Oil and Gas Conservation Committee and assigned its regulatory responsibilities to the Department of Natural Resources.) In the event of a discovery, the Department would also regulate production to assure equitable distribution of the proceeds.
Forms
Description Link Oil and gas drilling permit requirements PDF Instructions for oil and gas drilling permit applicants PDF Oil and gas drilling permit application Form 1 PDF Well record or history Form 2 PDF Notice of intention to abandon and plug well Form 3 PDF Report on results on plugging well Form 4 PDF Oil and gas drilling and production bond Microsoft Word Fees
Description Depth Fee To drill, re-drill or deepen a well up to 3,500 feet $250 To drill, re-drill or deepen a well 3,501 to 7,000 feet $500 To drill, re-drill or deepen a well 7,001 to 12,000 feet $750 To drill, re-drill or deepen a well greater than 12,000 feet $1,000 Shallow well up to 2,000 feet $100 Notification for seismic shot holes $100 Performance Bonds—Oil and Gas Supervisor sets amount
Description Depth One well $50,000 minimum Two or more wells—blanket bond $250,000 minimum Shallow well—less than 2,000 feet $20,000 - Geothermal
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The Department regulates Geothermal Resources under chapter 78.60 RCW and chapter 332-17 WAC.
Forms
Description Link Instruction for geothermal exploration permit applicants PDF Geothermal exploration permit application Form 1 PDF Well record or history Form 2 PDF Notice of intention to abandon and plug well Form 3 PDF Report on results on plugging well Form 4 PDF Geothermal drilling and production bond Microsoft Word Geothermal Exploration Fees
Description Link To drill, re-drill or deepen a well $200 Bonds—Geothermal Supervisor sets amount
Coreholes (less than 750 feet deep)
Description Fee One corehole $5,000 minimum Two or more coreholes—blanket bond $25,000 minimum Wells (greater than 750 feet)
Description Fee One well $15,000 minimum Two or more wells—blanket bond $50,000 minimum