Rep. Paul Shepherd, R-Riggins, is sponsoring a bill, approved in committee and headed for a House vote, that says the state comprehensive water plan "shall allow for recreational prospecting and small-scale dredge mining without regulation, restriction, limitation or prohibition." It also exempts dredge miners from state laws prohibiting the alteration of stream channels, as well as state water quality requirements.
LINK (via: The Spokesman-Review)