Official Text and Analysis.

Prohibits motorized or gravity siphon aquatic mining or discharge of effluent from such an activity within the ordinary high water mark of certain waters of the state.

Requires the Department of Ecology, before taking enforcement action against a person for unlawful motorized or gravity siphon aquatic mining, to take certain steps to achieve voluntary compliance, including offering technical assistance.

Directs the Department of Ecology, if it adopts a general permit for motorized and gravity siphon aquatic mining, to base that general permit on existing general permits in other states.

Exempts motors of ten or fewer horsepower, and dredge intake nozzles of five inches or fewer in inside diameter, from the act's prohibition on motorized or gravity siphon aquatic mining..

Provides an exemption from the act's prohibition on motorized or gravity siphon aquatic mining for miners who have operated for at least one mining season under the Gold and Fish pamphlet (pamphlet) published by the Department of Fish and Wildlife without incurring any civil penalties under the pamphlet as of the effective date of the section.

Directs the Department of Ecology (Ecology) to develop a compensation chart for natural resource damages (NRD) caused by discharges not authorized by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit to Puget Sound by entities operating sewerage systems.

Requires national pollution discharge elimination system permits for wastewater treatment plants directly discharging into Puget Sound to remove or neutralize opioid and opioid derived pollution. Prohibits loans or grants to public bodies responsible for a water pollution control facility not meeting the permit requirements to remove or neutralize opioids or opioid derived pollution.

Exempts mining claims recognized under federal law.