Legislation & Regulation
Legislative and Regulatory Update
October 2019 by Scott Harn
• WOTUS rule finalized
It’s official. On September 12, the Trump Administration officially repealed the Obama-era Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.
In 2014, the Obama administration decided to expand the jurisdiction of the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers beyond navigable waters. WOTUS was redefined to include all areas with even the slightest of connections to water resources, including intermittent streams, and even man-made ditches utilized by farmers, ranchers and miners. The rule was finalized in 2015.
A resulting court fight encompassed several jurisdictions and resulted in differing rules in different parts of the country because District Courts could not agree on a similar interpretation.
Congressman Paul Gosar (R-Arizona), had this to say:
“The Obama-era WOTUS Rule was an abysmal failure and represented one of the most egregious examples of federal overreach in my lifetime. President Obama’s land and water grab gave unprecedented power to bureaucrats of the DC Swamp at the expense of farmers, ranchers, small business owners and the American people. The Western Caucus led the charge against this misguided regulation and is thrilled to see it put out to pasture.”
• Reminder on new claim fees
This is a friendly reminder that the costs associated with filing a new mining claim have gone up.
The new fee for locating a 20-acre claim is $225, which includes a $20 processing fee, $40 location fee, and $165 maintenance fee.
The fees are tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and are reviewed every five years.
Fees can be submitted online at https://payp.blm.gov/eppcore/home (Just click on “Mining Claims” when you visit the page.)
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Idaho challenges EPA regulations
• California suction gold dredging
Legislative and Regulatory Update
- Proposed budget for EPA
- California SB 1222
- 640 million acres and counting
- Gold and silver bullion
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Hearing date moved up for preliminary injunction for California suction dredging
• Anti-mining bills in Oregon lead to recall effort
Utah Approves funds to Fight Feds
Republican legislators say the funding is necessary to protect state interests...
Oregon Dredge Permit Litigation Update
In other words, just like those that move next to an airport and then complain about the noise, Mr. Riskedahl deliberately went out of his way to “witness and document the effects of suction dredge mining,” and when he found some, he was annoyed by it!
Ask The Experts: Should I take my claim access problems to the Desert Advisory Council?
Q: The nearest access to the claim is a half mile walk, which is tough for a lode claim.
Legislative and Regulatory Update
- WOTUS rule finalized
- Reminder on new claim fees
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The Bawl Mill
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• Revisiting Old Haunts
• How to Refine Silver—Pt II
• Where to Start: Advice for the Beginning Detectorist
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
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PLP Update
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• Traders At JPMorgan Chase Indicted For Rigging Metal Prices
