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Legislative and Regulatory Update
July 2008 by Scott Harn
Lois Wolk, the California State Representative who previously introduced a bill to eliminate suction gold dredging in the state but was halted by Governor Schwarzenegger’s veto, is up to her old tricks.
Jerry Hobbs, president of Public Lands for the People (PLP), reported that Wolk attached a rider to the state budget bill. The rider would call for the state to conduct a two-year study of suction dredging and prohibit suction dredging during the study period.
Hobbs reported that his organization is looking at a couple of options to try and remove the rider. The New 49’ers prospecting club is also working on this issue.
The budget bill has already passed out of the Senate Budget Committee, but it will likely go through many rewrites because the state is looking at severe budget cuts.
• Travel Management Plans
Hobbs and PLP attorney David Young also attended several meetings regarding the Forest Service’s Travel Management Plan in the Eldorado National Forest.
As reported in last month’s issue, PLP filed an appeal along with a notice of intent to sue the Forest Service because of the Eldorado National Forest’s refusal to honor the 1872 Mining Law and access for mining when it decided to close off numerous historic routes across public lands.
Hobbs stated that the meetings went as expected—Forest Service officials were ignorant of the laws and rights pertaining to mining. He stated that at least one claimant has already been denied access to his mining claims. A lawsuit is forthcoming to force the Forest Service to recognize the rights of miners. Unfortunately these issues may need to be addressed with each National Forest as they release their individual Travel Management Plans.
Melman on Gold & Silver
Well, will wonders never cease!? It appears that Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan actually smiled when giving his most recent testimony to Congress. Actually, he was so upbeat that he carried the whole stock market with him—as well as others around the world. In fact, if there was one over-riding characteristic of the past month, it was the return of optimism over the economic future.
Melman on Gold & Silver
Our world of precious metals showed several conflicting trends. Gold fell sharply from last month’s highs to the area between 265 and 270 and then stabilized in that area.
GATA Update
GATA’s claims of gold market manipulation “were publicized by the South African press and were presented to important South African officials,” stated Murphy in a recent press release. Here are a few of the highlights:
DEF Has Another Successful Year
A relaxing trip was long overdue. The deadlines associated with assembling a magazine each month tend to wear on you after awhile. I needed a break. Several organizers of Dredge Earth First were...
Mining Boom May Be In Store For Upper Michigan
While digging a well six years ago, the owner of a backwoods camp near the Michigan-Wisconsin line cut into sparkling rock. He showed a sample to a geologist friend, who realized it was laced with zinc.
Melman on Gold & Silver
At long last the time of artificial quiet is over and the quadrennial political "silly season" is getting underway in earnest. The Republicans have just finished their convention in Philadelphia and (at press time) the Democrats are about to descend on LA-LA land.
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