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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.
Looking Back
Excerpts from California Mining Journal, our original title, published 50 years ago this month.
Chinese Buy Out Australian Miners
Some Australian lawmakers object to allowing Chinese government companies to buy mining assets that they say are a cornerstone of Australia’s economy.
Idaho-Maryland Mine—History Restarted
It was late October 1850, and, as the story goes, George McKnight was rushing along trying to round up his cows when he stumbled. He was not a happy man as he kicked the fist-sized rock in disgust. The disgust changed quickly to interest...
Melman on Gold & Silver
...the much more important question is this: does this short-term strong rally necessarily portent a genuine turnaround from the metals share bear market that has been ongoing since mid-2011? For a possible answer, we turn to the long-term, five-year XAU chart.
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Oregon proposes to stop mining in “scenic” waterways
• More news from Oregon
• Interior Department finally back online
• Alaska DNR departures
Catastrophism vs. Uniformitarianism
Man has always wondered how the Earth was created, and how oceans, mountains, and other features were formed. However, until the last 200 years, most phenomena were explained by means of legends, superstitions, or religion. It is still that way in many parts of the world.
High Prices for Gold, Silver & Copper: What Does it Mean for Prospectors?
Perhaps the first and most important is the fact that the foreign exchange value of the US Dollar has been going down steadily for several months. As the value of the Dollar goes down, the price of goods in Dollar terms tend to go up…
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