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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
What a disappointment! Just when things were beginning to get really interesting and both parties had seemingly hotly contested races for the presidential nominations, both Senators involved promptly said, "I quit!," took their bat and ball and headed home!
The Assay of High Iron Gold Ores
By employing this technique, one can use a larger sample size without having to resort to large crucibles and massive amounts of flux.
Eastern Arizona: Gold and Base Metal Deposits Part II
In this review of precious and base metal deposits in Arizona, it is apparent that several significant mines and mineral deposits occur in eastern Arizona, and there is considerable potential for new discoveries.
Geologists Locate Giant Gemstones
W. Dan Hausel, Senior Economic Geologist with the Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS), has been successful at finding new mineral deposits and occurrences.
Legislative And Regulatory Update
• Polar bear listed
• Forest Service trying to close off access
Pickering Bar Revisited
Pickering Bar on the North Fork of the American River is a fascinating place. It’s remote, taking almost two hours to get there from the small mining town of Iowa Hill, which is in Placer County, California.
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The Bawl Mill
• The Lost Silver Triangle of the Sierra Madre—Conclusion: Tayopa, Guaynopa, and Guaynopita
• The Greenwood Gold Project
• Miners Go To Work In Washington
• How To Locate Diamonds
• Natural Crystalline Gold
• The Vore Mine
• Tools of the Modern Prospector: The GPS
• Whitehall Mine Foregoing Closure
• Work Begins At Rock Creek Mine
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
• The National Mining Hall of Fame to Induct Four
• Looking Back
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