All Articles
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.
Critical Metals: Copper
From time to time I’ve been doing a series on critical metals and how important they are to our complex and technological society. This month we are going to take a look at copper, and how important that metal is to our modern lives.
The Bawl Mill
• Where do I apply?
• Seriously, where do I apply?
• FEMA: “I only have “ice” for you...”
• Put your carbon emissions where your mouth is!
Silverton Preserving Lofty Symbol of Mining Era
Now, the Old Hundred-Mine boarding house has a new lease on life thanks to a town where some cling to the relics of a vanquished mining industry...
News from the Editor
Our goal is to reach out to the next generation of prospectors and miners who might prefer reading our monthly issues on their desktop computer or portable device.
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:
Today's MSHA
We all know that it was never Congress’ intent to regulate gold panners and other individual mine operators through MSHA. In fact, I believe the concept of owner-operated mines with no employees was so strange a concept to the lawmakers that they never even thought there would be a need for such an exemption.
Subscription Required:
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
Free:
