All Articles
Legislative and Regulatory Update
May 2008 by Scott Harn
The US Forest Service is trying yet another time to shut down small-scale mining in National Forests.
On March 25, the USFS proposed changes to regulations governing locatable minerals in National Forests (36 CFR Parts 223, 228, 261, 292, 293) by publishing proposed rules in the Federal Register.
Their intent is clearly to kick prospectors out of National Forests.
The Forest Service wants to create a Bonded Notice category. Included in this category would be prospectors operating dredges, highbankers and similar motorized equipment.
Sleeping in a tent while prospecting would be classified as "occupancy," which would also require a bonded notice. There is no similar rule proposal for other user groups.
Using a motorized vehicle to access the forests would also trigger the requirement for a Bonded Notice if the prospector wants to access any areas that are off of routes approved for use and regularly maintained by the agency. This requirement would also apply to those prospectors who want access to patented property.
They obviously are aware that there are currently no companies bonding small miners. Those wishing to post a bond would need to provide cash or approved government securities.
We don’t have enough space here to adequately cover the proposed rules in the 23-page document. The entire document is available for your review on our website. Click on Pending Rules & Regulations under the Resources tab.
Comments are due by May 27, 2008.
Send written comments to:
Forest Service, USDA
Attn: Director, Mineral and Geology Management (MGM) Staff, (2810)
Mail Stop 1126
Washington, DC 20250-1125
Fax comments to: (703) 605-1575
Email comments to:
36cfr228a@fs.fed.us
For more information, contact Mike Doran, Minerals and Geology Management Staff, (208) 373-4132.
We have been in contact with Jerry Hobbs, president of Public Lands for the People. There are many sections of the proposed rules that conflict with existing laws, specifically the 1872 Mining Law. Another lawsuit against the Forest Service will likely be necessary and PLP is willing to take the lead role if they receive sufficient financial support.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with PLP, they are a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting your rights and they welcome tax-deductible contributions. Contributions are accepted through their website at www.plp2.org.
• Bills would set more lands off-limits
The House of Representatives approved HR 2016 on April 9, which would create a 26 million-acre National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Senate is working on a counterpart bill, S 1139.
The American Land Rights Association states the legislation would create Park Service restrictions on BLM lands.
The Wilderness Society sent out an alert to their membership, encouraging them to support this legislation because the restrictions on these lands would create "…our newest legacy to future generations."
Senator Diane Feinstein (D-California) has been preparing an amendment to expand the proposed NLCS to 32 million acres by adding the entire California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA). Approximately 4 million CDCA acres are already included in the bill, but Feinstein would add another 6 million acres.
The Senate is also considering S 2739. This bill consolidated more than 60 individual bills that would create additional wilderness areas, like the 106,000-acre Wild Sky region in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
Please contact your congressional representatives and let them know your position on these bills.
© ICMJ's Prospecting and Mining Journal, CMJ Inc.
Additional articles that might interest you...
Extraction of Precious Metals Using Froth Flotation
December 2012
Without this versatile group of technologies, we would be hard-pressed to produce the metals so critical to our modern way of life. The robust mining industry of today would literally not exist.
Without this versatile group of technologies, we would be hard-pressed to produce the metals so critical to our modern way of life. The robust mining industry of today would literally not exist.
Legislative and Regulatory Update
July 2005
• Pombo to introduce ESA reform bill
• Utah addresses roadless areas
• Appeal by active duty soldier
• Pombo to introduce ESA reform bill
• Utah addresses roadless areas
• Appeal by active duty soldier
Picks & Pans: Detecting in Northern Nevada
December 2003
One of the newest opportunities available to the individual prospector is the exchange of information over the Internet. A number of websites and forums dedicated to prospecting for gold have sprung up in recent years.
One of the newest opportunities available to the individual prospector is the exchange of information over the Internet. A number of websites and forums dedicated to prospecting for gold have sprung up in recent years.
Melman on Gold & Silver
March 2010
Budgetary deficits can be reversed by a combination of only two factors; increasing revenues and decreasing expenditures, and we would prefer a combination of both factors occurring simultaneously. Unfortunately, it appears to us that President Obama failed to respond to such simple considerations.
Budgetary deficits can be reversed by a combination of only two factors; increasing revenues and decreasing expenditures, and we would prefer a combination of both factors occurring simultaneously. Unfortunately, it appears to us that President Obama failed to respond to such simple considerations.
The Bawl Mill
June 2006
• “Mom” and “dad” expelled from school?
• Foxes in the henhouse
• In good company
• Taxpayers torpedoed
• “Mom” and “dad” expelled from school?
• Foxes in the henhouse
• In good company
• Taxpayers torpedoed
Company Notes
February 2004
• TVI Pacific Inc.
• Sherwood Mining Corp.
• Rubicon Minerals Corp.
• Planet Exploration Inc.
• Goldcorp Inc.
• Placer Dome Inc.
• Wolfden Resources Inc.
• Redstar Gold Corp.
• Oretcch Inc.
• Goldspring Inc.
• McWatters Mining Inc.
• Cambior Inc.
• TVI Pacific Inc.
• Sherwood Mining Corp.
• Rubicon Minerals Corp.
• Planet Exploration Inc.
• Goldcorp Inc.
• Placer Dome Inc.
• Wolfden Resources Inc.
• Redstar Gold Corp.
• Oretcch Inc.
• Goldspring Inc.
• McWatters Mining Inc.
• Cambior Inc.
Dredging the Mokelumne
February 2008
Gold mining adventures can begin in the most unusual fashion. This one started when the high water receding in May of 1999 disclosed that a tragedy had occurred somewhere upstream of Slaughterhouse Gulch on the north fork of the...
Gold mining adventures can begin in the most unusual fashion. This one started when the high water receding in May of 1999 disclosed that a tragedy had occurred somewhere upstream of Slaughterhouse Gulch on the north fork of the...
Subscription Required:
The Bawl Mill
• Ask the Experts—Why doesn't the 1872 Mining Law apply to all 50 states?
• Ask The Experts—Where do I find information about getting paid for raw gold?
• Understanding Geologic Deposit Models
• The Lost Silver Triangle of the Sierra Madre—Part II
• Prospecting for Diamonds
• Avino’s Durango Project
• Success With A Detector
• Horsetail Gold
• The Makorakoza of Zimbabwe—Centuries of Prospecting in Gold-Hosting Dolerites
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
Free:
