Legislation & Regulation
Legislative and Regulatory Update
March 2013 by Scott Harn
• Oregon's attack on suction gold dredging• New DOI Director nominated
• More Forest Service restrictions in the works
• California suction gold dredging
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• WOTUS
• Sheriff withdraws Forest Service law enforcement authority
Northwestern Alaska Mineral Resources
Gold and jade are actually only minor mineral resources for the Northwestern Alaska region as a whole. Modern prospecting has focused more on base metal than precious metal resources.
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• The good, the bad, and the ugly
• California and Oregon dredge permits
Because I Said So
Like all federal judges, he swore an oath to perform his duties “impartially… under the Constitution and laws of the U.S.” Nothing in those documents gives Judge Morris authority to order the BLM to work with non-government organizations (the same ones that filed the lawsuit in question) to alter America’s use of energy.
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Bills introduced to stop federal management of greater sage grouse
• WOTUS under review
• Congressional Review Act
Significant Progress for California Suction Gold Dredgers
It was a milestone day in the battle to maintain the rights of miners to dredge on federal mining claims in California.
Suction Gold Dredge Miners Win On Federal Preemption
Judge Ochoa went so far as to call the California permit scheme “unenforceable.”
Subscription Required:
The Bawl Mill
• Ask the Experts
• Ask the Experts
• Ask the Experts
• Ask the Experts
• Ask the Experts
• Gold Deposits of Montana
• Benches and Fossil Placers
• Turning Hobby Mining into Business Mining
• Buying a Mining Claim: Questions to Ask
• Looking for that Hidden Placer
• The Many Facets of Iron
• And the Survey Says...
• $50 Million Swiped in Diamond Heist
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices







