Legislation & Regulation
Legislative and Regulatory Update
July 2014 by Scott Harn
At press time, the mandatory settlement hearings are still pending in San Bernardino, California.
All parties in the suction gold dredge court battle were ordered by Judge Gilbert Ochoa to appear or participate by phone on June 24, with additional dates of June 25 and 26 set aside if needed.
As mentioned last month, this is a good sign. If Judge Ochoa was prepared to rule against the miners, he would have already done so. But case law is in favor of the miners—states are allowed to reasonably regulate mining but cannot prohibit it. The moratorium that began in 2009 is, in effect, a prohibition, and the new regulations promulgated by the California Department of Fish & Wildlife would make it impossible to operate a suction dredge profitably even if the moratorium is lifted.
We will continue to post updates to our website
• Fighting back
You’ll notice some positive articles in this issue about miners fighting back. A few legislators seem to be taking note of the overbearing nature of federal agencies and are lending a hand.
We are certainly happy to see this trend developing and pray it continues.
There is a lesson here. Federal agencies will continue to abuse their authority and restrict our rights if we allow it. Summarize the issues involved in your case and ask for a meeting with your state or federal representative.
Be polite and respectful, but don’t allow government officers or agents to ignore the law.
You are guaranteed to lose your rights if you allow the abuse to continue!
As this issue is mailed, we’re heading off to Idaho for the Occupy Idaho Waters dredging protest. Miners will gather on the Salmon River near Riggins, Idaho, to protest EPA interference with the dredging permit process.
From June 30 through July 6, miners will gather to dredge with the support of county commissioner Jim Chmelik and the local sheriff.
We’ll report on this event in the August issue.
Learning the Game and the Power to Change It
The one legal entity that can change the game and provide a path and template to protect landowners and public land users across the United States is the miner.
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Idaho continues toward elimination of EPA suction dredging regulations
• EPA makes preemptive strike against Alaska mine
• Proposed Mines Act permit fees
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Critical minerals obtain national security status
• Idaho to take over EPA permitting
Ask The Experts: Should I take my claim access problems to the Desert Advisory Council?
Q: The nearest access to the claim is a half mile walk, which is tough for a lode claim.
Successful Rally for Suction Dredge Miners in Idaho
Representative Paul Shepherd stopped by, and Idaho County Commissioner Jim Chmelik dove with one of the dredgers so he could see for himself that no harm was being done to fish or their habitat.
Selecting A Low-Risk Region To Explore, Mine or Invest
“The evidence is clear—mineral deposits alone are not enough to attract precious commodity investment dollars...”
Legislative Update
April 2023Grassy Mountain Gold Mine, Plan of Operations
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The Bawl Mill
• A Return to Silver City, Idaho
• Ask the Experts
• Ask the Experts
• Ask the Experts
• Swing and a Miss
• Miners Fight Back Against Road Closures
• The Giant King Mine
• BLM Flexes Its Muscles in Quartzsite
• Over the Divide
• Romancing the Lens
• Gold Recovery with Centrifugal Bowls
• Mining on the Comstock Lode
• Want to Go to Australia?
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
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Representative Manweller Lends a Hand in Washington State
