Legislation & Regulation
Legislative and Regulatory Update
February 2019 by Scott Harn
• Oregon miners petition US Supreme Court in Bohmker v. Oregon
“Multiple states now assert the right to ban mining as a use of specified federal lands categorically, rather than provide a permit-based process for imposing reasonable environmental standards on federal mining operations,” says attorney James Buchal in his Petition for Writ of Certiorari filed with the United States Supreme Court submitted on January 21, 2019.
In Joshua Caleb Bohmker v. State of Oregon, the Miners argue the State of Oregon is thumbing its collective nose at federal preemption under the Property Clause and the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution, Articles IV and VI, respectively.
This case differs from Rinehart v. State of California in that Rinehart was cited for suction dredging without a permit, while Bohmker sued the State of Oregon for passing legislation that outlawed the use of motorized equipment on federal mining claims. The legislation permanently prevents a miner from developing his mining claim on federal lands.
It should be noted that the Galice Mining District intervened in this case and is asserting their rights under the 1872 Mining Act. The 1872 Mining Act includes “...and according to the local customs or rules of miners in the several mining districts...”
We had hoped Mr. Buchal would incorporate Mining District rights, as defined in the 1872 Mining Act, into the Rinehart case, but for whatever reason that did not happen. With Bohmker v. Oregon, this may be an opportunity to see if the US Supreme Court will honor this relevant statue in this case and if the new makeup of Supreme Court justices are ready to take a hard look at federal preemption.
You’ll find a link to this Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the online version of this article.
• Wheeler receives hearing as EPA Administrator
Andrew Wheeler has been the acting director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since July 2018. He was promoted to acting administrator from his deputy administrator position following the resignation of Scott Pruitt. President Trump nominated Wheeler to take over as the agency head in November 2018. He received a Senate confirmation hearing on January 16, 2018.
Wheeler has prior experience as chief counsel to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and for Senator James Inhofe who is the current chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
With the current makeup of the Senate, Wheeler is expected to be confirmed shortly.
Oregon Anti-Dredging Bill
SB 765...would tax suction gold dredgers by charging a $50 annual fee for in-state dredgers and a whopping $2,500 fee for out-of-state dredgers for each county where the miner intends to dredge.
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• NEDC Surrenders in Oregon
• The California saga continues
Comstock Mining Gets Approval
The approval, which affects 87 acres on the south end of Silver City, allows the company to move forward with exploration to determine the area's mining potential.
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Lawsuits galore
• Suction dredging saga continues
• HR 1937 to streamline permitting, remove obstacles to miners
• Sage-grouse debate continues
• More National Monuments
Small Miner Beats Forest Service in Court
Thomas Tierney has been a long-time subscriber to ICMJ’s Prospecting and Mining Journal and has read about the many battles between miners and overzealous regulators. Then he faced his own battle.
Fighting and Winning Without a Lawyer
This article may not be as interesting as someone describing a big nugget find in Australia...but right now the biggest obstacle to mining is our government.
Suction Dredging Battle Escalates
• State attorneys claim the Court of Appeals wrongly relied on South Dakota Mining Association v. Lawrence County regarding federal preemption...
Subscription Required:
The Bawl Mill
• Ask The Experts - Do I need something other than a fire assay for PGMs?
• Ask The Experts - This low-grade ore is not worth processing
• Placer Gold Deposits of New Mexico
• The Hunch
• Resurrecting An Old Hard Rock Mine—A Series of Small Victories
• The Basics of Exploration Leases and Contracts—Part I
• Gold Prospecting for Better or Worse: A Long Hike
• Mutiny on The Mason
• Who Jumped Whose Claim First?
• The Value of Evidence
• Over The Divide: Charles "Chuck" Cushman
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
Free:
PLP Update