Legislation & Regulation
Legislative and Regulatory Update
July 2019 by Scott Harn
• Administration issues proposals to fix mining access and permitting
The Trump Administration released an interagency report titled, “A Federal Strategy to Ensure a Reliable Supply of Critical Minerals.” The document establishes goals and makes recommendations to achieve President Trump’s objectives laid out in Executive Order 13817 in order to create a reliable US supply chain for critical minerals.
The recommendations related to minerals involve all types of mining, not just mining for critical minerals. Specific recommendations are made to expedite permitting, revise Travel Management Plans, curb mineral withdrawals, and much more.
We are encouraged that many of the recommendations we made during out trips in Washington, DC, with Public Lands for the People are included in the proposals.
Check the PLP Update column later is in this issue for a full review.
• Online “webinar” and request for comments for proposed Forest Service NEPA regulation revisions
On June 13, the Forest Service published an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking and request for comments as the agency seeks to revise its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations.
The agency states it intends to increase efficiency, reduce timelines for approval, and possibly utilize categorical exclusions in some cases.
The Federal Register Notice is available online here.
The agency will provide an online “webinar” on July 12, 2019, from 3:30-5:00pm Eastern Time. You can call in at 1-877-369-5243 or 1-617-688-3633. The access code is 0849770#.
Or you can watch it on your desktop or device by visiting https://usfs.adobeconnect.com/neparule-1000/
Public comments are due in writing by August 12, 2019.
Comments can be submitted by one of the following methods:
Public participation portal (preferred):
https://www.regulations.gov/
By mail:
NEPA Services Group
c/o Amy Barker; USDA Forest Service
125 South State Street, Suite 1705
Salt Lake City, UT 84138.
By email:
nepa-procedures-revision@fs.fed.us
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Idaho challenges EPA regulations
• California suction gold dredging
BLM Flexes Its Muscles in Quartzsite
Somehow the Bureau of Land Management seems to have forgotten that they work for the people.
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Bills introduced to stop federal management of greater sage grouse
• WOTUS under review
• Congressional Review Act
Legislative and Regulatory Update
- New Deputy Secretary of Interior
- Case against dredger allowed to proceed
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• California dredging update
• Favorable bills in Congress
Legislative and Regulatory Update
Clarification on Oregon's SB838
The 100-yard restriction in SB838 actually applies to all motorized mining for the purpose of extracting gold, silver or any other precious metal that results in the disturbance of vegetation.
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The Bawl Mill
• Ask The Experts - Diamonds in the Mother Lode?
• Ask The Experts - How do I set up my shaker table?
• Ask The Experts - Does silicone rubber make a good sluice mat?
• Ask The Experts - Conflicting assays for platinum group elements
• Get Boots On The Ground For Patch Hunting
• Lessons Learned From Geologists
• Gold Prospecting for Better or Worse: Man vs Paydirt
• Mohave County, Arizona: The Oatman/San Francisco Mining District
• ICMJ Honored As Prospecting Magazine of the Year
• The Sunbaker
• A Golden Vacation
• Mining Company Pays Millions for Gold Dug From Mine Dumps
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
Free:
PLP Update
• Mining Organizations Unite To Petition For Rule Change
