Legislation & Regulation
Legislative and Regulatory Update
October 2019 by Scott Harn
• WOTUS rule finalized
It’s official. On September 12, the Trump Administration officially repealed the Obama-era Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.
In 2014, the Obama administration decided to expand the jurisdiction of the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers beyond navigable waters. WOTUS was redefined to include all areas with even the slightest of connections to water resources, including intermittent streams, and even man-made ditches utilized by farmers, ranchers and miners. The rule was finalized in 2015.
A resulting court fight encompassed several jurisdictions and resulted in differing rules in different parts of the country because District Courts could not agree on a similar interpretation.
Congressman Paul Gosar (R-Arizona), had this to say:
“The Obama-era WOTUS Rule was an abysmal failure and represented one of the most egregious examples of federal overreach in my lifetime. President Obama’s land and water grab gave unprecedented power to bureaucrats of the DC Swamp at the expense of farmers, ranchers, small business owners and the American people. The Western Caucus led the charge against this misguided regulation and is thrilled to see it put out to pasture.”
• Reminder on new claim fees
This is a friendly reminder that the costs associated with filing a new mining claim have gone up.
The new fee for locating a 20-acre claim is $225, which includes a $20 processing fee, $40 location fee, and $165 maintenance fee.
The fees are tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and are reviewed every five years.
Fees can be submitted online at https://payp.blm.gov/eppcore/home (Just click on “Mining Claims” when you visit the page.)
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• US Supreme Court declines to hear dredging controversy
• Why Senate Bill S3422 is bad for America
• Comment deadline extended for new California dredging regulations
Legislative and Regulatory Update
- Oregon miners petition US Supreme Court in Bohmker v. Oregon
- Wheeler receives hearing as EPA administrator
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• SB 637
• Public land users cry "fowl"
Legislative and Regulatory Update
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Bill to address Forest Service Travel Management restrictions
• Suction gold dredging challenge finally under way
• EPA nullification bill fails in Idaho
• Another bad bill
PLP Update: The Path for Legally Re-Starting Suction Gold Dredge Mining in 2021
Present conflicts and realizations having to do with dependence on China have illuminated the fact that suction dredge miners have a vital role to play and are an ignored and untapped domestic resource—until now.
Annual Claim Fees Due September 3, 2013
Because September 1 falls on a Sunday this year; and Monday, September 2, is a holiday, the BLM will accept yearly filings through September 3.
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The Bawl Mill
• Ask The Experts - Do you have more info on Silver Peak?
• Ask The Experts - Forest Service blocking claim access
• Green Valley's Fine Gold Patch
• Hard Rock and Placer Gold of Manhattan, Nevada
• Gold Prospecting for Better or Worse: Powerless
• Revisiting Old Haunts
• How to Refine Silver—Pt II
• Where to Start: Advice for the Beginning Detectorist
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
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PLP Update
• MSHA Moves Ahead on Silica RFI But Leaves All Options Open
• Traders At JPMorgan Chase Indicted For Rigging Metal Prices
