Legislation & Regulation
Legislative and Regulatory Update
July 2022 by Scott Harn
• Extremist groups are at it again
As can be expected, environmental extremist groups have filed suit to stop another mining project. This time, it’s the Excellon Idaho Gold’s Kilgore Gold Exploration Project in Clark County, Idaho.
Some of the usual suspects are involved—the Idaho Conservation League and the Greater Yellowstone Coalition.
The groups claim the Forest Service violated environmental laws when they approved exploratory drilling. They claim the Forest Service should have opted for a complete Environmental Impact Statement (EIR) rather than following an Executive Order issued by former President Trump that expedited the review process.
• No sales tax on precious metals in Tennessee
Tennessee became the 42nd state to eliminate sales taxes on precious metals on May 27th.
Lead bill sponsor Bud Hulsey said, “I’ve been working to free gold and silver from sales taxes in Tennessee since my kids were in elementary school. The Sound Money Defense League, in-state dealers, and folks all across Tennessee made their voices heard and helped get this bill across the finish line.”
The only states that still tax precious metal coins and bullion are Vermont, New Jersey, Maine, Kentucky, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Mississippi and Hawaii. The District of Columbia also taxes physical gold and silver purchases.
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Nevada miners get reprieve
• Georgia Senate race may set the stage for mining regulations
• New Executive Order on critical minerals
• Interior Department makes adjustments to LWCF
Emergency Dredging Closures in Washington State
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) issued emergency rules without public comment just prior to our publication deadline.
MMAC & PLP Update
May 2016PLP had been attempting to raise funds to hire a lobbyist. The excessive cost made it prohibitive, so Clark and Joe packed up their bags and headed off to make this trip themselves.
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• WOTUS definition is changing again
• BLM HQ on the move again
Trip to “The Swamp” on Behalf of Small Miners
Besides the EPA issue, our major priority is to work on the proposed amendment to the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act (S 145), a bill proposed in the Senate by US Senator Dean Heller (R-Nevada).
New Mining Regulations in Maine
Renewed interest in mining of gold, silver, copper and other metals in Aroostook County's Bald Mountain triggered 2012 legislation requiring the overhaul of the state's two-decade-old mining regulations.
Comments Needed On Pebble Project Draft EIS
If you do not have the time to read the entire document, I would suggest starting with the Executive Summary that begins on page 80.
Subscription Required:
The Bawl Mill
• Ask The Experts - Micron gold: how much to equal an ounce?
• Ask The Experts - How do I properly denote a mining claim? Can I use GPS coordinates?
• The Forms of Crystalline Gold
• Evolution Of A Desert Wash Plant
• Gleaning for Gold
• Making the Jump to Electronic Prospecting
• The Info Is Out There
• Gold: Is It Everywhere?
• Blast From The Past: Gold of the Common Man
• Thieves Make Off with Tons of Gold & Silver Ore
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
• Gold, Silver & Stocks—How Do I Decide Where to Invest?
• New Mexico Reaches $32M Settlement Over 2015 Gold King Mine Spill
• Our Readers Say
