Garrett Electronics - trusted by real miners & prospectors!

Magazine

All Articles

Legislative and Regulatory Update

• Pombo to introduce ESA reform bill
House Resources Committee chairman Richard Pombo will publish a draft bill that will address many of the problems inherent with the Endangered Species Act.

An aide to Pombo disclosed that the bill will move critical habitat designations to later in the process, require peer reviewed science, provide incentives to landowners to protect species and provide states with a greater role.

Even some environmentalists are agreeing that the current process is flawed.

John Kostyack of the National Wildlife Federation stated, “Congress should push back the deadlines to three years after listing, thereby giving the wildlife agencies the time they need to get the science right.”
Pombo’s target date for the draft bill is August.

The Fish and Wildlife Service currently is under orders from 42 lawsuits to designate habitat for 87 species. Another 35 lawsuits involving 57 species are pending.


• Utah addresses roadless areas
Utah Governor Jon Huntsman will not petition the federal government for protection of roadless areas in his state said a spokesman for the governor’s office.

Under the recently announced changes to the Clinton-era Roadless Rule, individual governors can petition the federal government to manage roadless areas in their respective states.

Lynn Stevens, Utah’s state public lands policy coordinator, said the state will allow the US Forest Service to complete forest management plans already in progress in four of the state’s six national forests.

Utah environmentalist Kevin Mueller believes this amounts to bad news for the state. “It sounds to us like they’re going to come up with something that amounts to minimal protection. The fewer areas that are petitioned and included for protection, the quicker and easier the process will be. The less roadless areas, the less hassle,” said Mueller.


• Appeal by active duty soldier
In a recent Interior Board of Lands Appeals decision, Judge H. Barry Holt ruled that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) should consider the request of an active duty soldier for an exemption from paying annual mining claim assessment fees.

The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act (SSCRA) provides for a six-month exemption from the fee if all parties to the claim are on active duty.

© ICMJ's Prospecting and Mining Journal, CMJ Inc.
Next Article »« Previous Article

Add a Comment

Additional articles that might interest you...

Former Sunshine Miners Find Work in Montana


Like almost 200 other Silver Valley miners, Butch Dempsey used to work at the Sunshine Mine in Kellogg. But, along with dozens of the others, he now works for the Columbus, Montana-based Stillwater Mining Co., about 400 miles to the east...

Our Readers Say


• “This country is in serious trouble...”
• “This is a perfect example of why I subscribe”
• “...the best coverage...”

Metal Detector Only Requirement for Hunting Treasure


In 1977, Mary Lee Bunch bought her husband a Christmas gift she joked would "keep him off the streets." Sure, Milton Bunch is off the streets. But now you can't keep him off the roadsides...

USPS Delays ICMJ Delivery at Oakland, CA Processing Center


Once again, we've been deluged with telephone calls complaining about delivery of the International California Mining Journal...

Melman on Gold & Silver


…there is now concrete evidence that growing numbers of investors and other concerned observers are now turning to gold as a storehouse of value in these potentially troubling times.

PLP Update


I want to stress that this is just the first step to fixing many of the regulatory issues we identified in discussions with the current administration. There will be plenty more to come.

The Bawl Mill


• Make your vote count...again, and again, and again...
• Debt ceiling, round two
• "Throw Them All Out"
• A cut above the rest...

Subscription Required:
The Bawl Mill   • Our Readers Say   • The Montana Tunnels Discovery   • Spreading the Fever   • Forest Service Final Rule—When is a Notice or Plan Required?   • Looking Back   • New Regulations for Major Precious Metal Dealers   • The Paradox Basin—Part I   • The Safety in Tax Deductions for Safety   • Understanding and Evaluating Desert Mineralization for Nuggetshooters   • A Search for Tantalum   • Copper is King in Arizona   • Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices   • Melman on Gold & Silver

Free:

Advertisements

Precious Metals Recovery plants and equipment
Fighting to keep public lands open to the public
Specializing in the processing of precious metal ores!
Watch prospecting shows on your computer right now
Free Online Sample Issue