The effort to reset the playing field continues. There have been a few more refinements to the Minerals and Mining Regulatory Reform Act—A Clear Path Respecting Mining Rights. This is the bill we’ve been working on in conjunction with Public Lands for the People and the Minerals and Mining Advisory Council to restore the rights of miners. We are up to revision 41. You can view the bill in its entirety at mmacusa.org
The main revision has to do with the elimination of the US Department of Mines and Minerals (USDMM) and their oversight. After much discussion it made more sense to have appeals go through individual Mining Districts rather than through the USDMM.
I’ve received quite a few inquiries from miners who are beginning to realize that traditional Mining Districts are powerful entities and they are looking to get their district organized if it’s in disarray.
The first step in that process is to locate the original rules, regulations and bylaws. These original documents can often be found by visiting your local historical society, museum, library or county recorder’s office.
Once the original bylaws have been located, the next step is to publish a Public Notice to gather the miners and claimholders in the district at a meeting to elect officers. We (ICMJ’s Prospecting and Mining Journal) have offered to do this free of charge. Once officers are in place, then bylaws can be amended as needed.
I was able to track down original bylaws for quite a few Mining Districts and I will continue to post these on our website as time permits. You’ll find them by clicking on “Bylaws for Traditional Mining Districts” under the “Resources” tab on our website, www.icmj.com.
I’ve included the original bylaws for the Upper Yuba Mining District in Yuba County, California, as an example. It will be immediately obvious to you that these bylaws are very outdated. Once an elected board is in place, the bylaws can be updated to better conform to existing circumstances within the district. If you need assistance, feel free to give me a call.
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As part of our ongoing support of PLP, we here at ICMJ’s Prospecting and Mining Journal have been offering a discounted membership to PLP. It works like this:
A one-year PLP individual membership is normally $35. You can get a one-year subscription to our monthly publication for $27.95 and include $25 for a PLP membership and we’ll contribute the additional $10 for your one-year PLP membership. If you already have a subscription you can certainly choose to add another year to your subscription to take advantage of this offer.
Here are the subscribers who have recently taken advantage of this offer. Thank you for your support!
November 2015 Because the old timers were so good at locating the better paying deposits—most of them along clay seams in this particular area—it makes good sense to try and locate these clay lines at old mining sites.
The paper’s crack reporters filed requests under the Freedom of Information Act, demanding public release of “secret” emails explaining why the Interior Department recommended, and President Trump approved, shrinking Bears’ Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments.
July 2016 If you need more proof that having an organized Mining District can help you, look no further than the recently proposed Methow Headwaters Withdrawal in north-central Washington State.
April 2012 Washington’s decision to bar new uranium mining near the Grand Canyon and other federal policies on energy and resource issues are barriers holding back Arizona and its residents from prosperity, Governor Jan Brewer told a congressional hearing March 16.
August 2014 The Bureau of Land Management announced an increase in location filing fees and annual maintenance fees for unpatented mining claims, mill sites and tunnel sites.
I hope this case inspires some of you. It shows that miners can and do succeed when they are persistent and well-prepared, even when representing themselves against state and federal attorneys in a court of law.
Because the old timers were so good at locating the better paying deposits—most of them along clay seams in this particular area—it makes good sense to try and locate these clay lines at old mining sites.
If you need more proof that having an organized Mining District can help you, look no further than the recently proposed Methow Headwaters Withdrawal in north-central Washington State.
