PLP and Mining Districts
PLP Update
May 2021 by Scott Harn
I mentioned last month that Public Lands for the People (PLP) came up with a “guide” for miners and prospectors that they believe will alleviate many of the problems faced when mining on public lands administered by the US Forest Service. Now they have come up with a second guide (to be released on May 1) that they believe will allow dredgers in California to resume working.
Here is their announcement:
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Suction Dredging is Back in Most of California!
Hello Friends,
Public Lands for the People (PLP) is proud to announce that suction dredging will resume in most of California in a form bypassing most of the CA Fish & Wildlife and CA Water Board’s red tape. Last year, PLP released its strategy for a path for legally re-starting suction dredging in 2021. In researching that path, we made a rather significant breakthrough.
Our researchers that helped to provide the winning arguments for PLP members in the (federal) Godfrey and (California) Osterbrink court decisions have decided it’s time to release to the public the fundamental reasons why those decisions were won in our favor when all other well-meaning miners have failed in court challenges. Both Mr. Godfrey and Mr. Osterbrink deserve praise for standing up and successfully fighting the CA Regional Water Quality Control Board (EPA) experts, the CA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, and the Forest Service to help give us that path to legally resume suction dredging in California.
The substance of this path revolves around how the federal and state law defines pollutants and discharge along with the intended activity. PLP is preparing to release materials that the CA Water Quality Control Board and the CA Fish & Wildlife Service may not want you to know about. These online materials (take 4 steps and a few minutes to perform) along with a simple guide that can be shown to be quite effective when persons carry out the guide, and seriously adhere to its documents and principles outlined on the card. These materials and guidelines are not only an effective deterrent from citation but a gold mine of legal research that has eluded many until now. Thanks to our PLP member and donor support, our trips to Washington, DC, have netted us an inside track to data on the environmental agencies that we are now prepared to release to our members.
PLP believes that after a year or two it could be possible to modify this CA Suction Dredge Guide for application in other states such as Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Please be aware that PLP does not tout “Mining Rights” without promoting reclamation, as there is no such thing as an unfettered right to mine without responsibilities. Please also be aware that those misusing the CA Suction Dredge Guide may run the risk of citation and dredge confiscation; including those that follow individuals that promote the Army Corp 404 dredge discharge system while trying to replicate the CA Suction Dredge Guide.
PLP members who are renewing online and by mail will start receiving these new guide cards of knowledge, along with our member card and orange challenge card. PLP members already in good standing that provide their member number can just request the “CA Suction Dredge Guide” on the PLP info line by voice or email submission and it will be mailed to you.
PLP can say with confidence that the agencies will never treat responsible PLP members the same again. As you probably know, knowledge is power and a highly effective tool against your enemies who wish to deprive you of your rights!
MMAC Update
We spent our evening at some informal get-togethers at two private residences in the DC area, which provided the opportunity to talk with staff members from Congress, other agencies, and a few consultants working on public land issues. We found common ground with many of them, and found a strong ally in a former Congressman turned consultant who agreed that Mining Districts provide the smartest legal route...
MMAC & PLP Update
PLP Update
We anticipate there will be a change in party leadership in possibly both the House and Senate following the November 2022 mid-term elections…
PLP Update
We are in the planning stages for our next trip to DC. Clark and I are looking at returning after the mid-term elections, probably around the end of November or early December, to continue discussions with members of Congress…
Mining Districts in Montana Get Organized
Those miners present immediately recognized the benefits of becoming members of MMAC and joined up on the spot. I spent some time answering a few questions, and then the miners took over.
PLP Update
…a half-dozen dredgers have completed the appropriate paperwork and are conducting dredging operations at this juncture. They hope to expand these efforts to other western states in the near future.
PLP To Address Needs Of Small Miners With Proposed Amendment
The Senator’s office was very receptive to the small miner’s plight and was unaware of the dire problems created by the over-regulation of small-scale mining from so many different fronts. It was pointed out that S 145 may help the large mining companies a little, but falls woefully short in addressing the needs of small operators who make up 85% of domestic mines.
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