Legislation & Regulation
SB 838 and the Salem Witch Hunt
December 2015 by Tom Kitchar
In every sense, this was a witch hunt with a preconceived agenda to heavily restrict or outright prohibit most small-scale mining in Oregon.PLP Update & Legislative and Regulatory Update
I’m combining these columns this month because there is an overlapping issue I wanted to address -- the new Interior Department “working group” on mining reform
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.
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Idaho continues toward elimination of EPA suction dredging regulations
• EPA makes preemptive strike against Alaska mine
• Proposed Mines Act permit fees
Legislative and Regulatory Update
- Budd-Falen in line to become next director at BLM
- Ten national monuments slated for changes or reductions
- California adds another fee
AMRA Takes On USFS in Idaho

MMAC & PLP Update
We have been playing defense for 100% of the game, and now we are finally playing some offense.
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The Bawl Mill
• Our Readers Say
• Ask The Experts
• Small-Scale Hard Rock Production
• Researching Mineralized Areas
• MMAC & PLP Update
• VLF Detector Operating Modes
• Using Geologic Maps
• Canadian Company Recovers 1,111-Carat Diamond
• Lost Sally's Gold
• Time to File Claims in Southern California
• Colorado Disputes Key Part of EPA Mine Report
• Picking Our Way Through Bedrock
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
• Melman on Gold & Silver
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Legislative and Regulatory Update
• What Is Incidental Fallback?