Current, past and pending
BLM Raises Location and Claim Fees
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.
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.
Clarification on Oregon's SB838
August 2014
The 100-yard restriction in SB838 actually applies to all motorized mining for the purpose of extracting gold, silver or any other precious metal that results in the disturbance of vegetation.
The 100-yard restriction in SB838 actually applies to all motorized mining for the purpose of extracting gold, silver or any other precious metal that results in the disturbance of vegetation.
Successful Rally for Suction Dredge Miners in Idaho
August 2014
Representative Paul Shepherd stopped by, and Idaho County Commissioner Jim Chmelik dove with one of the dredgers so he could see for himself that no harm was being done to fish or their habitat.

Miners Fight Back Against Road Closures
July 2014
In the meeting, we presented Ms. Skalski with the various court cases from the 9th Circuit Court on these settled law cases and she was mortified.

BLM Flexes Its Muscles in Quartzsite
July 2014
Somehow the Bureau of Land Management seems to have forgotten that they work for the people.
Somehow the Bureau of Land Management seems to have forgotten that they work for the people.
Representative Manweller Lends a Hand in Washington State
July 2014
We're done watching as an unelected and unchecked bureaucracy, with rule-making authority, enforcement powers, and seemingly bottomless budgets abuses citizens at will.
We're done watching as an unelected and unchecked bureaucracy, with rule-making authority, enforcement powers, and seemingly bottomless budgets abuses citizens at will.
Ask the Experts
June 2014
• Reopening closed areas
• Reopening closed areas
California Dredgers: A Step Closer to Getting Back in the Water
June 2014
...Judge Ochoa ordered the parties to participate in mandatory settlement hearings starting June 24, 2014.
...Judge Ochoa ordered the parties to participate in mandatory settlement hearings starting June 24, 2014.
Protecting Our Access to Public Lands
June 2014
As prospectors, we cannot just roll over and continue to ignore the shift in public land management from multiple use to national preserve.

Ask the Experts
March 2014
NOI or POO for small backhoe
NOI or POO for small backhoe
Ask the Experts
March 2014
Gold in Minnesota?
Gold in Minnesota?
Alaska: Large-Scale Mining Can Be Done Right
March 2014
"As elected leaders of the State of Alaska, we want you to know that Alaska is open to investment from those who seek to develop our state's natural resources safely and responsibly..."
"As elected leaders of the State of Alaska, we want you to know that Alaska is open to investment from those who seek to develop our state's natural resources safely and responsibly..."
Government Takes Land for Open Space
March 2014
Rather than using the practice of government seizure of private property to promote economic development, the county is using it to preserve open space.

SB 838 and the Future of Mining in Oregon
February 2014
The verbage is SB 838 is vague and ambiguous to say the least. As a result, there is quite a bit of misinformation floating around the rumor mills.
The verbage is SB 838 is vague and ambiguous to say the least. As a result, there is quite a bit of misinformation floating around the rumor mills.
New Mining Regulations in Maine
February 2014
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.
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.
Comstock Mining Gets Approval
February 2014
The approval, which affects 87 acres on the south end of Silver City, allows the company to move forward with exploration to determine the area's mining potential.
The approval, which affects 87 acres on the south end of Silver City, allows the company to move forward with exploration to determine the area's mining potential.
Legislative and Regulatory Update
December 2014
• Court says ESA does not apply in some cases
• Comments needed for proposed critical habitat in several Western states
• EPA still trying to rewrite the Clean Water Act
• Enough already!
• Now is the time to act
• Court says ESA does not apply in some cases
• Comments needed for proposed critical habitat in several Western states
• EPA still trying to rewrite the Clean Water Act
• Enough already!
• Now is the time to act
Legislative and Regulatory Update
November 2014
• Big win by a California suction gold dredger
• Administration locks up another popular gold mining area
• BLM creates de facto wilderness without Congressional approval
• Big win by a California suction gold dredger
• Administration locks up another popular gold mining area
• BLM creates de facto wilderness without Congressional approval
Legislative and Regulatory Update
October 2014
• California dredging update
• Study: Sage grouse does not need protection
• Tennessee enacts harsh new gold prospecting regulations
• California dredging update
• Study: Sage grouse does not need protection
• Tennessee enacts harsh new gold prospecting regulations
Legislative and Regulatory Update
September 2014
• Show of support needed for anti-EPA bills
• Arizona mining data now online
• California suction dredge hearings
• Update on Forest Service abuse in Washington
• Show of support needed for anti-EPA bills
• Arizona mining data now online
• California suction dredge hearings
• Update on Forest Service abuse in Washington