Legislation & Regulation

Like all federal judges, he swore an oath to perform his duties “impartially… under the Constitution and laws of the U.S.” Nothing in those documents gives Judge Morris authority to order the BLM to work with non-government organizations (the same ones that filed the lawsuit in question) to alter America’s use of energy.

• Proposed budget for EPA
• California SB 1222
• 640 million acres and counting
• Gold and silver bullion

We have learned over the years, of course, that “previous development,” “roadless,” and “local support,” are in the mind of the beholder.

Besides the EPA issue, our major priority is to work on the proposed amendment to the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act (S 145), a bill proposed in the Senate by US Senator Dean Heller (R-Nevada).

• Change is coming at Interior
• Interior Department seeking public comment regarding minerals

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.

Minerals and Mining Advisory Council (MMAC) founder Joe Martori met with Jim Scrivner, the Bureau of Land Management Deputy State Director of Energy and Minerals in Sacramento, California...

• Critical minerals a priority
• Montana miners win again
• MSHA backs down
• Environmental groups as foreign agents

The current administration is receptive; we believe the time is ripe to push for a return to reasonable regulations and to restore mining to a priority for public lands as long as some new crisis doesn’t take precedent.

• EPA declines to impose additional regulations and financial requirements on hardrock miners
• “Baffling” ruling in suction gold dredging court case

• Bill to limit Antiquities Act
• PLF seeks relief from Endangered Species Act abuses

• EPA ends "sue and settle"
• Sage grouse mineral withdrawal cancelled

The very way it was done at the time didn’t give one much confidence in the objectivity and honesty of the BLM study.

• Budd-Falen in line to become next director at BLM
• Ten national monuments slated for changes or reductions
• California adds another fee

• PLF sues over critical habitat
• Attorney General ends EPA slush fund

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.

“We feel that we can clean up an area that has been abandoned after 100 years of mining,” Lyon said.

• Reminder: Annual claim fees due September 1, 2017
• Update on California suction gold dredging

America’s premier source of strategic REEs were regulated out of business and 300 employees lost their jobs. For almost fifteen years America has been dependent on the communist Chinese cartel.