Legislation & RegulationFree / Legislation & Regulation Legislative and Regulatory UpdateOctober 2019 by Scott • WOTUS rule finalized In 2014, the Obama administration decided to expand the jurisdiction of the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers beyond navigable waters. WOTUS was redefined to include all areas with even the slightest of connections to water resources, including intermittent streams, and even man-made ditches utilized by farmers, ranchers and miners. The rule was finalized in 2015. A resulting court fight encompassed several jurisdictions and resulted in differing rules in different parts of the country because District Courts could not agree on a similar interpretation. Congressman Paul Gosar (R-Arizona), had this to say: • Reminder on new claim fees The new fee for locating a 20-acre claim is $225, which includes a $20 processing fee, $40 location fee, and $165 maintenance fee. The fees are tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and are reviewed every five years. Fees can be submitted online at https://payp.blm.gov/eppcore/home (Just click on “Mining Claims” when you visit the page.) © ICMJ's Prospecting and Mining Journal, CMJ Inc. |