Legislation & Regulation
Forest Service v. Michael & Linda Backlund
December 2010 by James Buchal
On Tuesday morning, August 26, 2010, my clients Michael and Linda Backlund were forced to plead guilty to a charge of violating 36 CFR §261.10(b), which criminalizes maintaining a residence on Forest Service land without authorization “when such authorization is required.” This is a new regulation pursuant to which virtually anything, even a tent, is an unlawful “residence” unless authorized in advance.Representative Manweller Lends a Hand in Washington State
We're done watching as an unelected and unchecked bureaucracy, with rule-making authority, enforcement powers, and seemingly bottomless budgets abuses citizens at will.
Selenium, Mercury and Suction Dredging—Studies Contradict CA State Water Resources Board
Federal and state regulatory agencies often cite mercury and methyl mercury in our waterways as a major factor for further restrictions on placer mining, and on suction gold dredge mining, in particular. However, these regulatory agencies are minimizing selenium and its neutralizing effects.
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Idaho miners will challenge new EPA permit at rally
• California proposes to amend definition of a suction dredge
• Proposed rule redefines "navigable waters"
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Not so happy birthday
• Even more support for the PLP
PLP Update: Back to The 'Swamp' on Behalf of Small Miners
We spent the morning in a meeting with one of the higher-ups at the US Forest Service. I presented him with 412 complaints received from our readers, along with a summary of the complaints to make his job easier.
Ask The Experts: Should I take my claim access problems to the Desert Advisory Council?
Q: The nearest access to the claim is a half mile walk, which is tough for a lode claim.
Feds Challenge North Idaho Mining Claims
Fishing, camping and the protection of American Indian artifacts along a 30-mile section of the North Fork of the Clearwater River outweigh the desire of placer miners to search for gold, an attorney representing the US Forest Service said.
Subscription Required:
The Bawl Mill
• Ask The Experts—Iridium
• Ask The Experts—Highbanker legal in CA?; Best place to sell raw gold?
• Ask The Experts—Using classifiers
• So, Where's The Gold?—Finding Gold Detectors Miss
• The Oregon Claim
• Highbanking on the Feather River
• CFTC Finds Evidence of Silver Market Manipulation
• Gold in Arizona
• Detecting for Gold in Australia—The Kimberley Trip
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
Free:
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Know Your District
