Legislation & Regulation
Legislative and Regulatory Update
July 2014 by Scott Harn
At press time, the mandatory settlement hearings are still pending in San Bernardino, California.
All parties in the suction gold dredge court battle were ordered by Judge Gilbert Ochoa to appear or participate by phone on June 24, with additional dates of June 25 and 26 set aside if needed.
As mentioned last month, this is a good sign. If Judge Ochoa was prepared to rule against the miners, he would have already done so. But case law is in favor of the miners—states are allowed to reasonably regulate mining but cannot prohibit it. The moratorium that began in 2009 is, in effect, a prohibition, and the new regulations promulgated by the California Department of Fish & Wildlife would make it impossible to operate a suction dredge profitably even if the moratorium is lifted.
We will continue to post updates to our website
• Fighting back
You’ll notice some positive articles in this issue about miners fighting back. A few legislators seem to be taking note of the overbearing nature of federal agencies and are lending a hand.
We are certainly happy to see this trend developing and pray it continues.
There is a lesson here. Federal agencies will continue to abuse their authority and restrict our rights if we allow it. Summarize the issues involved in your case and ask for a meeting with your state or federal representative.
Be polite and respectful, but don’t allow government officers or agents to ignore the law.
You are guaranteed to lose your rights if you allow the abuse to continue!
As this issue is mailed, we’re heading off to Idaho for the Occupy Idaho Waters dredging protest. Miners will gather on the Salmon River near Riggins, Idaho, to protest EPA interference with the dredging permit process.
From June 30 through July 6, miners will gather to dredge with the support of county commissioner Jim Chmelik and the local sheriff.
We’ll report on this event in the August issue.
Legislative and Regulatory Update
- House appropriations bills introduced
- Two Minnesota hardrock mining leases reinstated
- Equal Access to Justice Act
Legislative And Regulatory Update
• Good news on EPA regs
• California rewards key appointment to dredging foe
• Republicans seek to block creation of National Monuments
• Zimbabwe threatens seizure of mining rights
PLP To Address Needs Of Small Miners With Proposed Amendment
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.
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Some good news for a change
• New 49ers win Karuk appeal
• Another Oregon bill of concern
Appeals Court OKs Permits for Upper Peninsula Mine
The $800 million project will provide 300 jobs during production. It will be the only US mine where nickel is the primary targeted mineral, with about 360 million pounds to be extracted.
Feinstein Pushes for Million-Acre Land Grab
Met by jeers and cheers from more than 1,000 people, US Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) made another pitch to create three new national monuments in the deserts of southern California recently.
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Positive bill passes House
• Anti-mining bill dies in Washington State
Subscription Required:
The Bawl Mill
• A Return to Silver City, Idaho
• Ask the Experts
• Ask the Experts
• Ask the Experts
• Swing and a Miss
• Miners Fight Back Against Road Closures
• The Giant King Mine
• BLM Flexes Its Muscles in Quartzsite
• Over the Divide
• Romancing the Lens
• Gold Recovery with Centrifugal Bowls
• Mining on the Comstock Lode
• Want to Go to Australia?
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
Free:
Representative Manweller Lends a Hand in Washington State
