PLP Files Suit Against State of California
From: UCMJ’s Prospecting and Mining Journal, November 2011
Email Version
Recent News
>Public Lands for the People has filed a request for a Preliminary Injunction in San Bernardino County Superior Court against California to restore the rights of suction gold dredgers. PLP files motion for preliminary injunction against State of California to reopen suction dredging
>A three-judge panel of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against the State of Wyoming and in favor of the Clinton-era Roadless Rule, stating that rule does not designate wilderness outside the reach of Congress. States across the West stand to lose access to millions of acres if Wyoming does not appeal -- there is no word yet on whether an appeal is imminent. Wyoming can seek a hearing from the full 10th Circuit Court and to the US Supreme Court. Several Republican legislators have already introduced bills to revoke the Roadless Rule, but it's unlikely such a bill will be successful unless Republicans can capture the Senate in the 2012 elections. Read the 10th Circuit Court opinion (a downloadable PDF document).
>The California Regional Water Quality Control Board for the North Coast Region is proposing to implement an Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Policy. You can bet that their proposal will include further restrictions and prohibitions for miners. Public meetings are scheduled for November 3 and November 8. Comments are due by November 18. California Water Board proposes a new restoration policy -- Comments needed
>Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar has ordered the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement to be integrated into the Bureau of Land Management " to further strengthen the bureaus' mining regulations and abandoned mine land reclamation programs." Read the Secretarial Order (a downloadable PDF document).
>The Bakersfield (California) Resource Management Plan (RMP) has been published by the Bureau of Land Management and is open to public comments. The area covered by this RMP is huge, running from Madera south all the way to Ventura, and from west San Luis Obispo County east to Lake Isabella. Please take some time to review the RMP and submit your constructive comments to help prevent abuse of your mining rights and rights to access. Comments are due by December 9, 2011. Go to BLM site for the Bakersfield RMP
Alaska Revised Statute 2477
As many of you in Alaska know, an issue between miner, Carey Mills of Fairbanks, and the federal government has developed into a court case that challenges the rights of access across established rights of way in this state. A summary of the issue is at this LINK. This case is centered on Alaska Revised Statute 2477 and you can read a fact sheet that summarizes RS2477 at this LINK.
The Anchorage Chapter, GPAA, has donated $500 dollars to help pay the legal expenses. Our Club VP, Bill Dunlevy, recently received this email from Carey Mills:
"..... I talked to the Alaska State director for GPAA Joe Demaree; to let him know that Sheldon Maier, President of the Fortymile Miners Association and me are planning on going to all 60 Legislators offices in Juneau the week of February 21 thru 25, 2011. The purpose is to request the Legislators to specifically fund the RS 2477 litigation and Navigable Water issue in a line item appropriation to the budget. During the conversation with Joe we spoke of the Petition link that they have posted on their local Kenai GPAA website about RS 2477 rights-of-way. I think it would be important to update the article with that link as well.
Regards,
Carey Mills
P.O. Box 60464
Fairbanks, Alaska 99706
907-978-9814
Ccmalaska@aol.com ...... "
Link to updates from Carey MIlls re RS 2477 Suit
If you can provide support in any fashion, contact Carey Mills for additional details.
"Access Assertion Fund" and click on the "Donations" link.
To make donations, toward this suit, go to:www.alaskaoutdoorcouncil.org then scroll down to the
SIGN THE PETITION TO KEEP ROADS AND TRAILS OPEN FOR ACCESS TO MINING CLAIMS!
TO SIGN THE PETITION ON LINE CLICK HERE
EVENTS
- Monthly Chapter Meeting - Third Thursday of the month. 6 PM Chow, 7 PM Business Meeting
The Anchorage Chapter meets the third Thursday of every month, 7:00 PM at the Alaska Industrial Hardware (AIH) offices at 2192 Viking Dr. This not a retail site but it is near Mountain View. Road directions are north on Reeve Blvd through the light to Viking Dr. Turn left on Viking Dr. The large white warehouse is on the left. Go to the west end of the building. The meeting site is an attached blue one-story windowed structure. We will have the door open for you. Park at the far west side of the parking lot.
- Rock and Mineral Show - November 2011. Details Here
- The BLM Fireside Chat Wed. Nov. 16th. at 7 p.m. Resource specialists will discuss the importance of minerals, review the mining industry and review the processes BLM uses to authorize and oversee mining on Federal Lands.
ACTIVITIES
I'll add your activities and projects here. Just pass the information and pictures to the Webmaster.
NOTICES
New Hours at the Alaska Geographic Map Store
Effective November 14, 2011, the Alaska Geographic Map Store @ USGS, located on the campus of Alaska Pacific University at 4210 University Drive, Room 208, Glenn Olds Hall, will be open the following hours:
Noon to 5 p.m., Tuesday thru Friday.
The closure does not apply to USGS - Science Information Services (SIS) staff, who are still available 8-5, M-F to respond to scientific, cartographic and Alaskana inquiries that do not involve sales.
If other questions, contact :
Greg Durocher
Chief, USGS - Science Information Services / Alaska office
907-786-7009 gfdurocher@usgs.gov
TWEET: @usgs (official) @akrockhound (personal)
FB: https://www.facebook.com/USGeologicalSurvey
Earth Science / Alaska Questions? askusgs@usgs.gov
Other Notices
If any member has items for sale, send me a pix, description, and price and I will post it on the Buy - N - Sell page.
Bill Bear, Webmaster, beartrax at mtaonline dot net
