Miners form united front against dredging ban

By Jerry Hobbs
Public Lands for the People

For the last few years, the suction dredge mining community has been under attack from radical environmentalists, Indian tribes, fisherman and the rafting community and it is nothing new for miners to be under attack. For the last two months, because of these groups the suction dredge miners are also under attack from the California State legislators. The legislators are attempting to vote for an extension of an already existing two-year moratorium on suction dredging, to include another five-year moratorium under AB 120.

Act now to halt the suction dredge mining ban

AB120 is going to California Gov. Jerry Brown and if he is going to veto the bill, it has to be done by Monday, June 27. Please FAX the Governor today and on the weekend at (916) 558-3160. This is not just affecting the mining community, but the public right to access and prospect on public lands. It’s your land! The time to speak up is now!
EXAMPLE:
Dear Governor Brown,
Please VETO AB120. The amended moratorium language in AB120 was written specifically to kill the industry, not to uphold the intent of SB670-Wiggins, nor the intent of Judge Roesch's moratorium. Instead of killing our industry with a legislative sucker punch, please allow the existing double moratoriums on suction dredge mining to be solved with the ongoing EIR conclusion.

Voice your opinion on ‘Great Outdoors’ agenda

Chat live with Sec. Salazar on America's Great Outdoors Friday at 2p.m. EDT. Here is the information on Interior Secretary  Ken Salazar’s live chat on Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors program. We have not sent you much lately but this program is the outline for a whole bunch of land grabs covering a great deal of the country.

New Omnibus Federal Lands Bill Hearings, Committee Changes

These are NEW HEARINGS. The two hearings listed below are on completely different bills from the hearing on the May 11. Again, no outside witnesses. Just Obama officials. Transparent Democracy? The intent of these PRETEND HEARINGS is to prepare these bills for the next Harry Reid Omnibus Federal Lands Bill that will come later this fall or even next year. Many of these bills you defeated in Harry Reid’s Omnibus Federal Lands Bill last December. All these bills will likely be marked up (voted on) in the next couple of months. The Democrats will RAILROAD them through the Energy Committee. But you can stop them when they get to the Senate floor if you build opposition now. Your senators must know you will hold them accountable for supporting this kind of back room dark of night legislation. Hearing dates are Wednesday, May 18 and Wednesday, May 25.

Action Alert:

California Senate considering 5-year moratorium on dredging

We just received word that Subcommittee 2 in the California State Senate is considering adding language to a budget bill that would place a moratorium on suction dredge mining for a period of five years and stop the court-ordered Supplemental Environmental Impact Report that is already under way.

ARRA fights for your rights

ARRA is another organization that is standing up for your rights to access public lands.

Americans for Responsible Recreational Access

Stand up for land rights now!

Omnibus Federal Lands Bill Hearing Wed., May 11. Action Now!

This is to advise you that a hearing has been scheduled before the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks for all the bills listed below on the same day. The hearing will be held on Wednesday, May 11, 2011, at 2:30 p.m. in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

We believe these bills are being prepared for an Omnibus Federal Lands Bill:

• No Outside Witnesses Allowed.
• Only Obama Administration Staff to Testify. Outrageous!
• Rush to Judgment. This is a quickie hearing designed to lock you out.

Even if you do not have a bill in the hearing list below, you need to call
the Senators from your state plus the Senators on the Parks Subcommittee of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to complain that they are not allowing outside witnesses to participate. This is bad government.

GPAA local chapter launches petition to fight road closures

GPAA State Director Joe Demaree is asking for help in gathering signatures to fight federal government road closures in Alaska. Here is the link to the petition: SIGN PETITION HERE

Proposed regulations send up red flags over law enforcement

When I read California’s newly proposed suction dredge regulations, I immediately began to see red flags. My law enforcement background and sense of justice were sounding a red alert. Although I’m not yet a suction dredge miner, I am a miner and these proposed regulations are just plain wrong — and unjust. As a former law enforcement officer, I can easily recognize the threats to miners contained in these proposed regulations and their intent.

Prospectors advised to document any and all encounters with the law

Are you hobbyist?  A recreational miner?  A prospector?  A miner? What’s the difference? While a rose by any other name may smell as sweet, the only individuals listed above that have federally granted rights are prospectors and miners.