California's Suction Dredging Ban Appears Headed for Federal Court

California's moratorium on suction dredge mining, implemented when Governor Schwarzenegger signed SB 670 into law last August, may be challenged in federal court, according to an article by Elizabeth Larson in the Lake County News.

According to this report:

“We are seriously considering a preliminary injunction,” said attorney David Young, who has filed a lawsuit against the state on behalf of Public Lands for the People.

The newspaper points out that SB 670 "invalidated approximately 3,624 mining permits around the state and made suction dredge mining a misdemeanor...." The injunction is being sought on the grounds that the state has infringed on miners' federally granted property rights.

For more information, read the complete article at the link here.