More on the Current 1872 Mining Law Reform Attempt

On Wednesday I published a post concerning the latest attempt in Congress to amend the General Mining Law of 1872.

Those interested in following the progress of the current bill, H.R. 699, may do so by visiting the link here or by checking the new section in the right-hand sidebar titled Legislative Alerts and utilizing the links there.

Additionally, there is another article on this proposed measure appearing in the San Jose Mercury News which is linked here.

Stay tuned.

"Reformers" Target 1872 Mining Law -- Again

I haven't reported on this subject for a while as, quite frankly, it makes me sick. But now that some sort of legislative action appears imminent, I feel I have a duty to bring it to your attention:

According to an article in the Colorado Independent, Democratic Representative Nick Rahall of West Virginia, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, plans to introduce the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2009. Like its predecessors, this bill would levy "a 4 percent royalty on existing mines and an 8 percent royalty on new mines — percentages that are in line with what the coal, oil and gas industries currently pay."

I'm not even going to go into why metal mines are not comparable to coal, oil, and gas operations and therefore should not be treated on the same basis. The galling thing is that the proponents of this measure seem more interested in the APPEARANCE of fairness than in actual fairness. But I guess that's what we should expect from those who practice extortion for a living.

The article also seems to equate the current "royalty-free extraction of gold, uranium and other hard-rock minerals from public lands across the West" allowed by the General Mining Law of 1872 with a $1.6 billion subsidy over the coming decade. Huh? Isn't this like a mugger who doesn't take ALL of your money claiming that he's given you a financial contribution?

Anyway, for those hypotensive souls out there who need to elevate their blood pressure, you can find the above mentioned article at the link here.

New "Gold and Fish Pamphlet" Coming (Slowly)

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has updated their mineral prospecting web page to reflect the upcoming "Gold and Fish pamphlet" containing the new prospecting and mining rules that take effect April 3, 2009. At this time, the essential information is contained in the following two sentences (emphasis added):

1. Because WDFW will publish a new Gold and Fish pamphlet in April 2009 that incorporates new rules adopted by the Fish and Wildlife Commission on November 8, 2008, WDFW will no longer be printing or distributing copies of the 1999 edition.

2. WDFW is developing the 2009 edition of the Gold and Fish pamphlet and will post it on this page when complete.

Accordingly, you may want to visit "this page" from time to time in order to keep up with the appearance of the new regulations. I shall endeavor to do likewise and post any updates here.

Note (added 1/21/2009): RCW 77.55.091 Small Scale Prospecting and Mining -- Rules states, in part (emphasis added):

(3) Within two months of adoption of the rules, the department shall distribute an updated gold and fish pamphlet that describes methods of mineral prospecting that are consistent with the department's rule....

I was just wondering how this squares with the November 8, 2008 to April something, 2009 time frame for the publication of the new pamphlet? I guess some of us get to play fast and loose with the rules while the rest of us don't?

Happy New Year...

...to all my readers and thank you for following this blog in 2008. Here's wishing all of you a safe and rewarding season in 2009.

Two New Interactive Maps From the Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources

The Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources has announced two new applications available through its new Geologic Information Portal.

One application is called The Washington Interactive Geologic Map and "provides access to geologic mapping at several scales, earthquake and tsunami hazard mapping, and earth resource information."

The other application, called Earth Resources Permit Locations, "provides access to oil and gas exploration drillhole locations and surface mine reclamation permit sites."

In addition to base information such as highways, cities and towns, USGS quadrangles, county boundaries, rivers and Public Land Survey data, other layers show geologic features, aerial photography, and site locations. More layers are to be added in the future.

The Geologic Information Portal has been added to the Resources for Prospectors section of the right-hand sidebar.

Commission Appoints Interim WDFW Director

Following up on yesterday's post, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission has appointed WDFW deputy director for resource policy Phil Anderson as interim director following the resignation of Dr. Jeffrey P. Koenings.  According to the press release, the Commission will conduct a nation-wide search for a permanent director beginning next year.

The press release is available at the link here.

Koenings Resigns as Director of WDFW

Word has come that the current director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Jeff Koenings, Ph.D., has announced his resignation effective December 11.

As far as I am aware, there is no word yet on a possible successor.

Read the entire press release at the link here.

New Prospecting Rules Adopted by Fish and Wildlife Commission

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced in a news release dated today that the Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the proposed mineral prospecting rules at the meeting in Olympia on November 8. The press release states in part:

Adopted changes include establishing new work times designed to protect fish life, offering additional opportunities for prospectors and expanding the use of certain types of mineral prospecting equipment. The rules, which were developed with input from a 17-member workgroup and the public, become effective April 3, 2009 and are available on WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/hab/goldfish/mineral_prospect.htm. A new Gold and Fish pamphlet reflecting the changes will be available by that date.

The full text of the announcement can be found at the link here.

Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission Meets Saturday to Consider Adoption of New Rules

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet in Olympia on Friday and Saturday (November 7 & 8) to consider adopting permanent amendments to the Gold and Fish Pamphlet. This meeting follows the public hearing held on October 3 at the last Commission meeting, also in Olympia.

Action on the mineral prospecting rules is currently (as of today's agenda revision) scheduled as the third item of business for the Saturday session which begins at 8:30 A.M. It does not appear that public comments will be accepted at this meeting, although WDFW staff members Greg Hueckel and Perry Harvester are listed under the heading, "Staff Report".

Additionally, the agenda contains a link to a "Greensheet and proposed rules" document which contains, among other things, changes to the proposed rules submitted by WDFW as a result of comments received from the public. The proposed changes are too numerous to discuss here, but it is worrisome to this writer that for some of the streams in Kittitas, Pend Oreille, Skagit, and Yakima counties, the originally proposed work window dates have been reduced to "Submit Application" status.

The meeting will be held in Room 172 of the Natural Resource Building, 1111 Washington Street SE, in Olympia.

As changes to the agenda are still possible, interested parties are encouraged to check the latest version at the link here.

WDFW Discontinues Current "Gold and Fish" Pamphlet

According to the WDFW web page devoted to mineral prospecting, the current issue of the Gold and Fish pamphlet will no longer be available once the current supply runs out. To quote from the site:

NOTE: Because a new edition of the Gold and Fish pamphlet will be printed in 2009, WDFW will no longer distribute the 1999 edition when the current supply is exhausted. If you wish to prospect before the new pamphlet is issued you will need to print the online version of the 1999 Gold and Fish pamphlet.

It seems they're pretty confident the new proposed rules will be adopted.

Miners Take Note: New Rules Hearing Scheduled

Word has just arrived that the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission hearing on the proposed mineral prospecting and placer mining regulations will be held in the afternoon of Friday, October 3, in the Natural Resources Building, Room 172, 1111 Washington Street S.E. in Olympia. (Note that this location has been changed from Ellensburg.) Attendees should arrive no later than 2:00 P.M. to sign in. Discussion of the proposed rules is #9 on the hearing agenda.

Following is agenda item #9 as it currently appears on the Commission website:



A good showing of miners and their supporters at this event will demonstrate to the commissioners and WDFW staff the importance with which the mining community regards this matter.

To stay abreast of any changes to the agenda, check the Commission web page here.

WDFW Commission's October Meeting Moved from Ellensburg to Olympia

Please note that the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting scheduled for October 3-4 reported in my post of August 18 has been moved from Ellensburg to Olympia. This change is reported on the WDFW website here and on the Commission's website here.

This is an important meeting for us miners as the Commission will be accepting public comments from those present on the new proposed mineral prospecting and placer mining rules. Written comments may still be sent to WDFW by mail or email until September 26 at:

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Attn: Lisa Wood
RE: Mineral Prospecting Rules
600 Capitol Way N.
Olympia, WA 98501-1091

and

sepadesk@dfw.wa.gov

Thanks to Mark Erickson for alerting me to this change via his comment here.