Envioromentalists extort land in lieu of drilling (or Ground Squirrel screwing us)

[maksutaSTAR]

"Moratorium of suction dredge permits in California "


In case you haven't seen this......

http://bb.bbboy.net/thenew49ers-view...m=1&thread=410

Our adversaries in California are at it again. This time, they are trying to prevent the Department of Fish & Game from issuing suction dredge permits (until a new environmental review is completed) by adding rider language to the 2008-2009 State Budget.

Language creating a moratorium on further issuance of suction dredge permits in California has already been approved through the Senate Budget Subcommittee at:

http://www.goldgold.com/legal/Sen_Bu..._on_agenda.pdf

and the Assembly Budget Subcommittee at:

http://www.goldgold.com/legal/Asm_Bu...tn,_4-9-08.pdf

This means, unless we are able to kill the rider, similar language will be attached to the full California budget bill which will be voted upon by the democratically-controlled California legislature sometime this summer or fall.

By the way, thanks to you guys and gals, it is a very good thing that we have full-time lobbyists on retainer. Otherwise, it’s likely we would not have known about this until it was too late to do anything about it.

I have spent several hours today reviewing the situation with our main lobbyist (Pete Conaty) and our attorney, James Buchal. We expect to have an action plan in place by early next week. Please stay tuned in, because we are going to need your help!

Here is a short summary from Pete Conaty:

http://www.goldgold.com/legal/final_alert_6-5-08.pdf

It’s hard to tell how long the California budget process will draw out this year (the anti-dredging rider is attached to the annual budget bill, which must be voted upon by the full legislature and then signed by the governor). I gather that there is at least a $12 billion shortfall within the existing budget that must be fought over and resolved. By resolved, I mean that the budget bill requires a 2/3’s majority vote to be passed (leaving us some opportunity to do something about this harmful rider).

Since the budget process will likely draw out, if we are not able to get this rider language removed from the budget bill, the problem is more likely to affect next season.

Still, just to play it safe, for those of you who are planning to dredge this year in California, I strongly suggest that you do not delay in sending in your permit application. Blank forms can be obtained through our office by calling (530) 493-2012. Here is a sample of how I personally fill out the permit application:


While the result is more likely to affect next season, action to get the rider language removed is going to need to happen over the next several weeks. So it would be very helpful if you guys would please spread the word around far and wide about this and let people know that we will need to gather as much participation as possible to overcome this latest move against us by our adversaries.

Please forward this link to the other industry forums, so we can all come together in a coordinated action plan?

Thank you!!




Bryan
Public Lands For the People
Blue Ribbon Coalition
Motherload Goldhounds
Friends of the Rubicon
Friends of El Dorado

[Geoggersboisp]

Maybe i cant add but i pulled this off of the link on post and i do believe there numbers don't match i would like to see exact number due to this inacurracy im going to submit a Public Record Act request monday. And hey why not charge the damn Kuruks since they seem to have alot of capital to throw around from my damn taxes.

Current Fee Structure. Annually, DFG processes about 300 permits per year for
Suction Dredge Gold Mining. Currently, the Department charges a fee of $50 for
permit, generating total revenues of about $150,000. Staff understands that it will cost
the Department about $1.26 million to conduct the EIR, administer and enforce this
program in 2008-09.

[maksutaSTAR]

It is suppowed to be 3000 but actually it is closer to 4000.

Jerry

[lt309]

I would like to know why this unfounded and inflamatory statement allowed in this document:
"Suction dredge mining poses significant risks to sensitive aquatic and riparian that provide habitat for many State and Federal listed endangered species".
The mandated EIR should be completed before any statements as to the effects of dredging on the habitat are made.

[maksutaSTAR]

Rivraton

I agree with you but we all know that extreme environmentalist thrive on supposition that the sky is falling.

The Assembly woman addresses Salmon endangerment and the moratorium is to include the whole state however there are a very small portion of the rivers in the state of California that even have Salmon in them.

This will certainly be a big fight to stop this but a must fight.

Jerry