Miner's News08/06/2009
Governor Schwarzenegger Signs SB 670 to Temporarily Halt Suction Dredging in California
August 6, 2009
Governor Schwarzenegger signed SB 670 today, which temporarily halts suction dredging in California until a new Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is completed. This was despite a request from his staff for a report on the economic harm this bill will cause.
The governor's office specifically requested a report to substantiate claims made by miners that the bill would cause in excess of $60 million harm to the economy of California. I was a participant in this study, and the results presented to the governor's staff were rock solid. The proven contribution of suction dredgers to the economy of California amounted to $65.47 million. When additional estimated contributions were included for items such as commercial retail rents, payroll taxes and property taxes, the economic harm to California was approaching $100 million. Despite this evidence, Governor Schwarzenegger still signed SB 670.
What's Next
Public Lands for the People (PLP) had already begun preparations for a lawsuit against the State. The lawsuit will be filed shortly to restore the rights of suction dredge miners. Mining is a right that has been argued in court on many occasions, and there is plenty of precedence addressing this topic.
What You Need To Do Right Now
Public Lands for the People is in need of funds. They already have several lawsuits in progress against state and federal agencies, and would like to file a lawsuit against the State of California in federal court to restore the rights of suction dredge miners as soon as possible.
PLP is a non-profit organization and will continue to fight to restore the rights of suction dredgers, but they can only accomplish this task with your support. You can make a contribution by clicking on the Donate link on their website at www.plp2.org or by mail at:
PLP
c/o Barrett Wetherby
3700 Santa Carlotta
La Crescenta, CA 91214
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What about "Sucker tubes"? After all, it's still a suction process.
( I can build a really big one. LOL )
I know, you aren't discharging material into the stream, but how picky is this, uh...moritorium going to be?
i will re-read the state regs later today. but i think they recently(last 5 years) reworded the definition, from MOTORISED to MECHANISED.that covers gravity dredges.anything with a venturi, nozzle, jet, etc. is a suction dredge. a hand operated crevice sucker wouldnt qualify as a suction dredge.unless you had an engine on it maybe.
"This bill would designate the issuance of permits to operate vacuum or suction dredge equipment to be a project under CEQA, and would s*uspend the issuance of permits, and mining pursuant to a permit*, until the department has completed an environmental impact report for the project as ordered by the court in a specified court action. The bill would prohibit the use of any vacuum or suction dredge equipment in any river, stream, or lake, for instream mining purposes, until the director of the department certifies to the Secretary of State that (1) the department has completed the environmental review of its existing vacuum or suction dredge equipment regulations as ordered by the court, (2) the department has transmitted for filing with the Secretary of State a certified copy of new regulations, as necessary, and (3) the new regulations are operative.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute
Man the suxs for yall out west,you would figure the way the econ is ,the govnor would have spent more time and reading about what dredging does for the eco system, just shows you leave up to the people in office and we all get the shaft.
Well, wait til good old American ingenuity kicks in, like someone makes mini-underwater bucket dredges or something where there are no clog ups. No suction dredging, just have to find better ways to get the material into the sluice or trommel. Besides suction dredges clog up too much. Wouldn't it really make em have a fit if they came down to the stream and found a bunch of little bucket dredges. You'd still have to dive to clean the bedrock. But I sure enjoyed dredging, however I haven't dredged in California in years. I just feel for all the people who are going to be hurt by this.
the gov can steal from the american people, but we cant steal from them or we go to jail, hmmm figures only in america can a concerned american vet get screwed again.
Replies
( I can build a really big one. LOL )
I know, you aren't discharging material into the stream, but how picky is this, uh...moritorium going to be?
Simple Simon and I will become dear friends and constant companions.
From the text of SB 670:
"This bill would designate the issuance of permits to operate vacuum or suction dredge equipment to be a project under CEQA, and would s*uspend the issuance of permits, and mining pursuant to a permit*, until the department has completed an environmental impact report for the project as ordered by the court in a specified court action. The bill would prohibit the use of any vacuum or suction dredge equipment in any river, stream, or lake, for instream mining purposes, until the director of the department certifies to the Secretary of State that (1) the department has completed the environmental review of its existing vacuum or suction dredge equipment regulations as ordered by the court, (2) the department has transmitted for filing with the Secretary of State a certified copy of new regulations, as necessary, and (3) the new regulations are operative.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute
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