EASTERN OREGON
MINING ASSOCIATION
APRIL 2017
Volume 331
EASTERN OREGON MINING ASSOCIATION MEETING
Meetings are held on the first Friday of the month. The next meeting will be Friday, APRIL 7, 2017 at the Baker City Hall. The building is located at 1st and Auburn Streets in Baker City. The Board meeting starts at 6:00 PM. The general meeting starts at 6:30 PM.
Everyone is welcome to attend these meetings. There is time for discussing mining and getting to know other miners. Lots of good discussions on looking forward to the next season and solving problems. And, every meeting, there is a drawing for a $50 silver medallion!
DON GONZALES BLM DISTRICT MANAGER UPDATE
Don Gonzales will be our guest speaker at the April 7th, 2017 EOMA meeting. Don will update the miners on activities happening on the BLM. You will be able to catch up on new direction that may be coming from the new Administration. Maybe the BLM has been instructed to look for regulations to be repealed? Bring your questions about BLM projects.
APRIL 7 AND APRIL 8 MSHA ANNUAL REFRESHER DATES-Jan Alexander
April 8 is almost full, so if you still need annual refresher training, please call me to reserve your seat at the Friday, April 7 class. The training will be held at the Sunridge Best Western. Ed Sinner of EOU is the instructor. The cost is $15 for EOMA members, and $20 for non-members. We will have EOMA applications available the day of the training. Call me at 541-446-3413.
IF YOU HAVEN’T RENEWED YOUR EOMA MEMBERSHIP THIS MAY BE YOUR LAST NEWSLETTER. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT!
Find the last page of this newsletter, fill it out and get it back to EOMA ASAP along with your membership fees. That way you will continue to be informed on what is going on with mining and the new Administration. Be thinking about what regulations you want to see repealed in the future. We are fighting hard to keep your right to explore and develop minerals.
FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT- RS2477 RIGHTS OF WAY
Congress passed the Act that established RS2477 rights of way in 1866. On BLM ground these are roads used by the public and established on the ground before the Federal Land Policy Management Act terminated the creation of new rights of way in 1976. On the National Forest there is a difference. The date that lands were reserved for the Forest is the date making new RS2477 rights of way were ended. For instance, the Blue Mountain Reserve date was 1905. Rights of way through the National Forest that were established before this date, are RS2477 rights of way. Baker County was formed before the National Forest was created, and there were a great many mines throughout the forest with RS 2477 rights of way. I was disappointed to learn that Forest Service personnel indicated they would not recognize the County’s RS2477 roads without a court battle. The Forest Service and National Park Service will see deep cuts under President Trump's proposed budget. It is my opinion that President Trump called the Forest Service budget reduction just right. Obviously, the Forest Service has too much money, if all they can think to spend it on is lawsuits instead of co-ordination with the County. Bill Harvey has requested support from the EOMA Executive Board and Board of Directors to support Baker County's assertion that RS2477 roads are county roads and will remain open to the public.
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
The quarterly Round Table Discussion took place on February 27, 2017. Present for the Roundtable were BLM, Forest Service, County and EOMA personnel. Also present was geologist Mark Ferns, formerly with DOGAMI.
BLM Geologist, Steve Flock, reported that the True Mining EA was going out for public comment in the next few weeks. Don J will be next. He also said BLM will be reclaiming abandoned mine sites that are a safety hazard. They will contact miners before starting this work.
Steve talked about the Sage Brush Focal Area mineral withdrawal EIS. Comments are due by March 31, 2017.
Ray Lovisone from the Forest Service handed out a chart he had put together showing which miners were mining, which had posted bond, which were not active, which still need to submit additional information, and which miners he had heard nothing from. This was excellent information. Some things on the chart were not accurate, but Ray was more than willing to correct the document. Finally, EOMA could see where various operations were in their attempts to get their Plans of Operation approved. EOMP has several operations where they need to contact the Forest Service. Miners who no longer are interested in mining should also contact the Forest Service. Ray's phone number is 541-523-1345.
There was a discussion about the tiny areas approved for mining in the Granite EIS. Bill Harvey stated his opinion that the whole claim should be surveyed by the specialists. This would be a more efficient use of their time, rather than coming back when the miner proposes to move his operation into another area of the claim. Chuck talked about mining districts. Mark Ferns talked about all the historic mapping available from DOGAMI.
HEARING ON SB838 LAWSUIT
The hearing on EOMA's lawsuit against SB838's moratorium on suction dredge mining and upland mining within 300 feet of ESH and bull trout waterways took place on March 15, 2017, at the Pendleton Federal Court. The judge, who professed to be knowledgeable of mining, at one point asked our attorney, Scott Horngren, how a suction dredge worked and if miners used them in the uplands. It is sad, people making laws and judgements about an industry they know nothing about. No decision was made. Scott will submit additional information on the case.
NEW FOREST PLAN REVISION TEAM LEADER-Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
The Forest Plan Revision Team is happy to announce that we have a new team leader, Victoria Anne. Victoria is returning to the Forest Service after working for the Bureau of Land Management as a NEPA Planning and Environmental Coordinator since 2011 in Nevada and Arizona. Her knowledge and experience base includes working with several interdisciplinary teams to develop strengthened NEPA projects that included planning for prescribed fires, mining, hydraulic fracturing, wild horse and burro “gathers” and fertility reduction studies, grazing permit renewals,
RARE EARTH THE NEXT GOLD RUSH? -Chuck Chase
The Northeastern part of Oregon is positioned for a minerals boom in the coming years that will equal the gold rush of the 1800’s. The rare earth elements (REEs) are found predominantly in intrusive rock. That’s molten rock that was deeply buried and never made it to the surface in the form of eruptive lava, like the basalts that cover much of Oregon. Some of the creeks and streams have quite large quantities of REEs contained in their non-magnetic black sands. Large deposits in Union County are found not only in the black sands of the placers, but also in the intrusive that are rich in REEs. In Malheur County, going south along the Owyhee River, there was extensive work done on exploration for REEs in the past, but these elements were found to be ejected and scattered by volcanic eruptions. In Baker County, REEs have been discovered in the Auburn and Camp Creek areas in quite large quantities. Both Union and Baker County deposits carry most, if not all, of the 17 different REEs. A few of these deposits are quite large and are exposed in large areas of 20 acres or more, before disappearing under soils and eroding rock debris.
Congress, in the last few years of the Obama Administration, tried to pass a Critical Minerals Bill that would have cut through the vast swamp of the permitting process to make the USA not dependent on China as a source of REEs China has been going all over the world and acquiring most of the REE producing mines, thus, cornering the world market. The REEs are so important in all aspects of electronics, for hybrid cars, wind turbines, aerospace, photovoltaic thin film, and military high tech. Our entire society is so intertwined with REEs, that we can’t do without a secure supply. With that being said, if Congress does pass a Critical Minerals Bill, wouldn’t it be great as a placer miner, to slide into mining REEs with your gold as a bi product, thus, bi-passing a ton of permitting?
Most of the REEs produced at a mine site are collected as an oxide of that metal, and are sent to a refiner to be converted to metal. The REE’ price indexes are listed in kilograms, one kilogram equals 2.20 pounds, or equals 1000 grams. Some of these rare earths, such as Scandium metal, were listed at around $18,000 a kilogram a few years ago. The scandium oxide was $7,200 a kilogram. When you add all of the REEs found in this part of Oregon together, you start to understand the enormity of the REE mineral potential just in Baker and Union counties.
ASSYING FOR REES-Chuck Chase
Most of my assay work has been done on working with water, where I first got interested in the REEs. While collecting ion’s and colloidal of gold, silver and pgm out of water, I found I also was collecting REEs in my water collection concentrate. Ken Anderson and I conducted exploration on REE deposits in Baker and surrounding counties, but we had only little success. A lot of teasers, but there are properties that really have the possibility of becoming large mining operations.
In the back of the newsletter in the For Sale Directory there is a listing for ALS Minerals in Vancouver B.C. Canada. You can email Katerina Paley for a quote both for gold, silver and pgm but also for REEs. The only drawback is, it is almost a month turnaround to get your assay returned, but on the good side they are cheaper and more reliable than most of the other assayers. When I first started using them, I sent them a split of the same material to see just how accurate they were Both were almost carbon copies of each other. Her email is KaterinaPaley@ALSGlobal.com.
APRIL 21-23 NEW MINER MSHA TRAINING-Jan Alexander
If there are miners who want New Miner MSHA training, this is a three day course, and if you plan to work at a mine you will need this training. The training will be held at the Sunridge Best Western. Ed Sinner of EOU is the instructor. Space is limited in this class, so give me a call at 541-446-3413 if you are interested. The cost is $20/day.
SB 3-Dave Hunnicutt and Rich Angstrom
Dave and Rich worked with Senator Boquist and other Republican and Democratic Senators to craft the eighth revision of SB3. The bill, which was "heavily negotiated" now repeals the moratorium, excludes upland miners, drops the tributaries, and we do not need DOGAMI permits. The moratorium on dredging in ESH waterways is dropped, and in its place is an outright prohibition on suction dredge mining in ESH waterways. The bill states that gravity and syphon dredges are acceptable, but I suppose that could change. There was even a ninth amendment which would have excluded miners dredging on Federal Mining claims from the dredging prohibition, but that amendment was quickly killed. The bill now moves to the House.
I asked Dave and Rich what the legislature would do to upland miners, now that we are not restricted by SB838 or SB3. Rich told me, "The bill has an uncertain future on the house side". Right now, there are no bills Dave and Rich know of that would affect upland miners. The next thing I think we will be facing will be new WPCF 600 permits, with new fees attached.
EOMA ELECTIONS…..2017-2018
Election results for March 3, 2017 are as follows:
Ken Alexander – President Board of Directors for 2017 and 2018
Chuck Chase - Executive Director Ron Anderson Alice Knapp
Ed Hardt - Vice President Wanda Ballard Pam Haney
Bobbie Danser - Treasurer Dr. Thom Seal Larry Chase
Norma Myers - Corresponding Secretary Tommy Partee David Graham
Carmelita Holland - Recording Secretary
Terry Drever Gee - Director of Governmental Affairs
Jan Alexander - Mineral Policy Director
Fred Zimmer - Sergeant-At-Arms
UNION MINING SUPPLY UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT-Jan Alexander
Dave Graham and his dad, Earl Graham, long time EOMA members, have purchased the Union Mining Supply from Bob Luth. Dave told me that he and Earl are carrying all types of mining supplies, from small but essential items such as gold pans, bottles, miners' moss and hoses, to small concentrating equipment. If there is something you need and they don't carry it, they will find it for you.
Dave and Earl are working out of their home, so call first to make sure someone is available to help you. The street address is 1736 N. 1st Street in Union. You can reach Dave at 541-786-0921 or Earl at 541-805-8206.
WPCF RENEWALS-Jan Alexander
For those of you who filled out all that paperwork to renew your settling pond permit, you may be waiting to hear something back from DEQ. You had a timeframe to provide DEQ information about your claim, so it would be reasonable to expect a permit or a letter or something back from DEQ. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen. One miner who called DEQ was told to go on the website, find the list of 06 WPCF permit holders and print off the page that refers to his permit. This DEQ person said to have the new permit number with you when you are mining, and if anyone asks to see your new permit, show them this paper. I got a copy of his paperwork for him which shows his permit was "admin extend". If anyone else needs theirs, give me a call and I will get it for you.
Also, be sure you keep a log account of every day you use your ponds. This is an important requirement under your WPCF permit, and DEQ can ask for it at any time.
NEW 2017 EOMA MEDALLIONS HAVE ARRIVED
With some negotiation we were still able to have little gold nuggets put in the pan. You will still be able to get a new medallion for the same $50 price that we have been charging. Minting charges and silver prices may require a price increase in the future so don’t wait.
WALLOWA-WHITMAN NATIONAL FOREST-MINING PLANS OF OPERATION
It is still taking years and years for the Forest Service to complete NEPA on mining projects. Small-scale exploration mining projects being delayed like this is unacceptable. Obviously the FS process is hopelessly broken. Time for a change. Bonded notices? BLM administration of all mining? Category Exclusions?
Years of waiting Yr. of SOPA PROJECT NAME NOI Start date Expected Decision Number of Plans* NEPA
2 2012 Granite Creek 2011 3/1/2013 30 EIS
4 2014 Granite Creek 1/1/2015
5 2016 ROD Decision
3 2012 Hallelujah #1 2009 12/1/2012 1 EA
7 2014 Hallelujah #1 7/1/2016
9 2016 Hallelujah #1 7/2018
2017 Dropped?
3 2012 Lower Powder 2009 11/1/2012 6 EA
7 2014 Lower Powder** 7/1/2016
8 2015 Powder Mining Est 2014 3/2017 EIS
10 2017 Powder Mining Est 2017 12/2018 31? EIS
4 2012 Salmon Creek 2009 1/1/2013 1 EA
7 2014 Salmon Creek** 7/1/2016
8 2015 Powder Mining Est 2014 3/2017 EIS
10 2017 Powder Mining Est 2017 12/2018 31? EIS
4 2012 Upper NF John Day 2009 5/1/2013 3 EA
7 2014 Upper NF John Day 7/1/2016
9 2017 Upper NF John Day 7/2018
2 2012 Upper Powder NOI 2011 6/1/2013 24 EIS
4 2014 Upper Powder** 6/1/2015
8 2017 Powder Mining Est1/2017 12/2018 31? EIS
EOMA ADVERTISING AND SALE LISTINGS
The advertising listings are only $1 per month to get your ad listed below. Send your ad to: EOMA, Box 932, Baker City, OR 97814 or give us a call.
OREGON MINING ASSOCIATION
The Oregon Mining Association is a non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting mining and the mineral industry in Oregon. Supported by donations. Please send what you can to save mining in Oregon.
Oregon Mining Association, P.O. Box 23213, Tigard, OR 97281
They have both a website and facebook page. http://oregonmining.org/
1/2 POUND OF GOLD DRAWING JUNE 2, 2017
Besides the drawing for the 1/2 pound of gold on June 2, 2017, there will also be drawings for all kinds of mining equipment. The proceeds from ticket sales will go to help pay legal fees for several law suits which are critical to keeping Oregon miners mining. You do not need to be present to win! More information can be found at:
http://www.waldominingdistrict.org/win-half-pound-of-gold/
CRAWLER FOR SALE (4)
Rebuilt John Deere 420 crawler $6,500. Contact Bill Johnson at 541-932-4582
RARE EARTH ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS
Email Katerina Paley at katerinapaley@ALSGlobal. We will work with miners, and get you an analytical elemental determination of your concentrates.
BIG HORSE CUSTOMS-MSHA CERTIFIED
Big Horse Customs has experienced heavy equipment mechanics, a mobile service truck and we can do your welding, fabrication and repairs. Call Sam at 541-519-5751 or 541-519-8196.
SUBSCRIBE TO MINING JOURNAL FOR UP TO DATE NEWS
ICMJ’s Prospecting and Mining Journal is your monthly source for news, legislation, how-to articles and more. A full year (12 issues) is still only $27.95; or get a print and online subscription for just $31.95 and get access to our last 16 years of articles online too. Published monthly since 1931. Visit us at www.icmj.com or give us a call at (831) 479-1500-get your subscription started!
CARETAKER POSITION AVAILABLE
Wanted: Full time caretaker for remote property about 20 miles from John Day, Oregon. Primitive, well insulated house, wood heat only, good water from spring. Off the grid, power from gas generator if needed. ¼ mile level driveway off county maintained road. Must have own chain saw, 4 x 4 vehicle with chains, cut own firewood, and help with chores. Inquire by e-mail (tseal@unr.edu) or by mail to Caretaker, PO Box 8353, Spring Creek, NV 89815.
|
