EASTERN OREGON
MINING ASSOCIATION
FEBRUARY 2018
Volume 341
EASTERN OREGON MINING ASSOCIATION MEETING
Meetings are held on the first Friday of the month. The next meeting will be Friday, FEBRUARY 2, 2018 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. As usual there will be a drawing for a $50 silver medallion at the meeting!
YOUR MEMBERSHIP DUES WERE DUE JANUARY 1ST
If you can’t pay in person, please send your $35 dues ($40 for a couple) to the EOMA, PO Box 932, Baker City OR 97814. You should also be able to pay with a credit card or pay pal on our website. www.h2oaccess.com If you want a $40 membership, just donate $5 along with your $35 membership payment and we will get you credited. We are in the process of updating the website. If you have problems or suggestions about how to make the website work better for you, contact Ken Alexander at 541-446-3391, or alxk@ortelco.net .
SEND YOUR NEWSLETTER ITEMS
If you have information or interesting articles about mining items to share in the newsletter send them to Ken Alexander, Chuck Chase CHASE3285@msn.com or Jan Alexander alx@ortelco.net . Be sure to indicate the source of information you send.
EOMA ELECTIONS ARE COMING UP MARCH 2, 2018
EOMA Executive Committee members serve one-year terms. Board of Directors members serve two-year terms, with half the Board members running for election alternate years. You must be a paid-up member to vote. A ballot is included in this newsletter for those who are unable to attend the March meeting. Be sure your ballot is returned to EOMA, PO Box 932, Baker City OR 97814 before the March 2nd meeting.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Interior Secretary Zinke has announced substantial changes in U.S. energy policy and public lands management, along with shrinking the boundaries of two national monuments in Utah. Armed with presidential executive orders, departmental reports and conservative principles and values, he’s undertaken a major shift in his department’s operating program.
Zinke eliminated climate science from programs, to better manage the department’s 500-million-acre domain. He overturned a ban on coal mining on public lands and limited the reach of environmental safeguards for oil and gas leasing and development. This month he opened nearly all of the outer continental shelf to oil exploration.
Zinke is well on the way to eliminating duplicative regulations and restoring multiple use of public lands. He listens to grass roots organizations and people who use the public lands. Ensuring multiple use of public lands is EOMA’s #1 priority, and it appears to be a priority for Zinke also. EOMA’s #9 priority is to oppose the unnecessary regulation of mining and the mineral industries, and that is exactly what Zinke is trying to accomplish. We support Ryan Zinke in all he is doing for the mining industry.
EOMA OBJECTIVES
Every member of EOMA should know what our organization stands for. The following are organization’s objectives. They actually are not ranked by priority-all of them are important.
Section 1: To promote the concept of multiple uses of all public domain lands.
Section 2: To oppose any further wilderness additions or other types of land withdrawal that denies multiple use of the public domain.
Section 3: To promote the return to a multiple use concept of all public domain lands that have been designated “wilderness”, “Rare-2” or ‘‘roadless’’ area since 1975.
Section 4: To uphold the 1872 Mining Law as amended in its entirety
Section 5: To oppose any and all persons and organizations that advocates the withdrawal of any public domain from economically productive purposes.
Section 6: To promote the need for mineral resources development.
Section 7: To promote the concept of natural resources development on the public domain, while maintaining a sound environment.
Section 8: To develop a voice in the decision making levels of government as pertains to land use policy.
Section 9: To oppose the unnecessary regulation of mining and the mineral industries.
Section 10: To promote the free enterprise system.
Section 11: To promote the development of markets for locally produced mineral commodities.
Section 12: To promote the concept of production of all mineral commodities.
Section 13: To promote public understanding and acceptance of the mining industry as essential to a high standard of living and quality of life.
BLUE MOUNTAIN FOREST PLAN REVISION-Jan Alexander
Sections 1, Section 2, Section 3, Section 5, Section 7, and Section 8 all pertain to our opposition to further restrictions on access and use of the National Forests. EOMA, Baker County and our members’ comments/objections to the new Forest Plan, the Blue Mountain Revision, are essential for keeping the Forest Service in check. This Forest Plan proposes additional wilderness areas, limiting logging and grazing opportunities, prohibiting access to huge tracks of land, making the Forest closed to all vehicular access unless a road is specifically designated to be open.
We will have a chance to view this document in the near future and let the Forest know our objections to any and all portions of the revised plan that will harm miners and other forest users.
If you commented on the Plan in 2014, dust off your letters, because many of our suggestions were not taken seriously by the Forest Service. I have copies of letters from many of the miners and from EOMA. I can assist anyone who wants me to help them craft an objection letter.
MSHA NEW MINER TRAINING MARCH 8th, 9th, and 11th, 2018
If you have not had MSHA training before, here is your opportunity to get this training at $15 per classroom day. The instructor for this course is Ed Sinner. The training will take place at Baker Technical Institute, 2500 E Street. Come in on 9th and G street. Class starts at 8:00AM. This is good safety training, and if you want to work at a mine, this certification is required.
Classes must not exceed 30 miners, so reserve a space by calling Jan Alexander at 541-446-3413.
MSHA ANNUAL REFRESHER SATURDAY, MARCH 10th, 2018
If you are current on training, the 8 hour annual refresher will be March 10, 2018. The cost of this training is $15. The instructor for this course is Ed Sinner. The training will take place at Baker Technical Institute, 2500 E Street. Come in on 9th and G street. Class starts at 8:00AM. Classes must not exceed 30 miners, so reserve a space by calling Jan Alexander at 541-446-3413.
WANT TO FIND OUT HOW YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS VOTED?
An interesting and useful tool to find out exactly who voted for what legislation can be found on the internet site of https://www.congress.gov/roll-call-votes Unfortunately, many times roll call votes aren’t taken, especially regarding sensitive topics that the politicians don’t want you to know how they would vote.
VISIT EOMA'S FACEBOOK PAGES
Eastern Oregon Mining Association now has a Facebook page. For those of you who use Facebook, check it out. For those of you who don't, it may be time to learn!
Sign in, and come learn, add your suggestions, and get to know other miners.
https://www.facebook.com/easternoregonminingassociation/
INTERIOR SECRETARY ZINKE WILL STREAMLINE HIS DEPARTMENT -Washington Post, January 10, 2018
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke launched an unprecedented effort Wednesday to undertake the largest reorganization in the department’s 168-year history, moving to shift tens of thousands of workers to new locations and change the way the federal government manages more than 500 million acres of land and water across the country.
The proposal would divide the United States into 13 regions and centralize authority for different parts of Interior within those boundaries. The regions would be defined by watersheds and geographic basins, rather than individual states and the current boundaries that now guide Interior’s operations. This new structure would be accompanied by a dramatic shift in location of the headquarters of major bureaus within Interior, such as the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation.
As part of the reorganization, Zinke brought 150 Senior Executive Service staffers to Washington this week to explain his proposal, get their input and split them into working groups that discussed ways to streamline the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service and other key agencies. Participants identified alternative cities outside Washington, Denver and Albuquerque where thousands of employees could live with suitable schools and homes they can afford. The department has 70,000 employees.
In a Wednesday interview with The Washington Post, Zinke said reorganization is his largest priority, in addition to shoring up the National Park Service’s crumbling infrastructure, with its $12 billion shortfall for maintenance of buildings, roads, bridges and other projects.
“If you look at the way we’re presently organized, all the bureaus under Interior have different regions . . . and are not aligned geographically,” Zinke said. For example, a single stream with trout and salmon can fall under multiple agencies, one for each fish, another for a dam downstream and yet another to manage the water, and each generates reports that often conflict.
At a budget hearing in June, Interior Secretary Zinke defended a $1.6 billion proposed budget cut at Interior, saying he planned to shave 4,000 positions from the workforce. In September, he said a third of Interior’s staff was “not loyal to the flag,” meaning the Trump administration.
Interior is poised to move employees because 16 percent of its workforce is currently at retirement age, Zinke said. About 40 percent will be at retirement age in five years, he said. “We don’t have to RIF [reduction in force] anyone” through layoffs and other means, he said. As people retire, positions can be shifted from Denver or Washington “to a position closer to the field,” Zinke said.
OREGON MINING ASSOCIATION
The Oregon Mining Association is a non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting mining and the mineral industry in Oregon. The corporation is supported by donations. Please send what you can to save mining in Oregon to Oregon Mining Association, P.O. Box 23213, Tigard, OR 97281-They have both a website and facebook page. http://oregonmining.org/
EOMA SILVER MEDALLIONS UPDATE
Interesting things are happening. The Northwest Territorial Mint, where we have been purchasing silver medallions, is bankrupt and closed. They did manage to ship our 2018 medallions before the trustee motioned the court (decision pending) that they be closed and sell all their inventory.
EOMA owns the dies that the medallions are made with, and we will attempt to get these dies removed from the auction sale and sent to the EOMA.
The medallions that were shipped do not have a gold nugget in the pan, and we have no way to make the mint honor their obligation. Thus, 2018 medallions will be sold without the nuggets.
These are currently selling for $50.00 apiece plus $5.00 shipping, handling, and insurance. (Prices are subject to change). You can order yours from the EOMA website, and pay by pay-pal. Or, you can send $50 plus $5.00 shipping and handling to EOMA, Medallions, PO Box 932, Baker City, OR 97814, or call 541-523-3285. Also, we will have them for you to buy at our EOMA meetings.
ABOUT MINING AND MINERALS- FROM THE BLM WEBSITE
https://www.blm.gov/programs/energy-and-minerals/mining-and-minerals/about
The Mining Law, as amended, opened the public lands of the United States to mineral acquisition by the location and maintenance of mining claims. Mineral deposits subject to acquisition in this manner are generally referred to as "locatable minerals." Locatable minerals include both metallic minerals (gold, silver, lead, copper, zinc, nickel, etc.) and nonmetallic minerals (fluorspar, mica, certain limestones and gypsum, tantalum, heavy minerals in placer form, and gemstones). It is very difficult to prepare a complete list of locatable minerals because the history of the law has resulted in a definition of minerals that includes economics.
Minerals normally locatable on lands acquired (purchased or received) under the Acquired Lands Act of 1947 by the United States or found on Indian reservations are subject to lease only (43 CFR Group 3500).
Mineral development is an important land use within the BLM's multiple-use mandate. In communities across the country, mining provides jobs, economic activity and important commodities that are essential to maintain a high quality of life.
The minerals on Federal lands are divided into three categories, each subject to different laws and regulations.
1. Locatable, which are subject to the Mining Law of 1872, as amended, include gold, silver, copper and other hard rock minerals.
2. Leasable minerals, such as coal and a host of other commodities, are subject to various Mineral Leasing Acts.
3. Saleable minerals, such as sand and gravel, that are essential to construction and roadbuilding, are subject to the Materials Act of 1947, as amended.
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EOMA ADVERTISING AND SALE LISTINGS
OPPORTUNITY (2)
Looking for someone mechanically inclined to learn and run a hard rock gold mill. One may be available for scrap price. Time to pass on the technology and know-how. Need a younger working partner and gold ore to run. Dr. Thom: tseal@unr.edu
FOR SALE (2)
Ed Hardt is selling his placer mining equipment. Ed's trommel is 20 feet long, 5 feet in diameter, gear driven, positive drive. It will process up to 100 yards a day, will not slip or spin out. Also one three inch pump, a two inch pump, two and three inch flat hose, and a generator. Call 541-377-9209 or email Ed at twohardts@hotmail.com. Price for all is $15,000.
GOLD CLAIMS FOR SALE (3)
5 unpatented placer claims (160 acres) located on Elk Creek near Baker City.
Sale includes all equipment (2 excavators, dump truck, trommel, pumps, generators, etc).
Site was featured on the cover of ICMJ’s Prospecting and Mining Journal (August 2014).
Approved Plan of Operation with US Forest Service in place and can be transferred (expires 2021)
For price, pictures and details, call Don Enright, 509-860-1145 or email: donaldenright25@gmail.com
LUCKY AND SIMPSON CLAIMS FOR SALE (3)
4 unpatented placer claims (Simpson is 80 acres, Lucky claims total 60 acres) located in the Whitney Mining District on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. These claims have approved Plans of Operation and I have posted the bonds for mining. Access roads are good, but the claims are somewhat remote. If you are interested, call Dave Smith at 810-523-7313.
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.
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