EASTERN OREGON
MINING ASSOCIATION
JULY 2017
Volume 334
EASTERN OREGON MINING ASSOCIATION MEETING
Meetings are held on the first Friday of the month. The next meeting will be Friday, JULY 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. The mining season is underway and some people are mining. There should be a story or two. As usual there will be a drawing for a $50 silver medallion at the meeting!
MINERS JUBILEE JULY 14, 15, 16 2017-Chuck Chase
Anyone who wants to set up a mining booth on Grove Street along-side ours may do so at no cost. The EOMA will pick up the insurance for all mining venders. We will set up booths at 1:00PM on Thursday, when the city closes Grove Street (between the park and the museum). Give Chuck a call to reserve your space at 541-523-3285. We miners need to keep a large public presence and promote our industry.
SILENT AUCTION ITEMS NEEDED FOR MINERS JUBILEE
We have received some great donations of mining equipment-dredges, pumps a highbanker, hoses and more for the silent auction. But, we always need more, as this is our major fund raising event for the year. Please go through your shop, garage or back yard and see if you can find some items to donate for our silent auction. Help us make this year's Jubilee the best ever!
You can drop off items at Chuck Chase's house, 740 Valley Avenue, here in Baker City. Chuck's phone number is 541-523-3285.
FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT-
It's not like the old days, when you never worried about theft or vandalism on your claim. If another miner borrowed something when you weren't there, he left a note and returned or replaced the borrowed item. Today, it’s not that simple. Miners must deal with the problem of illegal scrappers, and people who intentionally vandalize, or steal equipment. BLM and Forest Service employees don't handle these situations, and often the County Sherriff can't be of much assistance.
Because of all this, EOMA has a standing offer to pay $1,000 Reward "for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons committing theft, arson, or vandalism on a mining site". We have laminated Reward Posters available for $5 and also have laminated Warning Posters which state, "under ORS517.120-135, If you destroy or remove signs, equipment or minerals from this valid mining claim, it is considered mineral trespass and you will be subject to fines or imprisonment. If you restrict, interfere or harass the lawful operation or operator of this valid mining claim you will be subject to fines and imprisonment". It makes good sense to post both these signs at active mining areas.
SOLAR ECLIPSE AND 40,000 VISITORS-Jan Alexander
If the newspapers reports are correct, BLM and Forest lands in Baker, Grant and Malheur Counties will be inundated with visitors during the weeks before and after the August 21, 2017 solar eclipse. Motels are full, so many of these people will be camping on Federal lands. The Department of Interior's website states, "On Monday August 21, 2017, millions of people across the U.S. will get to see one of nature's most awe-inspiring sights-a total solar eclipse. With wide open spaces and low light pollution, public lands are the perfect place for viewing this rare event".
Miners are going to have to stay on top of this. An unattended mining camp may attract a lot of tourists (they never seem to want to camp by themselves when out in the "wilderness"). Big tourist camps may have no sanitation facilities, garbage may be left on site, ruts made in roads, vegetation damaged-all things the miner may get blamed for. Posting Warning Signs that EOMA has for sale, will let the public know that this is an active mining claim. Miners have the right to protect their equipment and minerals, and they have the right to keep the visiting public away from active mining areas, as this could turn into a huge safety concern. Tourists are welcome to camp on portions of your claims where you are not actively working, but they cannot camp or recreate in your active mining area. Remember, not even the government can "materially interfere" with your mining operation.
INTERIOR SECRETARY RYAN ZINKE DEMOLISHES BLM EXISTING POWER STRUCTURE-ICMJ
Zinke has reassigned 50 general office equivalents. By separating these long serving SES officials from the organizations they have run, sometimes for decades, means they will be less resistant to reorganization. Many will resign rather than accept reassignment. By making this move before he has his own appointees in place, Zinke is signaling to the agency and to Senate Democrats that he will not be deterred by intransigence.
BOY SCOUT KID’S PANNING-Chuck Chase
A large Boy Scout outing was held in the camp ground at Pilcher Creek. The Eastern Oregon Miners and Prospectors hosted the panning event. The EOMA furnished the panning tubs and the gold and the EOMP furnished the people to help the kids learn to pan gold. I visited with Dan Ashton, who put the event together for the Boy Scouts. He was ecstatic and raved about how the kids had to be rotated to get all of the kids through. Dan asked me if we could do it again next year, since it was such a success this year.
Curtis Kinder, Vice President for EOMP helped put together the panning event and he laughed and said that the kids just swarmed them, and lines were long. He apologized for the kids gleaning out most of the gold, except for a stray flake, and of course a little flour gold that was left. Curtis said he guessed that they ran over 90 kids through the panning tubs. I told him what Dan Ashton had said about doing the Scout panning event again next year because it was such a success, and he said that the EOMP would be willing to help host the panning event again next year if EOMA could help furnish the panning tubs and of course salt the tubs with gold!
EOMA SILVER MEDALLIONS
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. We will have them for sale at our booth at Miners Jubilee.
Natural Resources and Environment-Excerpt from USDA press release June 16, 2017
Dan Jiron will fill the role of Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment. With more than 29 years of public service and natural resources management, Jiron was appointed Associate Chief of the Forest Service in July 2016.
Prior to this appointment, Jiron served in many leadership positions, including Regional Forester of the Rocky Mountain Region; Deputy Regional Forester in the Pacific Southwest Region; Forest Supervisor of the Santa Fe National Forest; District Ranger on the Salt Lake Ranger District of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest; District Ranger on the South Park Ranger District of the Pike and San Isabel National Forest, Comanche, and Cimarron National Grasslands; Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs of the Intermountain Region, National Press Officer in Washington, D.C.; and aide to United States Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado. Jiron earned a bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and a Master’s degree from Regis University of Denver.
Under the reorganization plan, the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment will retain supervision of the U.S. Forest Service.
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE NEIL GORSUCH MAKES CHANGES TO THE COURT
Neil Gorsuch hasn't been a Supreme Court Justice for a full month now, and already he is setting fires everywhere. Today the young justice reignited the fire of liberty and broke 40 years of precedent when he REFUSED to join the SCOTUS (the Supreme Court of the United States) 'cert pool'.
So how big is this cert pool? Well, according to the Daily Caller, The cert pool was established in 1973 during the early days of the Burger Court, in order to efficiently review the near 8,000 petitions received each term. In practice, the petitions are apportioned among the Court's law clerks, who then circulate a memo to the justices recommending a grant or denial.
The obvious problem here is that this gives the power in these 8000 cases to the law clerks instead of the Justices. It also, in theory, allows 3rd parties to unfairly influence a case through the clerks. That is NOT how the Supreme Court was designed to operate. So, to sum it up for y'all, Neil Gorsuch just managed to set his foot down in the Supreme Court and say it is NOT okay to pass off judgments to the discretion of legal clerks.
USA PROPOSES TO FUND STRATEGIC METALS PRODUCTION-John Moody, Executive Vice President Fox News
After years of passively relying on China to supply our military with crucial materials for the production of high-tech weapons systems, the United States is taking some important steps toward restoring its ability to harvest its own so-called rare earths.
Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-California, introduced a bill this week that would allocate 1 percent of the Pentagon's Major Defense Acquisition Programs overhead budget and transfer that money to a Strategic Metals Investment Fund. The proceeds, as much as $50 million a year, would be used to aid prospective producers of critical metals that are needed to make the new F-35 fighter jet, rocket-guided missiles, catapults that loft planes off aircraft carrier, GPS systems and other crucial weapons systems.
KAREN BUDD-FALEN UNDER CONSIDERATION AS DIRECTOR OF BLM-ICMJ
Karen Budd-Falen is under consideration as director of the Bureau of Land Management in the Trump Administration. Budd-Falen has fiercely defended property rights as an attorney and has sued government agents personally for violating the rights of ranchers, miners and other public land users. She served as Special Assistant in the Department of Interior under the Reagan administration, assisting with the Minerals Management Service, Office of Surface Mining and in oversight of the Bureau of Land Management. She would be a refreshing change at BLM.
Budd-Falen is a practicing attorney in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and worked with Mountain States Legal Foundation prior to starting her own law firm with her husband.
GREG WALDEN ON PROPOSED REPEAL OF WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) released the following statement on the proposal to repeal the Waters of the United States rule:
"Today’s action is another welcome step towards repealing the troublesome WOTUS rule. I’ve heard from farmers, ranchers, and property owners in rural Oregon about the impact the overreaching WOTUS rule would have on their lives, ignoring Congressional intent and expanding EPA’s jurisdiction far beyond navigable waterways. The rule’s potential to affect everything from stock ponds to irrigation ditches created uncertainty and threatened jobs and livelihoods across the West. Today is a victory for rural communities in Oregon and I look forward to the administration crafting a rule that ensures clean water, without overreaching its authority.”
IFPL RAISED TO LEVEL II -Keven Weldon, BLM Geolgist Prineville
Under the IFPL level II (Partial Hootowl), the following are only allowed between 8pm, (20:00hrs) and 1pm, (13:00hrs):
Power Saws, except at loading sites. So any saw work in the brush. Common sense should dictate that care be used with gas weed eaters, mowers, gas post hole diggers and so on.
Blasting
Cable Yarding
Welding or cutting of metal
*loading, hauling, and use of mechanized equipment (such as loaders, haul trucks, and trommels) are not subject to the IFPL Level II restrictions.* IFPL Level I is already in effect, so a fire watch/security is already required.
This year is an abundant grass year, and vegetation is cured or nearly so. The dead, woody fuels are dried and available to burn, so the fire season is upon us. Therefore, those things that historically start fires, for example driving off road, power tool use or equipment maintenance need to be undertaken with caution. If needed, waivers to the IFPL can be obtained from BLM.
VISIT EOMA'S AND OMA FACEBOOK PAGES
Eastern Oregon Mining Association now has a Facebook page. For those of you who use Facebook, check it out. There is a step by step photo display of a couple of miners who are building trommels. Sign in, and come learn, add your suggestions, and get to know other miners.
https://www.facebook.com/easternoregonminingassociation/
There is also a Facebook page for Oregon Mining Association. Lots of useful information can be found on these sites. It is not hard to become a user of Facebook once you get used to the idea that Facebook “friends” can have a little different meaning than what you may have thought of as “friends” as you were growing up. Facebook certainly gives you the opportunity to share info not found in the mainstream media. https://www.facebook.com/OregonMiningAssociation/
EOMA ADVERTISING AND SALE LISTINGS
(4)FOR SALE COMPLETE ASSEMBLY CONSISTING OF: M35A2 multi-fuel Army truck with mounted 10" x 16" reconditioned Austin-Western jaw crusher feeding new classifying vibratory discharge feeder driven by new 50 HP Kohler gas driver. Used Kamflex conveyor; new Stuttenroth 2 tph impact mill driven by new 18 HP clutched Honda gas driver feeding new classifying vibratory varispeed discharge feeder, all with approx. 12 hrs. use. Truck includes ATF approved 17"H x 24"W x 48'L powder magazine, 1/2" steel, plywood lined, 800 lb. w/ dolly $41,000. Also, Shaw portable core drill, several size diamond bits and extensions with backpack for carrying. Very good condition. $150 OBO. Very old sample splitters with pans (2 sizes) and sample grizzly. $50 OBO. Contact Alan Rathmacher, 208-521-3649 alanrathmacher@gmail.com
UNION MINING SUPPLY-BUY LOCAL AND SAVE
Contact Dave or Earl Graham for all your mining supplies. If there is something you need and they don't carry it, they will find it for you. Call Dave at 541-786-0921 or Earl at 541-805-8206.
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 to Oregon Mining Association, P.O. Box 23213, Tigard, OR 97281-They have both a website and facebook page. http://oregonmining.org/
FOR SALE (5)
2009 10 foot Cargo Trailer with drop tail gate. Been pulled only 5 miles, $3,000. A 2004 350 Bruin Yamaha quad with about 200 miles on it, $3,500 or both for $6,000. Call 541-215-2774 or 541-377-9209.
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.com We will work with miners, and get you an analytical elemental determination of your concentrates.
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 call at (831) 479-1500 to get your subscription started today.
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.
|
