EASTERN OREGON
MINING ASSOCIATION
JULY 2018
Volume 346
EASTERN OREGON MINING ASSOCIATION MEETING
Meetings are held on the first Friday of the month. The next meeting will be Friday, JULY 6th, 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!
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE-
It looks like road closures began in earnest on the National Forests in the late 1980s. The Wallowa-Whitman, Malheur and Umatilla National Forests had an Area Mining Geologist, Dan Avery, who oversaw the minerals programs on all three forests. Dan understood the statutory right of access that miners have. The following includes excerpts from a letter he wrote concerning road closures.
“Apparently many of the miners feel road closure is another attempt to restrict their rights under the 1872 Mining Law. In closing roads, the Forest must recognize the legitimate needs of miners for access. This right of access extends to claimants and prospectors within any portion of the National Forest open to mineral entry. Reasonable access may include vehicle access over roads which would otherwise be closed, even for claimants who propose and work for short periods of time. If a road already exists to the area to be accessed by a claimant, it would be unreasonable to deny roaded access unless the area is a short distance from an open road, no large or heavy equipment is needed, and the physical condition of the claimant is such that the added walking distance would pose no undue hardship.
The real objectives of road closures are to decrease public pressure on the Forest and to reduce road maintenance expenses. I believe the Forest can accomplish these goals while still allowing reasonable access to the miners. Desired road densities may not be met in mineralized areas; however, this objective cannot be considered an end in itself. Reasonable mining access is a statutory right and must be considered before any road closures are initiated”.
This Three Forest Geologist position is currently not filled, and hasn’t been for many years. District Rangers get no direction on how to legally handle their minerals programs, and it shows.
MINERS JUBILEE JULY 20-22, 2018--Jan Alexander
It will be here before you know it! When you are spring cleaning, go through your shop/garage and look for unused items such as tools, mining equipment etc. that you are willing to donate to the silent auction. These can be left off at Chuck Chase’s house at 740 Valley Street, in Baker City.
If anyone is willing to e-mail me pictures of their mining operations, I will print them off and add them to our display at the Jubilee. I also am getting pictures together of the Eureka Mining Operation on Cracker Creek. This company hires locally, has put on several MSHA classes in coordination with Baker Technical Institute, and has done some exciting and innovative things in their reclamation program. Also, my Burnt River 4-H Geology club will have a table with some of their 4-H fair projects, and the club members will help kids learn to pan.
Set-up will be on Thursday, July 19th at 1:00PM when the city closes the street in front of the museum. Please come give us a hand if you can.
BLUE MOUNTAIN FOREST PLAN TO BE RELEASED-FAFA
With the Blue Mountains Forest Plan Revision planned for release by Friday June 29th now would be a good time for you, your family and friends that are interested in filing objections on the Blue Mountains Forest Plan Revision to request your hard copy of the document for your review. The Forest Service is required to meet the needs of those impacted by the plan.
You will only have 60 days to file your objections, so time is of the essence. To help the US Forest Service meet the need of the public for review of the document, please call one of the local Supervisors offices below and request a copy of the document, so that they will be adequately prepared to meet the needs of local residents.
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest - 541-523-1201
Malheur National Forest - 541-575-3000
Umatilla National Forest - 541-278-3716
We would appreciate each of you making the request so that you can make informed decisions and file meaningful objections to the document if needed.
ACCESS TO PUBLIC LANDS:THE EFFECTS OF FOREST SERVICE ROAD CLOSURES-Subcommittee on the Interior, Energy and Environment
Baker County Commission Chair Bill Harvey gave testimony in front of the subcommittee in Washington D.C. on June 26, 2018. The purpose of the hearing was to examine how Forest Service policies affect access to public lands, as well as the impacts of road closures on nearby communities.
The Forest Service manages nearly 200 million acres of land across the United states, most of which is located in the West. Congress directed the Forest Service to manage the land it administers for multiple use, including “recreation, livestock grazing, and wildlife and fish habitat.” Unfortunately, the Forest Service has closed roads and restricted access to public lands that should be open to the public. The trend towards road closures and restricting access to Forest Service lands impacts local governments, small-town economies, and the way of life for many Americans who live near Forest Service land. Bill’s testimony can be found at https://oversight.house.gov/hearing/access-to-public-lands-the-effects-of-forest-service-road-closures/#.WzTzIYv4SVw.facebook
WPCF PERMITS
It is not legal in Oregon to process placer gravels with water without a WPCF permit, but as most f you know, miners can’t get a new permit. Why? Because Governor Kate Brown has refused to fund the permit writer position at DEQ, so a permit could be available. Just another underhanded way of trying to stop mining in Oregon.
Luckily, miners selling claims have transferred their permits along with the sale, some miners have stepped up to the plate and transferred extra permits. Other miners have offered to work with miners without permits so the process site is covered.
Knute Buehler is the Republican nominee running for Governor in Oregon. We need a definite change from Kate Brown. Do all you can to support Knute Buehler.
HOW YOU CAN HELP OTHER MINERS-Jan Alexander
If you have two WPCF permits for the same site, or have a permit but are no longer mining, please consider transferring your permit to another miner. Call Jan at 541-446-3413 and she can help miners needing permits and will gladly help transfer extra permits to those in need.
CONTINUING CONGRESSIONAL CONFIRMATION DELAYS – American Land Rights Association
American Land Rights is an organization that acts as the watch dog for land use. This organization does not have memberships, and runs on contributions, which are used to fight injustices and protect your rights.
One huge mess is the continuing key vacancies in the Trump Cabinet which are due to Senate delays. Department Secretaries are not making nominations for lower positions, some of which have been held up for nearly a year. The Department of Agriculture does not have the position of General Counsel to Secretary Purdue filled, which cripples Perdue’s effort to make changes, and the lead attorney of the OGC handles all legal cases on behalf of the Forest Service. This leaves holdovers from the Obama Administration defending the Forest Service in federal court. These cases include grazing, oil and gas, mining, logging, recreation use, access, roadless areas, permits, leases and regulatory overreach and takings of your legal rights.
With the mid-term’s coming up, we must act now to let the Republican controlled Senate know that it is unacceptable to let these vacancies continue to cripple the Department of Agriculture, the Forest Service, the Department of the Interior, NPS and BLM. Call any Senator at (202) 224-3121. Call your Congressman at (202) 225-3121.
And please support ALRA with your contributions. Their address is: American Land Rights Association, 30218 NE 83nd Ave., PO Box 400, Battle Ground, WA 98604.
PUBLIC LANDS FOR THE PEOPLE SMALL MINER AMENDMENTS-Jan Alexander
Small Miner Amendments to S. 145
PLP has a proposed a small miner amendment to Federal Senate Bill S 145 (Critical Minerals Act) and they have presented this amendment to Senator Dean Heller (R-NV). This amendment attempts to solve every problem a small-scale mine operator on Federal lands could encounter. I commend Clark Pearson for his research and perseverance, but question the scope and content of much of this amendment.
Good Points
The most important good point, in my opinion, is the striking of the Forest Service 228 mining regulations and replacing them with the regulations of the Department of Interior 43CFR 3809 and 3715 regulations.
Another good point is reiterating existing law, that miners enjoy a statutory right to access, and that neither the Secretary of Agriculture nor the Secretary of Interior may prohibit or materially restrict motorized access to federal mining claims over historical, visibly-existing or previously-existing trails and roads, or the reasonable restoration or maintenance of such trails and roads”.
This amendment also proposes exempting small scale mine operators without employees from MSHA regulation. Although a very good point, MSHA and safety concerns, should be the subject of a separate bill, not tacked onto the Critical Minerals bill. Also, voiding state regulation of mining operations on federal lands may be a good idea, but will never fly. States like Colorado make a fortune off regulation of even small-scale exploration operations on federal lands, and these states will simply assert their rights to impose additional regulation.
Bad Points
One huge error in this amendment, in my opinion, is defining mining casual use (no notification, no bond) as excavation and/or processing (including motorized excavation and processing) of less than 1,000 cubic yards of material annually per claim; or surface disturbance of less than five acres of ground. I recently permitted a mining operation where the previous operator (Canadian company who returned to Canada without reclaiming anything) impacted five acres of ground without any regard to Best Management Practices. The company who subsequently bought the property, spent a full year and a boat load of money stabilizing the hillsides, implementing erosion control measures and conducting remediation of the site before they could even begin their mining operation. The Small Miner Amendment’s unrealistic definition of casual use will never be accepted by legislators, and I am betting Senator Heller is not in favor of this. Sure, most miners would continue to implement a sound mining and reclamation plan, and would reclaim in an ongoing manner and leave the site as good or better than when they began mining. But just like the Canadian company, one bad actor will ruin mining for all of us. When that miner reaches the 5 acre cap, he can just walk away, leaving a destroyed area for the tax payer to clean up and reclaim.
The amendment goes into who BLM should hire to review NOIs, who should determine if an ore body is depleted, why small scale mining operations should be exempt from the Clean Water Act and many other areas which are a bother to small scale min operators, but in my opinion, should not be included in this amendment.
My suggestion is to cut to the chase on this amendment. Focus on repealing the Forest Service 228 regulations and having all mining on Federal lands administered by BLM under the 43 CFR3809 and 3715 regulations.
EOMA ADVERTISING AND SALE LISTINGS
For Sale
1. Multi Quip 3/8 yard cement mixer Model MC-94P with Honda 8 hp motor. It has a polyurethane drum and is on a single axel for easy towing. It is an ex Home Depot rental unit. Asking $1,500.00. Call Jack at 208-284-5882 (Boise)
2. Syntron Magnetic Vibrator Model V-50-01. This is a fairly husky unit that bolts on to bine, chutes where material being fed does not flow smoothly. I used it to move material out of bins and chutes. It is single phase and draws 4.5 amps.
3. Krebs Hydrocyclones, 1 Model D4 and 1 Model D6, which I used to thicken my fine tailings. I have specs and installation instructions from Krebs. Asking $250.00 each. Call Jack at 208-284-5882 (Boise)
4. Portable 2 inch Water pump with 3.5hp Honda gas engine. $100.00. Call Jack at 208-284-5882 (Boise)
5. Sample Splitters, one with 22 slots, 3/4 inch wide, @ $150.00; and one with 12 slots, 5/8 inch wide, @$100.00.
6. Transformer,480/240/120 volt, 3phase or single phase. $150.00. Call Jack at 208-284-5882 (Boise)
7. S+S Controls Heavy Duty Motor Starter, 3 phase, 480 /220 volt. Rated for motor horsepower up to 55 horse. $350.00. Call Jack at 208-284-5882 (Boise)
8. Wilden 1 1/2 inch Chemical Solution Polyethylene Pump Model M4/Pt/Tf/Tf/Pt s/n 364361. New condition, never used. Air driven. $500.00. Call Jack at 208-284-5882 (Boise)
9. Onan 75kw Generator, older but with very low hours. Recently installed updated exciter circuit. $6,500.00. Call Jack at 208-284-5882 (Boise).
OPPORTUNITY
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
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.
FOR SALE
Patsy and Randy Stockam are moving to Alabama in the next few months and have some mining equipment to sell. A Gold Grabber Highbanker with pump and hose. Asking $600.00. Text Patsy at 541-786-1080 if you are interested.
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)
DEQ process permit goes with the sale of the claims. For price, pictures and details, call Don Enright, 509-860-1145 or email: donaldenright25@gmail.com
FOR SALE TWO 80 ACRE ASSOCIATION PLACER CLAIMS (5)
Because of health reasons, we are selling our two 80 acre Association Placer Claims. These two claims are the last two claims on the top end of Elk Creek, a short distance from Baker City. A road goes through most of it. Sell for $7,000 each, will take gold, silver or will sell for a lesser price for cash. Call Ken at 541-519-9497 or Chuck at 541-310-8510.
NATIVE SPIRIT 60 ACRE CLAIM FOR SALE
This claim is located on McCully Creek on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest just west of the town of Sumpter. Good access, off-channel water is available for processing. DEQ process permit goes with the sale of the claim. Plan of Operation is scheduled to be approved for 2019 work. Call Charles Stewart at 541-910-5435 for more information.
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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SUCTION DREDGE
4-inch dredge $600
Paula Noah 208 421 2535
East of Boise- could deliver to Baker
2018 EOMA SILVER MEDALLIONS FOR SALE
The medallions 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, you can buy them at our EOMA meetings.
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