EASTERN OREGON
MINING ASSOCIATION
JUNE 2020
Volume 369
THE JUNE 5 EASTERN OREGON MINING ASSOCIATION MEETING IS ON!
Meetings are held on the first Friday of the month. The next meeting is Friday, JUNE 5TH 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. As usual, there will be a drawing for a $50 silver medallion at the meeting!
It has been many months since we have had a meeting and there is plenty to discuss. The Chamber is saying they still plan on having Miner’s Jubilee. We had planned to downsize anyway, but for sure we will not have an auction and will concentrate our efforts on talking with the public about mining. Please provide pictures of your operations if you can.
We will definitely have gold panning for the kids, and we will put on the Oregon State Panning Competition.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE-
Phil Wirth of High Bar Mining, LLC purchased the wave table from EOMA. He gave us $500 more than the asking price. A big “thank you” goes out to Phil for his generosity, and support of EOMA. And another “big thank you” goes out to Bill and Sandy for donating the table it to EOMA.
The EOMA/Waldo vs DEQ law suit bill concerning the suction dredge permit still has an outstanding balance due our attorney, James Buchal. I would like to discuss at our June meeting what the Board thinks about using the money received from the sale of the wave table to reduce the amount of this bill. Waldo agreed to pay the rest of the bill, but even after their recent raffle for ½ pound of gold, there is still money owed.
DAVID GRAHAM HAS PASSED
EOMA has lost another miner with the death of David Graham. David was a regular at all our meetings, served as Sergeant of Arms, and was always ready to lend a helping hand. He helped set up and take down the EOMA booth last year, and spent hours at the EOMA booth talking to the public about mining, selling tickets for fund raisers and doing whatever he could to help out.
Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to David’s father Earl, and sister Lori. David will certainly be missed.
MSHA CLASSES SCHEDULED FOR JULY 2020-Jan Alexander
All due dates for annual refresher training have been extended by MSHA, but miners are not exempt from the requirement for this annual training. As Oregon is opening up, we now have the opportunity to get a class together for this training.
I have been in contact with a Mine Safety Instructor from the west side, Steve Kidwell of NW Safety Solutions. Steve is willing to drive to Eastern Oregon to give these classes.
Many of you have gotten your training elsewhere by this time. If you are still in need of the annual refresher training, let me know, at 541-446-3413. The cost will be higher than it was with Ed Sinner, since he was funded with a grant through Eastern Oregon University. My guess is if we can put together a full class of 25-30, the cost per person should be about $40 or less per miner per day. This money will cover the cost of travel, lodging and instruction. I am looking at June 20 or June 27 for the training. Let me know which date works best.
If there are miners who need new miner training, please let me know. If there are enough miners to make a class, we can schedule that class also.
WHAT EXACTLY IS A FOREST SERVICE OPERATING PLAN? -Forest Service CI-14
“Operating Plans, as required by the regulations, are documents by which mineral operators identify themselves, describe the work they intend to do, where and when they intend to do it, the nature of any proposed disturbances of surface resources, and the steps they will take to protect those resources.
An approved Plan of Operation is basically an agreement (i.e. not a contract) between the Forest Service and the operator. The operator agrees to observe necessary and reasonable precautions, spelled out in the plan, to reduce damage to surface resources during operations activities and to rehabilitate disturbed areas as and when feasible. In turn, the Forest Service agrees that protection of surface resources will be adequate if operations are carried out in accordance with the approved plan”.
This publication also states “District Rangers can be helpful in preparing Operating Plans”. I kind of doubt our current Forest Service employees know this.
ELEVEN THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PROPOSING A MINING OPERATION
(1) Limit clearing, excavation, and other surface-disturbing activities to the minimum necessary for mining needs. This makes reclamation easier, and keeps your bond low.
(2) Limit amount of exposed or disturbed soil at any one time to the minimum necessary for efficient operations during minerals production activities.
(3) Clearly delineate the geographic limits of the area to be cleared. When you flag the area you want to test, you don’t have to be on site when BLM or Forest Service personnel visit the claim. (4) Install suitable drainage measures to improve the workability of wet sites. A gravel filled trench works wonders to move groundwater away from your site.
(5) Avoid or minimize damage to existing vegetation, particularly the vegetation that is stabilizing the bank of a waterbody.
(6) Stabilize mined areas and surface disturbance activities as soon as practicable before moving and opening up new areas. Again, if you practice ongoing reclamation, your bond will be minimized.
(7) Reduce surface-disturbing activities to the minimum necessary for efficient minerals production activities during periods of heavy runoff or saturated soil conditions, to the extent practicable, to decrease the potential for soil compaction and erosion.
(8) Stockpile biologically active topsoil removed during excavation for use in reclamation.
(9) Store stockpiled topsoil separately from other vegetative slash or soil and rock materials and protect from wind and water erosion, unnecessary compaction, and contaminants.
(10) Conduct operations in such a manner as to avoid or minimize the production and transport of fugitive dust from the site.
(11) Use suitable measures in compliance with local direction to prevent and control invasive species.
FOREST SERVICE AND BLM REGULATIONS-Forest Service CI 14
BLM regulations relate to the search for minerals, their discovery, extraction, and processing. The Forest Service regulations apply to the protection of nonminerals resources affected by mineral-related activities. The Department of the Interior manages federally owned locatable and leasable minerals on National Forest lands. The Forest Service is charged with the management and protection of the surface resources only.
SCOTUS BRIEF IS FILED-Pacific Legal Foundation
The case is whether NPDES permitting under the Clean Water Act is applicable to suction dredge mining. The brief was filed by Damien M. Schiff, Senior Attorney for Pacific Legal Foundation. He stated, “The case is set for the Supreme Court’s conference of June 11, and we should know shortly thereafter how the Court has acted. As I’ve mentioned before, I think it likely that, if the Court is interested in the case, it will ask for the views of the Solicitor General before ruling on the petition. If such a request comes out of the June 11 conference, I suspect that it will take until fall for the SG to file something. That may give us the opportunity to request a meeting over the summer with the SG and the EPA to encourage them to support our petition”.
EOMA ADVERTISING AND SALE LISTINGS
EOMA SILVER MEDALLIONS FOR SALE
As most of you know, EOMA did not mint 2019 medallions, nor will we mint 2020 medallions. However, we still have 2018 medallions available, as well as some medallions from previous years. They are currently selling for $50.00 apiece plus $5.00 shipping, handling, and insurance. (Prices are subject to change).
You can order your medallion 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 whenever we can have them again.
FOR SALE TEST PLANT
A vibrating sluice that classifies and empties into a three-foot Knudsen bowl. This plant is set up on a skid plate and can be towed by a quad or a pickup. This plant sits on a tilt bed trailer ready to tow. Have to see to appreciate this test plant. All for $2,500 or $2,000 cash. Call Chuck Chase, 541-310-8510.
FOR SALE EARTH MAGNETOMETER
This magnetometer measures the amount of magnetics in the ground, like magnetite. Knowing that magnetite is associated with gold it will show you the amount of magnetite that is associated with gold in the ground. The more magnetite, the more gold. $400 or cash $350. Call Chuck Chase, 541-310-8510.
PENDING-SUCTION DREDGE MINERS-SUE PLACER, PRICE REDUCED TO $9, 000
The Sue is located on the North Fork Burnt River, which is open for suction dredging, and is accessed by a good county road. The North Fork has a long dredging season-July 1-October 31 each year. I am selling the 20-acre Sue claim, where the river runs the length of the claim, along with two dredges (a 4” and a 6”), two trailers for them and accessories, two wet suits with weight belts, one repair kit and a few other items.
There is also an approved Plan of Operation with the Forest Service for using a trommel and mechanized equipment beside the river. The dredging equipment alone is worth over what you will be paying for the total package, it's like getting the claim for free. For information call Stan Baker 541-938-8353 HM 509-386-7465 CELL swbrockett@msn.com.
GOLDEN ANGEL PLACER CLAIMS FOR SALE
Located on Pine Creek, adjacent to the High Bar (Gold Rush) claims, the four 20-acre Golden Angels have an approved Plan of Operation in place. Good County road access, water for processing, WPCF permit goes with the sale. For information, call John at 541-620-1177.
GOLD CLAIMS FOR SALE (3)
6 unpatented placer claims (180 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, but additional time can be applied for). 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
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 in the fall of 2020. Call Charles Stewart at 541-910-5435 for more information. I will look at any reasonable offers.
WANTED-GOLD
Gold Specimens and Gold nuggets, mostly from Oregon mines. Fair prices paid. Also selling Gold nugget jewelry, specimens, nuggets and more. For an interesting and informative experience explore www.northernnevadagold.com. Call Robert 775-455-6470.
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ACTION MINING SERVICES, INC.
AMS is selling out all assay supplies, screens, chemicals and labware! Call for quote and mention this ad for 35% off! Assay supplies, concentrators, impact mills, technical books (for the beginner to the advanced mill man), & more!
Call for our free catalog or visit us online! Check out their website for information on wave tables. PO Box 1913, Sandy OR 97055 Phone: 503 826-9330 • 800 624-1511 sales@actionmining.com • www.actionmining.com
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