EASTERN OREGON
MINING ASSOCIATION
AUGUST 2026
VOLUME 443
President……………………………………..Ken Alexander…… alxk@ortelco.net ……541-446-3413
Vice-President……………………………..Dan Johnson……………………………………..1-503-510-3281
Director of Governmental Affairs……… Terry Drever Gee……………………… 541-523-6228
Editor…………………………….. Jan Alexander………. alx@ortelco.net ….541-446-3413
Mineral Policy Director………………Jan Alexander………. alx@ortelco.net ….541-446-3413
EOMA MEMBERSHIPS FOR 2026
If your mailing label doesn’t indicate 1/1/27 your dues are not paid up. You can send your payment to: EOMA, PO Box 932, Baker City, OR 97814. Or you can pay at the meeting. You can also sign up and pay with a credit card on our website: EOMA.US Please contact Ken if there is a question about your dues payment. Thank you for your support.
AUGUST 7th, 2026 MONTHLY MEETING AT ELK CREEK ENTERPRISES
The EOMA monthly meeting is at the Elk Creek Enterprises building located at 890 Elm Street in Baker City. The Executive Board Meeting starts at 6:00 PM and the General Meeting follows at 6:30 PM. Don’t forget, someone will win a 1 oz. silver medallion at the end of the meeting.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Hard to believe July is almost over, and August is just about here. Smoke, fires, hot weather, and lack of water have made this mining season a real challenge. Miner’s Jubilee is in the books for one more year. A big thank you to the people who showed up and made EOMA’s presence at Miner’s Jubilee possible. Ken Anderson did a wonderful job once again explaining rocks and the importance of mining to many people. We did make a little money, and gained a few new EOMA members. Total collected for the three days was $1154. Included in this total was: $300 for 2 small nuggets, and a used hi-banker for $100. The rest of the money was for raffle tickets, panning entry fees, and cash donations, A special thanks to Ashgrove Cement Company for their continued support of EOMA and the Oregon State Championship Panning contest.
Be sure and get your paper work done, and into the BLM before the 1st of September. See more in this newsletter about what you need to do to continue to hold your claims. Hope you have good luck for the short time in the remaining mining season.
MINER JUBILEE-Ken Alexander
Gold Panning Championships
Some kids spent the day prior to the panning event practicing in the gold panning tubs set up by the Eastern Oregon Mining Association. Ash Gove Cement Company again sponsored the Oregon State Panning Championships, and has also helped out over the years with salting the panning tubs with gold for the kids. Thanks again, Ash Grove, without you it would have been hard to keep going without your support.
KIDS CHAMPIONSHIP
The winners of the kid’s event were Deklin Aldrich, with a time of 44 seconds, who took first place. In second place was Luke Dyer, with a time of 53 seconds. And in third place was Felix Garza, with a time of one minute 53 seconds. (Kids have the advantage of a pan half full of material to pan.)
AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
First Place went to Joshua Tenbush, with a time of two minutes 26 seconds. Second Place went to Noe Sherman, with a time of three minutes 4 seconds. Third Place went to Anthony Puls with a time of three minutes 5 seconds.
PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
First Place went to Jesse Fritz, with a time of 44 seconds. The Second Place went to Travis Cook with a time of one minute 9 seconds. And Third Place went to Isaac Schroder with a time of one minute nineteen seconds.
In the raffle drawing held by the Eastern Oregon Mining Association a gold nugget donated by Ken and Jan Alexander was won by Susan Koppert. The second prize beautiful quilt made and donated by Laura Perrigan, was also won by Susan Koppert. With luck like that, she ought to buy a lottery ticket. The third prize, a set of items for gold panning, donated by Keith Magnuson, was won by Anthony Puls.
TIME TO GET YOUR PAPERWORK INTO BLM
Time to submit your small miner waiver. It’s due at BLM September 1, 2026, and a waiver is included with this newsletter with the correct dates so you won’t lose your claims. Send this by certified mail so you are sure that BLM got it. This waiver does not need to be recorded at the county, but the waiver does require original signatures of all claim owners.
If your assessment work is completed (at least $100/claim) you can submit your proof of labor, after recording at the courthouse, at the same time you submit your waiver to BLM. You can continue to do your assessment work until September 1, and BLM gives you until December 30 to get this submitted to BLM, but the best plan is to get all your paperwork done and submitted as soon as possible.
BLM ADDRESS
Bureau of Land Management
Oregon State Office
1220 SW 3rd Avenue Suite 1113
Portland, OR 97204
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE FOREST SERVICE OR BLM SHUTS YOU OUT OF YOUR CLAIMS BECAUSE OF THE FIRES-Lisa Stone
I asked Lisa Stone, Law Examiner for BLM, if miners with this problem could pay fees this year, then go back to doing assessment work next year.
She answered that, “the rule is you cannot switch back to MF payment from a waiver. I advise them to consider documenting any work they performed last season”. Thus, if at all possible, get some assessment work done every fall AFTER September 1, just in case your summer work gets cut off.
Editor’s note: To change this rule would probably take a court case. Cheaper to refile.
MINERS WHO PAY BLM FEES MUST ALSO RECORD AN AFFIDAVIT AT THE COUNTY-Lisa Stone
Miners who pay fees to BLM, but fail to record at the county, have a break in title at the state level. BLM’s database will show the claims are “active” however the claimant is not protected because there was no filing at the county.
Lisa stated, “We accept the county recorded documents and put them in the files, it shows you met the state law requirement as well as Federal law”.
PROBLEMS WITH THE DRAFT DEQ 600 PERMIT-Jan Alexander
DEQ has completely forgotten their mission, which, according to their website, is to “protect and improve Oregon’s water quality”. Their mission is not to administer mining, nor is it to stop small scale mining in Oregon, however, that is exactly what this draft permit will do.
It’s sad, because EOMA has been working to get this new general permit available to miners, many of whom have been waiting since 2017 to apply and obtain a permit that allows them to process ore using water.
There were 12 miners at the meeting DEQ held in Baker. They and other EOMA members I have contacted agree that the entire draft permit is unworkable. Our members all seem to be in agreement; if DEQ put this document together in order to stop small scale mining in Oregon, they have accomplished their goal.
A FEW OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE DRAFT 600 PERMIT-Jan Alexander
The draft permit is 23 pages, is confusing and disorganized, so it is nearly impossible to see what a miner is expected to do to be in compliance. Sections are repeated over and over. It is very difficult to read and more difficult to understand.
But wading through, page by page, I was able to compile a list of what the compliance parameters which would protect water quality were. All kinds of ridiculous things like bothering fishermen and staying 120 feet from the creek, are in there. Also, the requirement to submit pictures and drawings and being able to sign everything on line.
But DEQ clearly forgot what their mission is. From the DEQ website, we see, “The Water Quality Program’s mission is to protect and improve Oregon’s water quality”. It’s really very simple, control process water in ponds, recycle it and don’t discharge. The only important things are those pertaining to protecting water quality.
In addition, DEQ is proposing to administer mining. How they thought they could do this, is beyond me. They are a WATER QUALITY agency. The mining administration parts of the permit must be deleted. All miners’ operations where mechanized equipment is used, are already administered by either BLM or Forest Service. Some are administered by DOGAMI.
DEQ needs to take another look at the draft permit, and ask itself, is this requirement under the authority of my agency, and how will this requirement protect water quality? If they had done that, this permit might just have been workable.
EOMA is preparing a response to the draft permit. I have sent my draft to the miners who were at the DEQ meeting, and others who are interested, and have had responses to my draft ranging from the fact that every miner would need to hire a secretary just to keep up with the paperwork, (which has to be recorded daily and submitted to DEQ quarterly and annually), to it would not be possible to comply and the only alternative is to quit mining or become a law breaker.
And the manner of submittal is through DEQ’s “YDO”, (Your DEQ Online). This system is totally unworkable. Ken tried to find out what would happen if a miner submitted an application for a new permit, and he spent two days trying to get an application approved, working with the “help desk”, and trying whatever actions the consultant suggested, only to get an answer in the end saying “your application is disapproved”.
At the meeting with DEQ, we asked that miners not have to try and use the YDO online portal. The DEQ personnel at the meeting agreed that the portal was not easy to use, but told us the Governor is requiring DEQ to make all miners submit all paperwork via the portal.
When you vote this time, see if we can get new leadership instead of Tina Kotec. Perhaps with a new governor this mandate to use the YDO portal will be dropped.
DEQ ISSUES VIOLATIONS-ORDEQ
If you think DEQ is a benign agency, and they will work with you to comply with their new 600 permit, you may want to take another look. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality recently issued 11 penalties totaling $540,262 in May for various environmental violations. A detailed list of violations and resulting penalties is at ordeq.org/enforcement.
Remember too, the Loves, working with a pick and a shovel, but without a permit, got fined $2200.
According to DEQ, fines in May ranged from $6,400 to $260,700. Alleged violations included an individual operating a waste tire storage site without a proper permit; a wastewater treatment facility violating its wastewater disposal permit by failing to conduct required monitoring, submitting inaccurate monitoring results and exceeding pollution discharge limits; and an electric utility company exceeding its plant site emission limits.
DEQ issued civil penalties to the following entities:
• LTM Inc., Roseburg, $24,371, stormwater
• Washington County Capital Projects Services, Hillsboro, $17,356, stormwater
• C & J Super Service Inc., Medford, $30,637, land quality
• Manjit Inc., dba Stayton Chevron, Stayton, $36,081, underground storage tank
• Portland General Electric Co., Boardman, $260,700, air quality
• Rice Hill Owner’s Association Inc., Yoncalla, $97,732, wastewater
• Eduardo Bedolla and Maria Bedolla Vazquez, North Powder, $22,552, waste tires
• City of North Powder, North Powder, $10,923, wastewater
• City of Maupin, Maupin, $10,292, wastewater
• Oregon Industrial Lumber Products Inc., Springfield, $6,400, stormwater
• Ryan Hall, Prospect, $23,218, solid waste and waste tires
Recipients of DEQ civil penalties must either pay the fines to the state treasury or file an appeal within 20 days of receiving notice of the penalty. They may be able to offset a portion of a penalty by funding a supplemental environmental project that improves Oregon’s environment. Learn more about these projects at ordeq.org/sep.
Penalties may also include orders requiring specific tasks to prevent ongoing violations or additional environmental harm.
DEQ works with thousands of organizations and individuals to help them comply with laws that protect Oregon’s air, land and water.
DEQ uses education, technical assistance, warnings and penalties to change behavior and deter future violations. Obviously, financial penalties are also a big part of their program.
BLUE MOUNTAIN FOREST REVISION PUBLISHED JULY 2, 2026
We have 90 days to read through this document and make comments. Right now, that seems like a long time, but we all get busy, and when the end of September rolls around, our opportunity to help direct how this plan will affect the Wallowa-Whitman, Umatilla and Malheur National Forests will be gone.
Although the document was updated with some of EOMA’s comments during scoping, there are still some problems.
Hard to believe the document has a standard on page 180 that states “The U.S. Mining Laws guarantee that mining claimants and operators must have reasonable access commensurate with their level of operations”. This is absolutely untrue. The Mining Laws do not state that access depends on whether you are prospecting or if you are mining. This statement leaves it wide open for the Forest Service to deny motorized access if you are just prospecting or doing assessment work. If you don’t comment on anything else, be sure to comment on this!
On page 181, the EIS fails to acknowledge that mining is a beneficial use of water. On page 203, miners will need to refuel equipment over 100 feet from any waterway. This guideline does say “when possible” but if your wash plant is located 50 feet from the waterway, you will need to refuel the stationary equipment right there. Moving tracked equipment 100 feet from the waterway is not reasonable and doing this daily may cause resource damage
Under the transportation system section, on page 202, the EIS states that the road system will be managed so it has minimal effects on streams. This means that roads along streams, which the majority of our mining roads are, will be closed because they are through floodplains or may contribute sediment to the waterway.
In another part of the EIS, on page 159, the EIS clearly states that the road system is comprised of National Forest System roads which can be found in the National Forest Transportation Atlas. I doubt our mining roads will be listed in this Atlas. Also, on page 159, the desired condition of the transportation system is to avoid or mitigate undesired effects to “ecological integrity” and on watersheds and water quality. Most of our placer operations use roads along streams. On page 160, the EIS states the forest transportation system facilitates wildfire response, recreation, hunting and camping, but leaves out mining.
All of this sets the stage for the upcoming Travel Management Plan. This Plan will tier to the transportation sections of the EIS and will be designed to close our Forests into the future. We will see what President Trump’s new executive order, “Removing Unnecessary and Counterproductive Restrictions on Access to Federal Lands”, does to travel management on the National Forests.
Make your comments, and just keep hoping our President will help make the difference.
EOMA ADVERTISING AND SALE LISTINGS
Edito’s note: The current policy requires you to be a paid-up member of EOMA in order to place an ad in the newsletter.
GOLD CLAIMS FOR SALE
Sale includes 6 placer claims (180 acres total) located on Elk Creek near Baker City. Sale also includes all the equipment and has a PoO with FS in place and A WPCF 600 permit that can be transferred. If interested, call Don at 509-860-1145 or email: donaldenright25@gmail.com
METAL FLOAT CELLS FOR SALE
There are 12 cells. These have been stored inside the Buffalo Mine Mill Building.
If interested call Tommy at 541-519-9611 or email me at tpartee46@gmail.com
MINING EQUIPMENT FOR SALE IN GRANITE
A 400-gallon water tank on a heavy duty trailer. There are hoses and a small Briggs & Stratton engine driving a 2” discharge pump. Mike (541) 755-5028 leave a message. Or (503) 266-5739. strimble@pinetel.com
EASTERN OREGON PLACER MINING CLAIMS WITH ESTABLISHED RESERVES
FOR SALE – Two 20-acre placer BLM mining claims in Baker County, Oregon. Located in an established placer gold district. Established reserves at a very conservative 75,000 cubic yards at a grade of 0.58 grams (0.0186 ounces per yard). Reserves can likely be increased by additional testing.
Claims include a current Notice of Intent for sampling and bulk sampling. Excellent year-round access from maintained county road adjacent to the property. Normal operating season is April to October and often longer. Perennial stream Clarks Creek flows through the Lone Pine Claim. Mining geologist report is available. $300,000, or trade for private property. Will consider terms. Send inquiries to mjawine@comcast.net
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
MINING EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
STILL AVAILABLE- 3” flat hose, sluice, Honda pump, scraper, clean-up table, road runner screen, screen, diesel tank and pump, two slurry pumps, clean-up room equipment, and additional flat hose. I can send pictures and can provide details on this equipment. I am willing to discuss offers. Call Bill at 503-781-4393. E-mail me at dei@teleport.com .
MINING CLAIMS FOR SALE
STILL AVAILABLE-I still have an association placer claim 40-acres in size, Gold Midas Association, and a 20-acre placer claim, Gold Midas 2. These are on Wilson Creek near the confluence with Elk Creek. I have moved out of the area and thus, need to sell these claims. They are up to date with BLM. Jan Alexander has some maps and information that I sent her on the claims alx@ortelco.net . For a price, please e-mail me at Rob Browning, robbrowning70@gmail.com .
CAPITOL PROSPECTING-METAL DETECTING AND MINING SUPPLIES
We are located in Baker City at 2801 Broadway Street. We buy used equipment and sell both new and used equipment. Come in and see what we have, or call me at 503-269-8640. My e-mail is CapitolProspecting@hotmail.com.
We appreciate your business. Gary and Christina Earle
AMERICAN EXPLORATION & MINING ASSOCIATION
EOMA is a member of American Exploration & Mining Association, and many of our members are also individual members. American Exploration & Mining Association is a 128-year-old, 1,400-member, national association representing the minerals industry.
With members in 46 states, AEMA is the recognized national voice for exploration, the junior mining sector, maintaining access to public lands, and represents the entire mining life cycle, from exploration through production to reclamation and closure.
You can become a member of AEMA by going to their website at https://www.miningamerica.org