EASTERN OREGON
MINING ASSOCIATION
FEBRUARY 2024
VOLUME 413
President……………………………………..Ken Alexander
Vice-President……………………………..Dan Johnson
Executive Director……………………….Chuck Chase
Director of Governmental Affairs…Terry Drever Gee
Editor……………………………..…Jan Alexander
Mineral Policy Director………………..Jan Alexander
YOUR MEMBERSHIP IS IMPORTANT!
MEMBERSHIPS ARE DUE IN JANUARY. Please send your dues to:
EOMA, PO Box 932, Baker City, OR 97814. You can also pay with a credit card on our website. Or you can pay at the meeting. Thank you for your support!
NEW WEBSITE ADDRESS: eoma.us
FEBRUARY 2nd MEETING AT ELK CREEK ENTERPRISES
The EOMA monthly meeting is at the Elk Creek Enterprises saw shop located at 890 Elm Street in Baker City. The Board Meeting will begin at 6:00 PM and the general meeting follows at 6:30 PM. Everyone is welcome to attend these meetings. There is time for discussing mining and getting to know other miners. We will give away a 1 oz. silver medallion at the end of the meeting.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Included in this newsletter is an elections ballot.
All current Board Members; myself as President, Dan Johnson as Vice-President, Terry Drever-Gee as Director of Governmental Affairs, and Jan Alexander as newsletter editor and Mineral Policy Director have agreed to serve again, if elected.
There are seven Directors who also have agreed to serve; Scott Guthrie, Craig Monpas, Tork Ballard, Keith Magnuson, Jacob Rhinehart, Becky Guthrie and Jim Haney.
Please take the time to fill out your ballot. Vote for the Board Members and Directors of your choice. Write in votes will also be counted.
CHANGE IN DISTRICT RANGER ON THE WALLOWA-WHITMAN NATIONAL FOREST
Stephaney Kerley will be the Baker Ranger District Ranger for the next 60 day period. Stephaney is the LaGrande District Ranger, but will take over the Baker job temporarily until a new District Ranger can be hired for Baker.
AMENDING EOMA BY-LAWS
There has been ongoing discussion about dropping the Executive Director position. Chuck Chase created this position 20 years ago, but he is no longer able to fulfill the duties and does not want to be re-elected. Other Board members have assumed the duties of Executive Director in the last few years. If we drop this position, the by-laws will need to be amended.
The duties of the Executive Director as spelled out in our by-laws is:
Section 3 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: The Executive Director shall keep all records of the organization, is responsible for representing EOMA objectives in coordination with local, state, and federal officials and with other organizations; develops strategies for EOMA, and, in conjunction with other organizations, strives for effective public information and lobbying efforts, to enhance the position of the mining industry, and diminish the influence of anti-mining activists. Conducts general and Executive Committee meetings in the absence of the President and Vice-President. Drafts the monthly newsletter and makes it available to the Newsletter Editor prior to the monthly meeting, and handles all matters pertaining to the distribution of absentee ballots.
There are three choices on the ballot this year regarding the Executive Director position. Put a check mark by your choice. You also have the opportunity to suggest a third course of action.
- We can rewrite the by-laws and eliminate the Executive Director position entirely.
- We can leave the position vacant until a person is found to fill the position.
- Other suggestions:
A vote will be taken at the March meeting. It will take a 2/3 vote at the meeting and 2/3 vote on the ballot in order to drop the position and amend the by-laws
MSHA TRAINING 2024
Trent Hahn will conduct our MSHA classes again this year. Classes will begin at 8:00AM and will be held at the Elk Creek Enterprises saw shop at 890 Elm Street in Baker City.
March: New Miner Training March 12-14, cost is $250. Annual Refresher March 14, cost is $40. Fourth day for underground March 15. Cost is $50.
April: Annual Refresher April 10, cost is $40.
Please call Jan Alexander at 541-446-3413 to register for the classes. We must have at least 4 miners to put on the New Miner Training March 12-14.
BLM MISTAKENLY VOIDED APPROXIMATELY 6,500 CLAIMS-BLM
On November 17th, approximately 47,0000 mining claims were closed in MLRS during routine process following the September 1st deadline to pay annual maintenance fees. However, MLRS team has been made aware of claims that should not have been closed.
The current assessment is that about 6,500 of the 47,000 claims were closed inadvertently due to issues with adjudication of Small Miner Waivers, missing transactions, and/or missing receipt numbers. The MLRS team is working on the solution to re-open these claims and avoiding similar outcomes in the future.
We will share further information once the solution and timeline for re-opening the claims is confirmed. Claimants who believe their claims were closed, when they have evidence (green card and cashed checks) that the claims should not be closed, should contact the local BLM office where they can be put in contact with the State Office personnel who can correct the situation. As an alternative, miners can contact Greta Krost directly, BLM State Office Program Lead, at 541-751-4358.
DEQ RULEMAKING-POWDER RIVER BASIN TMDL Vanessa Rose
DEQ has reopened the comment period, and is hosting another community open house. This is a second opportunity for the public to provide comment. The comment period closes at 4 p.m. on Feb. 9, 2024. Members of the public are invited to attend an open house to learn more about the Powder River Basin bacteria reduction plan, or TMDL. DEQ staff will be available to answer questions and will be joined by state and federal agencies that have funding and resources available to the agricultural community.
When: Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024 // Drop by anytime between 4-7 p.m.
Where: Baker County Extension Service, 2600 East St., Baker City
Public Comment: DEQ is asking for public comment on the proposed rule amendments. Anyone can submit comments and questions about this rulemaking.
More information on this rulemaking, including the draft rules, TMDL and Water Quality Maintenance Plan can be found on the Powder River Basin TMDL Rulemaking Page.
How to comment: DEQ will accept comments by email, postal mail or written submitted at the open house. Anyone can submit comments and questions about this rulemaking.
- Email: Send comments by email to: powderTMDL@deq.oregon.gov
- Postal mail: Oregon DEQ, Attn: Alex Liverman/Watershed Management, 700 NE Multnomah Street, Suite 600, Portland, Oregon 97232-4100
- Make written comments at the Open House February 1, 2024 at the Baker County Extension Service, 2600 East St., Baker City.
LETTER ON TMDL FROM BAKER COUNTY-Doni Bruland
Dear DEQ-Thank you for reopening the Comment period for the PRB TMDL. The County and the interested parties look forward to visiting about this project again.
Baker County is requesting that ODEQ TMDL release the answers/responses to the last comments provided by the interested parties, as well as the multiple questions presented from the County. Because ODEQ is only giving (8) days after the Open House to provide additional comments, I am asking for the answers/responses no later than January 19, 2024 so stakeholders and interested parties have time to review ODEQ’s responses.
It’s truly unfortunate that ODEQ is continuing to use unreliable and historic monitoring data to back the reasoning for the TMDL. The lack of ‘boots on the ground’ and the use of recent (within the last 5 years) data makes this project a representation of government overreach to control private and public land use that will force the tyrannical will of a state agency based on control rather than science and common sense. Baker County rejects this approach.
It’s very obvious that ODEQ made the decision to not further engage the RAC in a timely manner prior to the Open House, stifling additional information ODEQ could have gotten out of that forum. The Stakeholders meeting on January 31st is a step in the right direction. However, the meeting needs to be available to the public either in person or through zoom. It does not need to be open to public comment, interested parties can provide that input the next day, but the County insists on full transparency. Our community deserves to hear and see what is discussed.
The Open House on February 1st being held between the hours of 4:00 and 7:00 pm is a truly ineffective and inefficient forum to gather public comments. The use of ‘divide and conquer’ does not sit well with the County or interested parties. It looks to be just a way to check the box for ODEQ appearing to want additional public input. Many federal and state agencies have used this approach, and it always leaves the interested parties feeling that their questions and concerns are being trivialized and not taken seriously.
Note from Jan-it isn’t just the agricultural community who will be affected. It’s a “bacteria reduction plan” and basically it means that all livestock must be removed from areas near waterways, while elk feeding stations and herds of elk, deer and big horn sheep can continue to graze along the waterways. But miners will be next, with a restriction on sediment in water. That’s when they will decide that miners also must be removed from areas near waterways.
We need to write letters in support of Baker County’s farmers and ranchers and show up at the February 1 open house to ask questions and voice our concerns.
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE WITHDRAWS A PROPOSED RULE TO ALLOW NATURAL ASSET COMPANIES TO BE LISTED ON THE STOCK EXCHANGE-John Rowell
In what is a victory for Americans across the nation, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today withdrew a proposed rule that would have allowed Natural Asset Companies (NACs) to be listed on the NYSE. This follows last week’s letter sent by Chairman Westerman (R-Ark.) and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chairman Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) seeking information on the proposed rule.
NACs are a new type of company that would obtain rights to U.S. land and could then prevent that land from being used for the production of natural resources. NACs would allow shareholders, including foreign interests, to buy shares of companies whose express purpose is to lock up land and prevent productive natural resource development.
PRICE OF GOLD–Gold Price.org
As of January 18, 2024, the spot price of gold was $2,056 per ounce. Considering an annual growth rate of 11.2%, an ounce of gold could be worth about $2,251 in one year. In five years, an ounce of gold could be worth about $3,441, provided that the value continues to grow at a rate of 11.2%
A MINISTER ON MINING-The Reverend Robert McIntyre, May 11, 1903
The miner who digs a fortune out of the ground has the satisfaction of knowing that he has not robbed a soul, even though he becomes a thousand times a millionaire. Then, too, there is another factor to take into consideration. The man who makes a fortune on the board of trade or the stock exchange, or in other words, is no richer because he is richer. He is richer rather because someone else is poorer. The miner, on the other hand, whether he digs out $10 or $100,000, adds that much to the world’s wealth, and with the added wealth, he contributes that much to the possible amount of the world’s comfort and pleasures.
As I look at the matter, there are a few producers of wealth. The many live on the few. The only man comparable to the miner is the farmer. He gets what he has directly from nature, but he produces a perishable wealth. While he meets a want, his contribution to the world’s wealth, therefore, is not permanent, like a miner’s. The gold miner is today the king of wealth of the country, and I honor him above all others. It is no dishonor; it needs no apology to emulate his example or assist him in his efforts. That is the whole story in a nutshell.
EOMA ADVERTISING AND SALE LISTINGS
WANTED MINING PROPERTY(18)
I would like to rent/lease/lease with option to buy property that may be productive for metal detecting and mining. Especially areas with tailings like the Powder River near Sumpter, or other local areas. Thanks, Johnny West. Email: jwestboise@gmail.com
WANTED-GOLD(0)
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
PRICE REDUCED-SIMPSON AND LUCKY PLACER CLAIMS FOR SALE
The Simpson is an 80-acre association placer and must be quit-claimed to a group of four miners. The Lucky group is composed of three 20-acre contiguous claims. These can be purchased by one miner. Both claim groups are covered by approved Plans of Operation and both are located on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
My health is forcing me to sell these claims. Give me a call if you are interested and please make me an offer. Call Dave at 810-523-7313.
MINING EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
Equipment located in Baker City:
Small trommel, feeder/grizzley, infeed conveyor, Honda pump, 20KW generator, 3” flat hose, sluice
Commercial Sized trommel, feeder, stacker, pump (has cracked housing) sluice
Also, scraper, Conex boxes, clean-up table, road runner screen, screen, diesel tank and pump, army trailer, two slurry pumps, a Honda pump, clean-up room equipment, and additional flat hose.
Equipment located on Connor Creek:
Feeder
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.
WANTED-MINERS TO PARTICIPATE IN A NEW TV SHOW WITH DAVE TURIN–Johnny West (ca)
Because of my ad in our EOMA Newsletter, I received an Email from a lady in London, England.
Her name is Lizzie Jenkins, and she is an Assistant Producer for www.raw.co.uk.
My understanding is her company films and produces the TV show “Gold Rush” on the Discovery Channel.
Her company is starting a new TV show with Dave Turin, and they are looking for miners that are testing mining property, and could use Dave’s help. I believe the property would need to be fully permitted for testing/mining. So, if any miners would consider getting help from Dave Turin, please contact Lizzie to get the complete details, and make sure it is something you would like to do.
Here is Lizzie’s contact information:
Lizzie Jenkins
Assistant Producer
Third Floor, 13-21 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3LT
Tel: + 44 (0) 207 456 0800 | Mob: +44 7769 296 581
UK Company Reg. 4305751
VAT: 297 4286 51
RAW TV SHOW IS LOOKING FOR MINERS WHO WANT TO INCREASE GOLD RECOVERY- Rhys Towse Producer at Raw TV –
Discovery Channel’s Gold Rush: Freddy Dodge’s Mine Rescue is looking for gold mines Freddy and Juan can visit in 2023 to see if they can help improve gold recovery.
https://www.raw.co.uk/takepart/do-you-need-a-new-washplant
If you are interested, please call Office: +44 (0)207 456 0800
EOMA members who have participated in “Gold Rush: Freddy Dodge’s Mine Rescue” report a very positive experience. Miners who do not have the resources to pay for equipment upgrades are not under obligation to pay.
MINERS WANTING TO PARTICIPATE IN EITHER PROGRAM IN OREGON ARE ENCOURAGED TO HAVE PERMITTING IN PLACE
If you have questions about permitting, EOMA will be glad to help you out. The best thing you can do to promote mining activity in Oregon, is to do it right. Call Jan if you have questions at 541-446-3413.
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
ACTION MINING SERVICES, INC.(ca)
AMS is selling assay supplies, screens, chemicals and labware! Call for a quote and mention this ad for 10% 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 our website for information on Wave tables. We are located in Plains, Montana. Please call 406.826.9330 to place your order. This way our staff can have it pulled and ready for pick up. Otherwise, we can always ship your order! sales@actionmining.com • www.actionmining.com
AMERICAN EXPLORATION & MINING ASSOCIATION(ca)
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
PUBLIC LANDS FOR THE PEOPLE
EST. 1990, A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Corporation for 33 years
PLP exists to “Represent and assist outdoor user groups and individuals interested in keeping public and private lands open to prospecting, mining and outdoor recreation through education, scientific data and legal means.”
Our mailing address is:
Public Lands For The People
PO Box 1660
Inyokern, CA 93527
SUBSCRIBE TO MINING JOURNAL FOR UP TO DATE NEWS (ca)
ICMJ’s Prospecting and Mining Journal is your monthly source for news, legislation, how-to articles and more. Josh and Sherrie Lynn Reinke are the new owners of the Mining Journal, same great news source! A full year is still only $29.95; or get a print and an online subscription for just $44.95, 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.