EASTERN OREGON
MINING ASSOCIATION
JANUARY 2025
VOLUME 424
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
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PAY YOUR EOMA DUES FOR THE YEAR 2025
JANUARY IS THE MONTH EOMA COLLECTS DUES FOR THE YEAR
You can send your dues 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
JANUARY 3rd, 2025 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 Executive Board Meeting starts at 6:00 PM and the General Meeting follows at 6:30 PM. Everyone is welcome to attend these meetings. January is the meeting we accept nominations for the ballot for the election in March. Nominations from the floor are welcome. We will be hearing a report about what is happening with the American Exploration and Mining Association. As usual, someone will be winning a 1 oz. silver medallion at the end of the meeting.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
As we start the new year it is more important than ever to work with the newly elected Administration to revise and improve mine permitting and regulation. EOMA needs your help to educate and inform people about the reality of mining and reclamation in the modern world. It is going to take a lot of new ideas and hard work to overcome the misinformation that has been spread over the last several decades about the destruction, rather than the benefits, of mining.
At the local level, EOMA will be promoting the development of Blue Mountain Forest plans that will focus on the reasonable use of forest resources. You will find several examples of FS 1996 Region 6 policies in this newsletter. These policies were used to protect the environment while still facilitating the orderly development of resources on public land.
We need to put an end to useless regulations, and policies, that restrict activities that will supposedly help stop climate change, when poor management is causing the opposite result.
DEQ TO RENEW SUCTION DREDGE 700PM PERMIT-Oregon DEQ
DEQ intends to renew the 700-PM water quality general permit for in-stream placer mining. Beginning in mid-December, DEQ is taking comments on the revised permit through Jan. 27, 2025. For more information: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/wq/wqpermits/Pages/Mining.aspx
DEQ regulates the discharge of wastewater from motorized suction dredges, gravity and siphon suction dredges, and non-motorized mining operations that recover precious metals or minerals from streambed sediments via the 700-PM water quality general permit. DEQ’s information sheet states there is a fee of $250 plus an annual fee of $250 which must be submitted with the application. The cost is $250 for each subsequent year the permit remains in effect. However, the Application states $500 + $250 = $750 fee must be submitted with the application?
DEQ hosted information sessions about this upcoming permit renewal in Baker City, Medford and Salem. For more information about the permit renewal in general, please contact the program at 503-229-6114 or 700PM@deq.oregon.gov.
303(D) LISTED STREAMS FOR SEDIMENT-Jan Alexander
The North Fork of the Burnt River is now listed for sediment and no suction dredging will be authorized. When I talked to Beth Moore of DEQ about this new listing she put me in contact with the DEQ department where they use information gathered to list streams. It appears no sediment monitoring has even been done since the 1990s. No one could tell me why the NFBR got listed, nor could they tell me what the protocols for testing water for levels of sediment would be. I tried to call the Basin Coordinator, Vanessa Rose, however her phone number as listed does not work.
I was told DEQ would look at information on why streams should be delisted in February. Thus, I need to find out where to send water samples so we can get the North Fork Burnt River delisted.
It is hard to find people working during the holidays, but I will see if I can get some answers in the near future.
ABANDONED PROPERTY-1996 Region 6 USFS publication
If a claim is abandoned, who owns any cabins, equipment, or materials left on the claim?
The answer to this question depends on the type of property. Permanent, non-movable property (such as cabins or equipment embedded in the soil) belong to the United States when the claim is abandoned. Items that could easily be moved (such as tools and equipment, but not treasure trove) belong to whomever claims them. The United States can claim ownership of this equipment by taking possession of it.
WHAT IS A TREASURE TROVE? – 1996 Region 6 USFS publication
Treasure trove is a valuable quantity of money, unmounted gems, or precious worked metal in the form of coins, plate or bullion of unknown ownership that has been purposely hidden. Placer gold and high-grade lode specimens are not considered treasure trove.
If a treasure trove is discovered on National Forest land, even if it is on a mining claim, the treasure must remain in escrow for one year, and ownership must be adjudicated through a legal process.
NEPA REQUIRES THE “NO ACTION” ALTERNATIVE, HOWEVER, THE FOREST SERVICE CANNOT LEGALLY CHOOSE THIS ALTERNATIVE IN AN EA FOR A MINING OPERATION-1996 Region 6 USFS publication
The Forest Service must use the No Action Alternative as a baseline against which you measure other alternatives.
The EA or EIS must state that the no action alternative cannot be legally implemented without a probable “takings” of private property rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.
TO WHAT EXTENT DOES THE FOREST SERVICE HAVE DISCRETION TO PROHIBIT MINING IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS?-1996 Region 6 USFS publication
They have no discretion to prohibit mining. Instead, the Forest Service should use the NEPA process to develop reasonable alternatives that would allow legitimate, well-planned mineral operations while protecting resource values.
GOOD SAMARITAN LEGISLATION HEADS FOR THE PRESIDENT’S DESK-AEMA
The American Exploration & Mining Association’s (AEMA) Executive Director, Mark Compton, issued the following statement in excitement of today’s passage of the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hard Rock Mines Act:
“AEMA celebrates today’s passage of the bipartisan Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hard Rock Mines Act, the culmination of nearly three decades of work by a broad range of stakeholders. Our members are proud to collaborate with the conservation community, states, and the federal government to address the cleanup of historic, pre-regulation sites. This pilot project program provides an opportunity to demonstrate that the process can work so we can progress to a broader Good Sam bill in the near future. I’d like to congratulate and thank Senators Risch and Heinrich, and Representatives Maloy and Peltola for their leadership, and all the bipartisan cosponsors for getting this important legislation across the finish line.”
IS A CLAIM NECESSARY IN ORDER TO EXTRACT LOCATABLE MINERALS FROM NATIONAL FOREST LANDS? – 1996 Region 6 USFS publication
No. Also, a plan of operation can be approved without a mining claim
GLOBAL WARMING, ENERGY, AND ENVIRONMENT- Jack Dini
Melting of Arctic ice has been used as a major data point in justification of restrictive energy policies by many countries. It is ironic, and infuriating that millions across the world are suffering from high energy prices and blackouts at the same time that Arctic Sea ice has been at its greatest extent in many years.
Arctic sea ice continued its remarkable recovery in January 2024. Good news for polar bears and ice fans, but frankly a bit of disaster if you are forecasting future summer swimming galas at the North Pole to promote collective Net Zero agendas. This is an area that has long been a poster scare for climate Armageddon.
Arctic sea ice this January was at its highest level for 20 years, and there has been no downward trend in the minimum since 2006.
Susan Crockford observes that the latest National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) number “now makes 18 years of near-zero trend in September sea ice, which demolishes the claim that CO2 means less sea ice.”
Every year since 2012 has seen a higher minimum than 2012 and, as Crockford notes, a fitting of the line to the fluctuations shows no trend since 2006.
Global warming was supposed to open up Arctic region shipping routes, making the Northwest Passage easier and less risky to traverse. However, the opposite has happened. While a declining trend in Arctic Sea ice was observed from the 1990s to 2007, there has been no trend reduction in Arctic Sea ice since then. A 17- year pause.
As of March 22, 2024, all of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago was covered with ice as was Hudson’s Bay and the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia. This is contiguous with the seas to the north of Russia and Siberia, so the polar bears will have free range, and are not stranded on ice floes as shown by Al Gore.
Since the late 1970s, Antarctic Sea ice area has slowly increased, despite significant global warming The increase occurred largely between 2000 and 2014.
2025 PLP RENEWED PUSH FOR REGULATORY RELIEF-PLP
In 2025, Public Lands for the People (PLP) plans on getting back to Washington, DC in a renewed effort to provide regulatory relief to small miners across the United States. We are dusting off the proposed critical minerals legislation we proposed a few years back and are refining and updating a few items. We may be going back to Washinton DC as soon as April or May and are planning at least 2 trips to meet with Senators, Congressmen, the Trump White House and at least one meeting with Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Key items the proposed legislation intends on resolving:
1. This legislation will provide regulatory certainty that is critical for the mining industry and American investment in critical minerals.
2. It will provide relief from America’s dependency on China and other unfriendly nations for critical minerals essential for our high-tech and military needs, which is essential for America’s national security.
3. This legislation will help to curb the devastating environmental destruction occurring in China, which has profound and unwelcome effects on the United States and the world.
4. It will help prevent the theft of intellectual property by eliminating the need for American companies to re-locate manufacturing to China to secure a critical mineral supply chain.
5. It will promote environmentally responsible mining and reclamation practices here in the United States.
CHINA BANS EXPORT OF CRITICAL MINERALS TO U.S.-Rich Noland, National Mining Association
China on Tuesday banned exports to the United States of the critical minerals gallium, germanium and antimony that have widespread military applications, escalating trade tensions the day after Washington’s latest crackdown on China’s chip sector. The curbs strengthen enforcement of existing limits on critical minerals exports that Beijing began rolling out last year, but apply only to the U.S. market, in the latest escalation of trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies ahead of President-elect Donald Trump taking office next month.
Citing the U.S. Geological Survey, the Associated Press noted that the U.S. receives roughly half its supply of both gallium and germanium metals directly from China. China exported roughly 25 tons of gallium in 2022 and produces about 660 tons of germanium per year. These export limitations have had a mixed impact on prices for those minerals, with the price of antimony more than doubling in 2024 to more than $25,000 per ton. Prices for gallium, germanium and graphite also have increased. According to the Associated Press, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said Tuesday the move comes after Washington, D.C. expanded its list of Chinese companies subject to export controls on computer chip-making equipment, software, and high-bandwidth memory chips. These specific chips are required for advanced applications.
TARIFFS- Rich Nolan National Mining Association
President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to raise tariffs on imports from China and other countries, possibly intensifying tensions over trade and technology. The minerals sourced in China are used in computer chips, cars and other goods
In 2023, China said it would require exporters to apply for licenses to send to the U.S. the important materials like gallium and germanium.
However, in August 2024, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said it would limit exports of antimony, which is used in products like batteries and weapons, and enforce tighter controls on exports of graphite, the Associated Press reported.
These minerals are considered important for national security. China is a major producer of antimony, which is used in batteries, night-vision goggles and nuclear weapon production, according to AP, citing a 2021 U.S. International Trade Commission report.
China says it’s protecting itself from US trade restrictions. After the U.S. side announced it was adding 140 companies to an “entity list” subject to strict export controls, China’s Commerce Ministry protested and said it would act to protect China’s “rights and interests.”
The AP noted that almost all the companies impacted by Washington, D.C.’s latest trade restrictions are based in China, though some are Chinese-owned businesses in Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.
Meanwhile, China’s government has been discouraged by U.S. limitations on access to advanced processor chips and other technology on security grounds but has been wary in retaliating, to avoid disrupting China’s developers of chips, artificial intelligence, and other technology.
Several Chinese industry associations issued statements protesting the U.S. move to limit access to advanced chip-making technology.
PLP RAFFLE
PLP’s Grand Raffle helps us continue to fight for your rights. A book of 12 tickets is only $10. We have a lot of great high value prizes. You can’t win if you don’t enter! Tickets will be available in January to purchase by phone for the 2025 Grand Raffle Drawing.
The growing list of the prizes for the 2025 Grand Raffle is published on our PLP Facebook site. You can call our toll-free number (844)-PLP-1990 which is (844) 757-1990 or Mail a Check (to PLP) and specify the number of ticket books you wish to have mailed to you. The drawing date and location is October 11th, at the 2025 Red Mountain, California PLP Fallfest event.
EOMA ADVERTISING AND SALE LISTINGS
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
Equipment located in Baker City:
Small trommel, feeder/grizzly, 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.
TWO-CELL PAN AMERICAN STYLE JIG FOR SALE
Pan-American style, two cell, square, 42×42 inch jig. Includes 3/16” steel shot and 1/4” screens. Pan-American style jigs differ from other jigs as the diaphragm is located under the machine directly below the jig material bed. This increases recovery over other styles such as the “Denver” jig and various other “side pulse” jigs as it lifts the material equally across the entire material bed. Has an electric motor. I have not used this jig myself, and it has been sitting idle for several years. As is, $8,000 or make offer. Located in Unity, Oregon. Contact Ken Alexander 541-446-3413. Pictures can be provided on request.
65 KW ONAN GENERATOR FOR SALE
This is a 65 KW Onan generator mounted on a trailer with home-built cover. Has two junction boxes for power hookups. Comes with instruction manual and parts catalog. It is powered by a UV 401 International Harvester Co. engine with a gas tank hookup, but can be modified for LPG. The unit has only 339.6 Hrs. on the hour meter. Was used by USF&W as backup unit at a fish hatchery. Started and tested in October 2024. $2500 or make offer. Located in Unity, Oregon. Pictures can be provided on request. Contact Ken Alexander at 541-446-3413.
TEST TROMMEL FOR SALE-$1500
This unit is mounted on a trailer and can easily be moved into a site for testing the deposit. Contact Bob at firebasebob@hotmail.com . My phone number is 541-473-2880
I can e-mail you pictures.
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.
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
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