Panorama Gem

Rock Hounding in Northeast Washington

Attack on Rockhounding

December 9th, 2015

This is notice of a proposal to withdraw 10 million acres from public access to mineral resources.  Action is required by December 14th.  The alert was passed on by owners of the Dust Devil Sunstone Mine near Lakeview, Oregon.

From: Terry Clark [mailto:dustdevil_terry@hughes.net]
Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2015 12:35 PM
Subject: Land Withdrawal

This email is to inform you of an upcoming meeting on December 14, 2015 at 5:00 pm Pacific Standard Time at the Interagency Office in Lakeview, Oregon. This meeting is about the withdrawal of 10 million acres of public and private land in seven western states. This includes potential mining claims and will have a major impact on existing claims.

Existing claims will be allowed to stay however they will be severely limited. Existing mines will be limited to one mine every square mile with the allowed disturbance of only 1% (6.4 acres) in every 640 acres.

This withdrawal will cripple the western states in their ability to access and use their mineral wealth. The withdrawal of these lands also directly impacts and severely limits grazing, recreational access, as well as renewable energy development.

It is very important that you contact your local and regional representatives regarding this withdrawal before the end of the comment period of January 15, 2016. Please send your comments to the Secretary of Interior, BLM, USFS, Fish and Game, your Senators and Congressmen as well as your local county commissioners and town councils.

This withdrawal will make a large difference in local and national economies so we ask that you please look at the attachments and if you would like a full copy of the attached documents please contact:

choppa@blm.gov
503-808-6268

Contacts:

Oregon

US Senator Jeff Merkley
404 Russell Building
Washington DC 20410-3704
Phone: 202-224-3753
Fax: 202-228-3997