Letter to the editor _Sac. Bee

[Fullpan]

Dear sirs: Enclosed you will find a video shot at one of the many bridges located throughout the Sierra. It shows a group of twenty
miners dumping approximately 1 pound of mercury and 2 pounds of fishing lead into the river. In the background a sign reading
"WE DEMAND A PUBLIC APOLOGY FROM IZZY".

As you know "izzy" Martin has championed the dredging ban in ca. She has accomplished this ban through lies, misrepresentation,
and illegal backroom deals at the statehouse.

We demand the public apology to be aired on bay area tv stations, the Sac. Bee, and the S.F. Cronicle. If no action is taken, every
two weeks, or thereabout, a new video will be shot somewhere in the Mother Lode showing the same event.

We small-scale miners are sick and tired of being victimized by her and other NGO's so they can reap the rewards forthcoming
in future water bonds.

Lest you think this dumping of pollutants is an illegal action, we remind you that we are just putting back into the watersheds what WE TOOK OUT! There is no law prohibiting the returning of locateable minerals back to from whence they came.

Since the 1960's miners have removed thousands of pounds of mercury and lead fishing weights from Sierra watersheds, not to mention tons of plastic and other garbage, making us the most effective environmental remediators in the states history.

The enclosed video is just the start. Many hundreds of pounds will be returned to the rivers, if our demands are not met.

Respectfully, THE MIDNIGHT MINERS COALITION

p.S. if you like this, suggest you print it and carry on the conversation through PMs and emails. I will severely edit or delete this thread by Monday.

 

[Hefty1]

Thanks for the warm welcome Hefty1, Fullpan, and all. Don't be so quick to jump to conclusions.

I am a prospector/miner and sympathize with your cause, but here's why I think the idea is not too well thought out. You demand an apology or you are going to dump more mercury and lead into a river. Do you think that projects the image of a responsible mining community? It just adds fuel to the fire of those who think that prospecting/mining should be banned, and you know you'll never get an apology.

I'm sure there are other prospectors/miners who would not want to be associated this group, and would prefer a more sensible and professional approach to voicing their objections to the dredging ban.

Well hawkeye...if you would have said that you were a prospector/miner in the first place on your first post.
I would not have welcomed you that way...so I will give you my apology.
As many of us on here have tried the sensible and professional approach to voicing their objections to the dredging ban.
And in return get shut down even more in different ways...spit in our faces so to say.
And it is spreading across this country at an alarming rate. I for one would love to see one of these law makers out in the woods so I can show them what it is all about... but they wont leave their comfy concrete office...thats fine if thats what they want ...but dont mess with my and many others income. The water up on my claim, and I drink it all the time, is cleaner than my house water in Suckramento. And that was just proven.
You got any sensible and professional approaches you want to share that hasnt been tried...Speak up!

 

[hawkeye39]

Hefty, thanks for your comments. Admittedly, my first post was not very well thought out. It was my initial gut reaction to the idea. I could have taken a more sensible approach. I wish I had some great ideas for you. Unfortunately I think the only way to change things now is through the courts. Probably challenges by people charged for breaking laws. Of course, the mining community will need to financially support these people. Hopefully some of the current cases before the courts will eventually result in something positive.

 

[Fullpan]

I apologize too - sure looked odd for your first post, Hawkeye - welcome to what's left of small-scale mining in Ca.

 

[Fullpan]

I like the spirit, but I think it is a bad idea.

There has got to be an equally outrageous idea that doesn't pollute our streams.

Just curious, GM - how much mercury do you think is laying in the rivers in ca?

Anyone want to guess?

Check out the paragraph "Use and loss of mercury..."
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2005/3014/

 

[Fullpan]

Well hawkeye...if you would have said that you were a prospector/miner in the first place on your first post.
I would not have welcomed you that way...so I will give you my apology.
As many of us on here have tried the sensible and professional approach to voicing their objections to the dredging ban.
And in return get shut down even more in different ways...spit in our faces so to say.
And it is spreading across this country at an alarming rate. I for one would love to see one of these law makers out in the woods so I can show them what it is all about... but they wont leave their comfy concrete office...thats fine if thats what they want ...but dont mess with my and many others income. The water up on my claim, and I drink it all the time, is cleaner than my house water in Suckramento. And that was just proven.
You got any sensible and professional approaches you want to share that hasnt been tried...Speak up!

See what the Sierra Fund is doing just last week. They have all that free taxpayer money to indoctrinate the lawmakers. While we sit on our hands and watch
the lies being presented.

Legislators join The Sierra Fund for tour of problems faced by the Sierra

 

[Hefty1]

That just makes me sick....hope they all got soaked...

 

[gold tramp]

Just curious, GM - how much mercury do you think is laying in the rivers in ca?

Anyone want to guess?

Check out the paragraph "Use and loss of mercury..."
Mercury Contamination from Historical Gold Mining in California

Let me fix this for you FP. How much Pregnant HG is laying in and on the bedrock of our rivers?..................................

I think the realty is they are trying determine whos in charge of the final Take !!

 

[Oakview2]

We shouldn't expect anything less from a bunch of attorneys and community activists, operating on dollars they stole through liberal courts.

See what the Sierra Fund is doing just last week. They have all that free taxpayer money to indoctrinate the lawmakers. While we sit on our hands and watch
the lies being presented.

Legislators join The Sierra Fund for tour of problems faced by the Sierra

 

[ScottC]

Over 50 years of small scale dredging, and all of a sudden there's newly discovered unknown science about it, thats a total lie, and democrats know it. Its also disrespectful to all of the past scientists that have spent much time studying the effects of dredging and concluded its not dangerous or hazardous to humans or the environment. Less than significant impact. And the democrats still cram their agenda down our throats. Is this a WE THE PEOPLE republic, sounds like a democratic dictatorship to me. vote out all the democrats that voted for the temporary dredge ban.

 

[goldenIrishman]

Well as I see it there are a couple of problems with trying to vote those people out. First and foremost is the cost of running for ANY office in this country anymore. If you're not rich, you can't run! The bigger the office, the more it costs to run for it. Second is the fact that there is a lack of people getting out to vote anymore. If you don't vote, don't whine about the laws that are passed! Last but not least is the fact that there hasn't been anyone worth voting for since J.F.K. in my book. They're all a pack of liars and thieves. They say they want to improve our country, but just whom are they improving it for? Themselves and the special interest groups that have the deep pockets and can buy any politician or political seat they want.

Until as such time that the people stand up and take back their rights we are not going to see any change in the system. Laws are forced on us that the people never voted on. Look at mandatory insurance for cars. Did it help anyone other than the insurance companies? I don't think so.

 

[ScottC]

The california water parks and wildlife committee set the regulations for the Fish and Game(WildLife) dept. And its been controlled by people that are circumventing the checks and balances that make sure bad agenda driven regulations don't get to the floor for a vote. The controlling interest on this committee is sympathizing with the views of the Sierra Fund leaders and their extreme agenda that relies on banning anything they FEEL, may or might cause harm. This is just not a prudent way to run government, especially when there is such a large econimic impact to small rural communities. This committee needs to rethink this MAY, MIGHT cause harm and start relying on solid science. Then implement regulations based on expert science. Like I said before over 50 years of small scale dredging with science based regulations, and now they ban it because? they won't even answer or communicate the scientific why, just it MAY or MIGHT cause harm. NOT ACCEPTABLE, these lawmakers should be brought up on charges for not following administrative procedures and abuse of power in office and removed from office by the attorney general.

 

[Oakview2]

Like I said before over 50 years of small scale dredging with science based regulations, and now they ban it because? they won't even answer or communicate the scientific why, just it MAY or MIGHT cause harm.

Proposed Harm.

 

[spillercanyon]

Voting doesn't work, first of all the democraps were voted in by sheep that believe whatever a loud bunch of people tell them. Second, if the Goobernet doesn't like what is voted in, they find a way around it. Our founding father's had it right, only allow those to vote that have skin (property in the eyes of the founding father's) in the game. If you don't have skin in the game you have nothing to lose, thus anything the Goobernet gives them is more than they had before.

I'll now step off my soap box. Californians have a major heat wave coming, stay hydrated.

 

[Fullpan]

"large econimic impact to small rural communities."

As we pull spec by spec or nugget by nugget or even micron and macron precious metals from this earth as an individual, or part of a team are final accomplishment is to add to this nations wealth . We add value to our NATION . Our findings are a result of our labor, are findings are worth value . Value that gets added to our community at large.



Mining isn't buying japanes parts and building "American " products , Mining doesn't involve buying Chinese crap that they made from our recycled waste . ALOT of AMERICAN business sends moneys over seas for materials or manufacturing .


Mining does not send money out , Mining CREATES VALUE FROM THE EARTH . Where there is NO product to purchase and resale , our metal products are almost PURE PROFIT with mining there is no money leaving the nations wealth to buy poor made foreign products that are bought and sold and finally sumone here sends a million or 2 dollars over seas to pay for there goods.

In the end, if all the industry that creates values without having to send billions of dollars over seas as payments for inferior products , then America Is gonna stay in debt forever.

You are preaching to the choir. Got any ideas?

 

[Quickpan Dan]

Get your point but not impressed with your solution. Just hope my family's not around the next bend next time your trying to prove a point.

 

[GrizzlyGremlin]

Bla bla bla hate government bla bla. Demonstration is what is needed. The declaration of independence gives freedom to ALL of you!! By obeying these laws YOU are the reason that the bans are effective. The only option is to dredge. Either take the fine from "Mr. Green Jeans" and keep dredging or get your guns and point them at someone until they leave. Its simple. Clog the court system, or get your glock, and tie mr sheriff to a fence post.
We are a country formed on the principal that if you believe in something it is not just your option but your DUTY to stand up for it. History shows this. Even modern history. Look at colorado and washington. Marijuana is legal! Was this because the government said hey lets legalize? No, the people stood up and said "we will burn the ganga and dont care what the government says about it. This is defiance of federal laws and spits on drug control polices not only in this country but on every country on earth! This is still america regardless of the socialist pigs financial power trip agenda. It comes down to you and me. Im not sure about you but ill be in the river...

 

[Fullpan]

Get your point but not impressed with your solution. Just hope my family's not around the next bend next time your trying to prove a point.

got any ideas? Do you think the greenies like to have us digging with spoons and pans? NPS = no panning. Since we didn't
stand up and fight what's to stop them from declaring another emergency. If you don't have a better idea, better bring some
lubricant, cause they're not finished with you yet!

 

[Hefty1]

got any ideas? Do you think the greenies like to have us digging with spoons and pans? NPS = no panning. Since we didn't
stand up and fight what's to stop them from declaring another emergency. If you don't have a better idea, better bring some
lubricant, cause they're not finished with you yet!

OHHHHHH!