Draft Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (DSEIR)
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=27400&inline=1
"For the 2008 season, California resident permit holders reported removing on average approximately 1.6 ounces of mercury per dredger and non‐California resident permit holders reported removing on average 2.6 ounces of mercury per dredger."
"Impact HAZ‐2: Handling, Storage, Transport and/or Disposal of Toxic Materials Collected by Suction Dredges (Less Than Significant) "
"Suction dredging recovers mercury, lead and other toxic substances from dredged stream sediment"
2966 x 1.6oz = 4745.6 oz mercury removed in 2008
557 x 2.6oz = 1448.2 oz mercury removed in 2008
Total oz mercury removed by dredgers in 2008 = 6,193.8 oz
http://www.icmj.com/UserFiles/file/... Impact of Suction Dredging in California.pdf
According to the California Department of Fish & Game, 3,523 permits (2,966 resident and 557 non-resident) were
issued in 2008.
The State of California determined, “Suction dredging is an activity that requires a substantial investment.”
According to the State, each dredger spent approximately $6,250 each on expenses which included groceries, restaurants,
motels, camp fees and other living expenses. In addition, they reported spending about $3,000 each on gas, oil,
equipment maintenance and repairs to suction dredge equipment.
Conclusion
The 1994 Environmental Impact Report, along with additional information provided here, proves without a doubt that
suction dredge miners contribute significant wealth to the economy of California.
These conservative figures demonstrate the economic impact of suction dredging at $65,465,530 million in 2008. The
Additional Economic Impacts cited above obviously increase the total well above the $60 million assertion.
(The report was authored by Rachel Dunn of Gold Pan California, Pat Keene of Keene Engineering, and Scott Harn
of ICMJ’s Prospecting and Mining Journal, with the assistance of over 100 additional businesses and individuals who
provided supporting documentation.)