FYI....

Details are sketchy at this point.

However, there is a major push to roll about 60+ wilderness proposals into one omnibus bill. Within California this means that Boxer's proposal will be pushed through with minimal opportunity for public review/debate.

In addition, there is a bill expected to be debated next week that will prohibit ANY ground disturbing activity within 10 miles of a wilderness are, national park, National Recreation Area and potentially on ANY federal lands.

Below is an excerpt from an action alert from the National Stone Sand and Gravel association regarding the Supplemental Mine Safety Act (S-Miner). Please contact your congressman’s office as soon as possible to register our opposition to this measure. Key message points below. Please let me know of any feedback you receive.

This is an all-out effort to halt all activity on public lands -- including recreation.

CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND ASK THEM TO VOTE NO ON ANY WILDERNESS PROPOSAL AND THE S-MINER ACT (H.R. 2768)

***********************************

CALL YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TODAY!!!

S-MINER ACT HEADED FOR HOUSE VOTE AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK!

TELL CONGRESS THIS BILL WILL NOT IMPROVE MINE SAFETY, IS PUNITIVE, WILL CREATE CONFUSION AND THREATEN CONTINUED PROGRESS

Call NSSGA's Washington Action Hotline at (800) 450-8293 to be connected directly to the U.S. Capitol Switchboard and ask to speak with your Members of Congress’ Washington offices. Let your voice be heard TODAY!!!


BACKGROUND:

On Oct. 31, the House Committee on Education and Labor approved substitute legislation offered by Chairman George Miller (D-Calif.) that combined H.R. 2768 (the S-MINER bill) with H.R. 2769 (the Miner Health Enhancement Act) into one bill. Final approval came on a 26-18 vote with all Democrats supporting passage and all Republicans present voting in opposition. Three Republican amendments which would have eased the regulatory burden of the bill and allowed more input of employees on company safety committees were defeated on party-line votes. The bill now heads to the House floor where it could be taken up as early as next week. NSSGA will send a letter to all members of the House urging opposition to the S-MINER bill and advising this is a key vote for purposes of our member scorecards.

The substitute S-MINER Act includes several additions impacting on the aggregates industry:


* A requirement that all underground mines install conveyor belts that meet NIOSH-recommended flame resistance requirements;
* A “Family Liaison Requirement” that provides detail about the duties of such a position;
* A provision that requires escrow to accrue interest while operators contest a citation/penalty.

Unfortunately I live in the SF Bay Area, so which tree hugger congressperson should I send a letter to, like any of them would care?:mad3:

I'm actually relieved to see them rolled together... OHV users fight pretty effectively en masse, but sometimes we are slow to reach out and support our brothers when the closure is in their backyards, and not ours. :(

We beat Boxer's bill back last time -- we can do it again. This new 10-mile buffer is ludicrous, and will hopefully be defeated in court. Haven't we proven time and time again that buffers are illegal? This brings into focus yet again, why a Backcountry designation is important -- the anti-access folks will keep coming back to the table to take away access unless we affirmatively define public lands as Backcountry, with trails open to OHV use. Nearly a third of my local forest is already restricted to motorized access, but the anti-access folks want more. :rolleyes:

John, does the S-Miner act relate directly to the Wilderness discussion, or is it a separate issue? Is this similar to why OHV users should support responsible timber trade (since we can use their routes, and vice versa, when managed correctly)?

Randii

In addition, there is a bill expected to be debated next week that will prohibit ANY ground disturbing activity within 10 miles of a wilderness area

Define "ground disturbing activity" for me?

What does all this mean in English?

Portions of the Rubicon are within 10 miles of Desolation Wilderness. (as is Barret) Could this mean the possiblity of a potential closure?

Nother Q:

Just how critical is this?

Is this another emergency that we should be rallying all the troops for?

If it happens next week, we gotta get on the ball.

In addition, there is a bill expected to be debated next week that will prohibit ANY ground disturbing activity within 10 miles of a wilderness area

Define "ground disturbing activity" for me?

What does all this mean in English?

Portions of the Rubicon are within 10 miles of Desolation Wilderness. (as is Barret) Could this mean the possiblity of a potential closure?

x2... You said national park? Ground disurbing could include like.. House building... But certainly no one would stand for not being allowed structures and roads within 10 MILES of any national park!

Also kf6zpl: Are you a ham operator? Just wondering cause your username looks like a call sign... If so I am KC8KQO.

Is it time for my plan yet? is it is it? :D My troops and I will just lay in wait ;)

Yes, it is my ham call sign

"Ground disturbing" is the question. Other text in the bill appears to point to mining activity. However, liberal interpretation can mean maintenance of a route.

The 10-mile buffer did raised some flags with initial supporters.

Basically, Rahall (D-WV) has been trying for some time to move legislation that puts his miner constituents (Private land owners) on an "even playing field" with miners that use public lands.

The real question is, how critical is this to ACCESS to public lands?

Don't know until the ink is dry and public lands are removed for access due to restrictions on access for mineral extraction.

WRT wilderness, the push is there. Is it to galvanize supports of wilderness and get people out ot vote?

All we know is there is a high probability of action within the coming months.

Now is the time for people to contact their elected officials and express a vote of "NO MORE WILDERNESS".

A list of talking points is being developed and expected to be available by Monday.

Found this link on the eco-nazzi center for bio-terrorism and propaganda's web site today. They have a form letter to use to submit a letter to your congressman. Just change the wording to something that states your own opinion, like this:

Chairmen Rahall and Costa introduced a bill on the 135th birthday of the 1872 Mining Law that would unnecessarily reform this law, which governs hardrock minerals like gold, copper, and uranium. This is nothing more than a ploy by the anti-access activists to close the public out of their public lands.

The bill will be voted on this week, and I urge you to vote NO. It's a vote for communities, taxpayers and public access.

The regulations set forth in the 1872 Mining Law are still applicable today, and do not need reform. This bill will place unnecessary restrictions on how the public can access and use their public lands. Please send a message that public lands are for the public and vote NO on this bill.

Please vote against HR 2262, the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007, and against any attempts to preclude the public from enjoying their public lands.
Here's the linky: http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/make_a_ghost

Simple enough -- it only took me two minutes, and I stopped to edit the letter a bit.

DO IT!

Chairmen Rahall and Costa introduced a bill on the 135th birthday of the 1872 Mining Law that would unnecessarily reform this law, which governs hardrock minerals like gold, copper, and uranium. This is nothing more than a ploy by the anti-access activists to further close the public out of their public lands. My local National Forest is the Eldorado, of which 32% is already restricted against OHV use -- further restrictions are unnecessary, if National Forests are to be truly managed for multiple uses!

The bill will be voted on this week, and I urge you to vote NO. It's a vote for communities, taxpayers, and public access.

The regulations set forth in the 1872 Mining Law are still applicable today, and do not need reform. This bill will place unnecessary restrictions on how the public can access and use their public lands. Please send a message that public lands are for the public and vote NO on this bill.

Please vote against HR 2262, the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007, and against any future attempts to preclude the public from enjoying their public lands.

Thanks for the lead... it gives me a smile for most of my day when I get to use the Center for Biological Diversity's own website against their causes. :p

Randii

Thanks for the lead... it gives me a smile for most of my day when I get to use the Center for Biological Diversity's own website against their causes. :p

Randii

:evil:

DONE!

Make sure you also change the text of the subject line in addition to the body of the message.

I love this stuff....
done and posted to http://golddredger.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=list&forum=DCForumID2&archive=

and
http://www.49ermike.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=181

I'll do my best to take care of Rahall.............with my vote. Unfortunately that's slow and ineffective. :(