VICTORY!!!!
Almost 2 weeks ago P0lecat & I posted about the Auburn State Recreation Area being withdrawn from mining (Order No. 690-006-2010) down to hands and pans only. It took people like our Goldhounds Club; mining shop owners and fellow recreation users concerned about losing more rights to "PUBLIC" lands.
Remember last year they banned dredging until the environmental impact report is completed (God only knows when that will be) and the folks that paid about $50 each for dredging permits they never got to use; were never reimbursed (States broke). FYI it can be taken to small claims court and overturned. Anyone writing a letter of demand would more than likely get reimbursed, if one has the time and energy to do so.
So now we don't want to set more presedence on losing more of OUR lands; our letters/emails paid off in spades and the reply is next. I wonder if we'd known about the ban on dredging and acted quickly last year if something more could have been done. It shows that OUR voices can be heard and WE can make a difference and it didn't cost a dime; just a little time. ~Peace & Love~
Dear Karen Bartholomew,
Thank you for your correspondence on the recent change in regulations with regards to recreational mineral collection within Auburn State Recreation Area (Superintendent’s Order No. 690-006-2010, dated March 29, 2010).
On behalf of the department, including Director Coleman, please be advised that effective immediately, the March 29, 2010 Superintendent’s Order is withdrawn.
The primary intent of that Superintendent’s Order was to bring mineral collection activities within Auburn State Recreation Area into compliance with the new law, SB 670. SB 670 banned all suction dredging within California until an environmental impact report can be completed in order to determine if dredging is harmful to fish populations or causing other environmental impacts. SB 670 remains the law and even with the withdrawal of Superintendent’s Order 690-006-2010, the restriction on suction dredging will continue to be enforced within Auburn State Recreation Area.
However, the order also prohibited the use of tools (except gold pans) while engaging in recreational mineral collecting within Auburn State Recreation Area and that has generated concern and complaints from interested parties and user groups. If changes to the recreational mining policy within Auburn SRA are to be considered in the future, park staff will be reaching out to stakeholders and interested parties to seek input regarding recreational mineral collection within the park with the goal of producing an order that will be more acceptable to the recreating public while still complying with the law and sound environmental practices.
Should you have any additional questions or comments on this issue, please contact me at mlync@parks.ca.gov .
Yours,
Mike Lynch
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M.G. "Mike" Lynch
Sector Superintendent
Auburn State Recreation Area
California State Parks - Gold Fields District
501 El Dorado Street, Auburn, CA 95603-4949
Direct: 530-823-4173 Cell: 530-863-8851
Office: 530-885-4527 Fax: 530-885-2798
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Remember last year they banned dredging until the environmental impact report is completed (God only knows when that will be) and the folks that paid about $50 each for dredging permits they never got to use; were never reimbursed (States broke). FYI it can be taken to small claims court and overturned. Anyone writing a letter of demand would more than likely get reimbursed, if one has the time and energy to do so.
So now we don't want to set more presedence on losing more of OUR lands; our letters/emails paid off in spades and the reply is next. I wonder if we'd known about the ban on dredging and acted quickly last year if something more could have been done. It shows that OUR voices can be heard and WE can make a difference and it didn't cost a dime; just a little time. ~Peace & Love~
Dear Karen Bartholomew,
Thank you for your correspondence on the recent change in regulations with regards to recreational mineral collection within Auburn State Recreation Area (Superintendent’s Order No. 690-006-2010, dated March 29, 2010).
On behalf of the department, including Director Coleman, please be advised that effective immediately, the March 29, 2010 Superintendent’s Order is withdrawn.
The primary intent of that Superintendent’s Order was to bring mineral collection activities within Auburn State Recreation Area into compliance with the new law, SB 670. SB 670 banned all suction dredging within California until an environmental impact report can be completed in order to determine if dredging is harmful to fish populations or causing other environmental impacts. SB 670 remains the law and even with the withdrawal of Superintendent’s Order 690-006-2010, the restriction on suction dredging will continue to be enforced within Auburn State Recreation Area.
However, the order also prohibited the use of tools (except gold pans) while engaging in recreational mineral collecting within Auburn State Recreation Area and that has generated concern and complaints from interested parties and user groups. If changes to the recreational mining policy within Auburn SRA are to be considered in the future, park staff will be reaching out to stakeholders and interested parties to seek input regarding recreational mineral collection within the park with the goal of producing an order that will be more acceptable to the recreating public while still complying with the law and sound environmental practices.
Should you have any additional questions or comments on this issue, please contact me at mlync@parks.ca.gov .
Yours,
Mike Lynch
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
M.G. "Mike" Lynch
Sector Superintendent
Auburn State Recreation Area
California State Parks - Gold Fields District
501 El Dorado Street, Auburn, CA 95603-4949
Direct: 530-823-4173 Cell: 530-863-8851
Office: 530-885-4527 Fax: 530-885-2798
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