EASTERN OREGON
MINING ASSOCIATION
NOVEMBER 2020
Volume 374
NOVEMBER 6, 2020 MEETING AT ELK CREEK ENTERPRISES
Many thanks to Alice Knapp for letting us meet at the saw shop while City Hall is not available for meetings. We will have a meeting on November 6, 2020 at the Elk Creek Enterprises saw shop located at 890 Elm Street. There is a big TIMBERUNITY sign in the window-you can’t miss it!
The Board Meeting will begin at 6:00PM with the regular meeting following at 6:30PM. Come to the meeting and let’s catch up before many miners will be closing down their operations and heading south. Don’t forget, we will give away a $50 dollar silver medallion at the end of the meeting. Come buy a ticket, support EOMA and who knows, you may get lucky!
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Hard to believe another mining season is closing down. Every year the season seems to get shorter, or could it be I am getting slower?
By the time you read this newsletter, it will be election day. Hopefully, everyone interested in producing, and using, minerals, lumber, and eating food grown in this country, realizes there have been improvements in the general Federal regulations under the Trump Administration. Producers, government agencies, and ultimately, consumers, will benefit from new requirements for reasonable timeframes, and limitations on the enormous quantities of information generated for environmental studies under NEPA.
Joe Biden and his “no fracking on Federal lands” statement is a major concern. Depending on the results of the election, it sounds as if ultimately, “no mining, grazing, or logging” on Federal lands could be next.
ENERGY METALS REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT-Northern Miner Staff
“An investment of at least US$1 trillion will be needed in key energy transition metals over the next 15 years “to meet the growing demands of decarbonization,” reports consultants Wood Mackenzie, noting that the figure is almost twice the amount invested over the last 15 years. “Put simply, the energy transition starts and ends with metals,” the consulting firm said. “If you want to generate, transmit or store low/no-carbon energy you need aluminum, cobalt, copper, nickel and lithium.”
Julian Kettle, Wood Mackenzie’s vice chairman of metals and mining, noted that producers are becoming more and more carbon conscious and some majors have transitioned out of high carbon assets altogether. “It isn’t just about portfolio balance,” he said in a statement, “the green agenda will have a profound impact on the way these companies extract and refine metals, with lower carbon operations an increasing priority.” Kettle said this has resulted in a renewed interest in scrap metal, but that the collection and sorting of scrap is still “problematic.” He also noted that scrap metal can’t be used in a number of applications in greener energy, including electricity cable and wiring, which demand primary metal.
“Green energy procurement and generation is at the fore, and portfolio optimization is now a must-have on any board agenda,” he stated. “It feels like the tipping point is imminent. We expect carbon to become a non-negotiable component of any AGM – as safety did in the 1990s.”
PRESIDENT TRUMP ISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDER ON MINING-AE&MA
On September 30, President Trump issued Executive Order 13953, declaring “that our Nation’s undue reliance on critical minerals, in processed or unprocessed form, from foreign adversaries constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat…to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. I hereby declare a national emergency to deal with that threat.” The executive order directs various federal agencies to prioritize the expansion and protection of the domestic supply chain of critical minerals. It also instructs the departments of Interior and Energy to examine whether existing programs could be interpreted to make grant funding and loan guarantees available for mining projects and equipment.
This latest order builds off President Trump’s E.O. 13817, issued in 2017, which directed federal agencies to establish a list of critical minerals and strategies for reducing the nation’s dependence on foreign sources. You can read the Executive Order here. A fact sheet is available here.
Forest Service Advances Revisions to Mining Regulations-AE&MA
Earlier this month, the U.S. Forest Service moved one step closer to updating its locatable minerals regulations (also known as “228(A) regs”). We have pushed the Forest Service for many years to adopt regulations that more closely resemble the Bureau of Land Management’s 3809 regulations, particularly BLM’s five-acre bonded notice provision for exploration activity on lands open to mineral entry. The proposed Forest Service updates were delivered to the Office of Management and Budget for review on October 7. AEMA will continue to engage the Trump Administration to keep this process moving in a timely fashion.
BLM PREPARES TO REPLACE LR2000--AE&MA
In 2019, BLM began laying the groundwork to replace LR2000, its aging online database of land and mineral use authorizations, conveyances, mining claims, withdrawals and classifications. The new system will be called MLRS, short for Mineral & Land Records System. You should be able to use MLRS to do everything you could do in the old system, and more. That said, we urge you to visit the BLM website about the MLRS rollout here so you can kick the tires and get a better sense of features and functions in the new system. MLRS will not go live until early 2021, and until that time, BLM wants your feedback and questions.
About 4-6 weeks before launch, BLM will send a letter to businesses with active claims, sharing important information on how to register with MLRS. The link above also contains FAQs and links to other documents you might find helpful.
MLRS is being implemented in phases. When we first launch, you can use MLRS for mining claim related filings and information. This includes filing new mining claims, managing existing mining claims, paying annual maintenance fees, transfers, amendments, and affidavit of assessment work – all online!
MLRS is being implemented in phases. Currently, you can use MLRS for mining claim related filings and information, such as submitting a new lode, placer, tunnel site, or mill site mining claim. You can also take action on an existing lode, placer, tunnel, or mill site claim, including:
Transfer of Interest
Relinquishment
Submitting Affidavit of Assessment Work & Proof of Labor
Designating Active Duty Military Status
Paying maintenance fees
Initiating an appeal to IBLA
SMALL MINER WAIVERS-Jan Alexander
Forms that require an original signature, such as a small miners waiver form, still must be mailed into BLM. This has been, and will continue to be, a problem. BLM can open an envelope sent via certified mail, the miner gets back a green card signed by BLM, but the waiver never gets recorded in LR2000. This happened to me. BLM said they opened the envelope, but there was nothing inside. I found out, there is no way to fight this, and no “due process”. If the waiver isn’t receipted by September 1, and eventually entered into LR2000, the claims are lost.
To prevent this situation happening to you, and having your claims voided, the thing to do is send in the waiver early. Legally, you cannot send the waiver with original signatures, until you have completed assessment for the year. For our high elevation claims, June 1, 2021 will be about the first time we can complete $100 or more worth of assessment work on all our claims and send in our waiver.
Watch the newsletter on information as to when the new BLM recording system will be in place.
EOMA WILL HELP MINERS SUBMIT DOCUMENTS-Jan Alexander
EOMA can help submit assessment work and quit claim deed documents to BLM electronically. Businesses, such as Tec Copier Systems in Baker City can also do this work. Miners will need to supply a credit card so they can charge their transactions. Hopefully the bugs will be worked out of the new BLM system and there will be no more “lost” documents in the BLM office in Portland.
The changes to LR2000 will be welcome! After miners file with the County for a new location, transfer or annual assessment, these documents can be submitted to BLM electronically, and BLM will immediately receipt them! Many of us have heard nothing this year on our annual filings. Checks have been cashed, the LR2000 data base has been updated, but miners have not been notified as has happened every other year. The reason, I am told, is that BLM employees are working from home due to the pandemic, and it is difficult to get letters out of the Portland office.
Since we will be able to send in our scanned copies of our affidavits of annual assessment electronically, we should all do this as soon as assessment work is completed. This means that you have expended over $100 per claim, it does not mean you are through mining for the year. We will still need to send in the small miner waiver with original signatures. Again, don’t wait until August, send in the waiver.
DO YOU WANT TO OPERATE A SUCTION DREDGE NEXT SEASON? Jan Alexander
I checked the DEQ website for the suction dredge application. Turns out you can have up to three dredges on one claim. They ask for hose diameter (maximum is 4” in Essential Salmon habitat (ESH) if it’s a siphon dredge, or from 2” to 6” if outside ESH,). Maximum horsepower is 30hp. They ask for the upstream and downstream township, range and section and the upstream and downstream latitude and longitude for each of the three dredges.
DEQ also wants to know how you get your dredge into the waterway whether your site is on private or federal lands.
For this past summer, the cost was $500 for a new registration ($250 initial application, plus $250 first annual fee). If you have more than three mining site locations, you need to submit an additional page concerning additional dredging location. There is nothing on the DEQ website about next 2021 season.
EOMA CAN STILL BOND MINERS ON BLM-Jan Alexander
EOMA’s bonding agreement is still in effect. Unfortunately, only miners who work on BLM claims can use it, as the Forest Service will not agree to work with us. Miners must be in good standing with BLM, be a current EOMA member and be recommended by an EOMA board member.
Miners whose bonds are $1500 or less can be covered under the agreement, by paying a one time fee of 10% of the bond amount (for a $1500 bond the miner pays $150) and each year paying EOMA $50 to keep the bond current. If a miner’s bond is more than $1500, the miner must make up the difference. Thus, if the bond is $3,000, EOMA will post half the bond amount and the miner will post the other half.
EOMA ADVERTISING AND SALE LISTINGS
EOMA SILVER MEDALLIONS FOR SALE
As most of you know, EOMA did not mint 2019 medallions, nor will we mint 2020 medallions. However, we still have 2018 medallions available, as well as some medallions from previous years. They are currently selling for $50.00 apiece plus $5.00 shipping, handling, and insurance. (Prices are subject to change).
You can order your medallion from the EOMA website and pay by pay-pal. Or, you can send $50 plus $5.00 shipping and handling to EOMA, Medallions, PO Box 932, Baker City, OR 97814, or call 541-310-8510. Also, you can buy them at our EOMA meetings.
FOR SALE EARTH MAGNETOMETER
This magnetometer measures the amount of magnetics in the ground, such as magnetite. Since magnetite is associated with gold, the magnetometer can help greatly with prospecting, since it will show you the amount of magnetite that may well be associated with gold in the ground. The more magnetite, the more gold. $400 or cash $350. Call Chuck Chase, 541-310-8510.
GOLDEN ANGEL PLACER CLAIMS FOR SALE
Located on Pine Creek, adjacent to the High Bar (Gold Rush) claims, the four 20-acre Golden Angels have an approved Plan of Operation in place. Good County road access, water for processing, WPCF permit goes with the sale. For information, call John at 541-620-1177.
GOLD CLAIMS FOR SALE (3)
6 unpatented placer claims (180 acres) located on Elk Creek near Baker City.
Sale includes all equipment (2 excavators, dump truck, trommel, pumps, generators, etc).
Site was featured on the cover of ICMJ’s Prospecting and Mining Journal (August 2014).
Approved Plan of Operation with US Forest Service in place and can be transferred (expires 2021, but additional time can be applied for). DEQ WPCF process permit goes with the sale of the claims. For price, pictures and details, call Don Enright, 509-860-1145 or email: donaldenright25@gmail.com
NATIVE SPIRIT 60 ACRE CLAIM FOR SALE
This claim is located on McCully Creek on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest just west of the town of Sumpter. Good access, off-channel water is available for processing. DEQ process permit goes with the sale of the claim. Plan of Operation is scheduled to be approved in the fall of 2020. Call Charles Stewart at 541-910-5435 for more information. I will look at any reasonable offers.
WANTED-GOLD
Gold Specimens and Gold nuggets, mostly from Oregon mines. Fair prices paid. Also selling Gold nugget jewelry, specimens, nuggets and more. For an interesting and informative experience explore www.northernnevadagold.com. Call Robert 775-455-6470.
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ACTION MINING SERVICES, INC.
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Call for our free catalog or visit us online! Check out their website for information on wave tables. PO Box 1913, Sandy OR 97055 Phone: 503 826-9330 • 800 624-1511 sales@actionmining.com • www.actionmining.com
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