June 29, 2013 in Letters, Opinion
Mining highly scrutinized
I have a recreational mining claim on a tributary that eventually feeds into the North Fork of the Clearwater River. The idiot that posted those signs should be prosecuted, but don’t label all miners into that category.
Orofino, Orogrande and Moose creeks all feed the Clearwater, and they all are known gold producers. Last fall, when I purchased my claim, I went there and in less than one hour with my metal detector I found a nice picker. My permit for this year requires that I address 32 specific points, from my camp, water usage, sewage holding and disposal, fuel storage, and even gathering firewood for a nightly camp fire. If I don’t comply with those requirements, they can shut me down.
I don’t know of any other recreational activity that is required to comply with such strict requirements. The Clearwater should be protected, but let’s do it in a responsible way to protect all recreational activities. You imply that the mining laws of 1872 are outdated; does that mean that the laws of 1776 are outdated, too?
Michael Funderok
Deer Park
For some reason the regulators seem to feel that prospectors need to be more regulated than other recreational activities. Some counties are anal about wanting a plan of operation and want you to follow all of their rules for prospectors….like having your porta-potty, not having offensive colored tarps,….etc. I am not sure why they pick on us more than other recreational activities. Hopefully can use discretion and comply with what makes sense, and find ways to get around the rules that don’t make sense.