The Mining Law of 1872 is famously generous to miners when it comes to granting them rights to the riches on public lands. But in northern Idaho, a scuffle between miners and the Forest Service hinges on a related, but lesser-known law: the Mining Claims Rights Restoration Act of 1955. And unlike the 1872 law, […]
MARYSVILLE, 6 December 2012 – The Sierra Fund CEO Izzy Martin briefed the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) Board of Directors on abandoned mines and mercury issues in the Sierra at their December 5-6 meeting in Marysville. On December 6, she presented “Reclaiming the Gold Country: Opportunities for the Sierra Nevada Conservancy” which included background on […]
from Daily Environment Report™ Tuesday, August 21, 2012 By Amena H. Saiyid State agencies may be able to assess and develop plans to protect healthy waters alongside those to restore impaired ones as part of a yearlong effort by the Environmental Protection Agency and state water agencies to reform the process for writing total maximum […]
From the State Water Resources Control Board SACRAMENTO, 21 June 2011 – The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) has approved a strategy designed to ultimately reduce the amount of mercury and methylmercury impacting fish inhabiting the Sacramento and San Joaquin river basins. The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (Central Valley […]
From The Oregonian By Scott Learn 16 June 2011 – Oregon’s Environmental Quality Commission today adopted the strictest standards for toxic water pollution in the United States. The new rules, adopted on a 4-1 vote, are designed to protect tribal members and others who eat large amounts of contaminated fish. Oregon’s current water quality standards […]
While the price of gold has skyrocketed in recent years, the associated gold fee has stayed constant. The Sierra Fund recommends increasing the gold fee, and letting it vary depending on the price of gold, while directing this new funding stream to clean up the impacts of abandoned gold mines.
The lead protocol is well established and includes product guidelines, child testing and public education mechanisms. A very similar treatment should be implemented for mercury. This requires a strong policy coalition including concerned parents, health care providers, fishermen, midwifes, nutritionists, schools and many others. The Sierra Fund recommends that a state-wide or nation-wide health advocacy […]
