[env-trinity] Fwd: CALIFORNIA LEGISATORS SEEK SAVINGS BY CUTTING SUCTION DREDGE MINING PROGRAM

[Tom Stokely]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Craig Tucker <ctucker at karuk.us>
> Date: May 13, 2011 9:53:18 AM PDT
> To: undisclosed-recipients:;
> Subject: CALIFORNIA LEGISLATORS SEEK SAVINGS BY CUTTING SUCTION DREDGE MINING PROGRAM
> 
> Karuk Tribe
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> P R E S S  R E L E A S E
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> For Immediate Release: May 13, 2011
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> For more information:  Craig Tucker, Klamath Coordinator, Karuk Tribe, 916-207-8294
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> CALIFORNIA LEGISLATORS SEEK SAVINGS BY CUTTING SUCTION DREDGE MINING PROGRAM
> Move would save money, advance salmon restoration, and improve water quality
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> Sacramento, CA – This week, budget sub -committees in both houses of the California legislature approved identical budget cuts that could effectively end the environmentally destructive practice of suction dredge mining once and for all. The effort would save California tax payers nearly $2 million a year and aid the recovery of imperiled fisheries throughout the state.
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> “California is in the midst of an historic financial crisis. Taxpayers can no longer afford to subsidize this environmentally destructive hobby,” said Leaf Hillman, Director of the Karuk Tribe Department of Natural Resources.
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> The move by the budget committees still has to be approved as part of the overall state budget, but reversing the proposal would require lawmakers to fight for budget increases to fund a dredge mining permit and enforcement program while they are at the same time faced with deep cuts to education, healthcare for the elderly, and law enforcement.
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> According to the Department of Fish and Game’s own Environmental Impact Report, the dredging program raises $373,000 a year in permit fees, but under the newly proposed regulations would spend over $1.8 million in administration and enforcement. This fails to include the cost of defending the program from lawsuits filed by Tribes, taxpayers, and fishermen.
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> Although the Department’s draft Environmental Impact Report found that dredging has “significant and unavoidable” impacts to water quality due to the reintroduction of mercury to the food chain, the Department claimed it had no authority to regulate the practice on those grounds. The Karuk Tribe along with a host of fishing, environmental, and Tribal groups argue that the Department’s proposed regulations would fail to protect struggling runs of salmon, steelhead, and numerous other fish species while violating clean water laws.
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> “The legislature saw the flaws in the Department’s proposed mining regulations and acted to defund the program rather than continue to waste taxpayer money,” added Hillman.
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> Currently, there is a double moratorium on dredge mining that stems from legislation passed in 2009 (SB 670 – Wiggins) as well as a 2009 court ordered moratorium resulting from a lawsuit filed by taxpayers. These moratoriums remain in place until new regulations are approved and implemented. However, these budget cuts would prevent the Department from developing these regulations and thus prolonging the moratorium indefinitely.
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> What is a Dredge?
> Suction dredges are powered by gas or diesel engines that are mounted on floating pontoons in the river. Attached to the engine is a powerful vacuum hose which the dredger uses to suction up the gravel and sand (sediment) from the bottom of the river. The material passes through a sluice box where heavier gold particles can settle into a series of riffles. The rest of the gravel is simply dumped back into the river. Not only does this destroy fish habitat, it often reintroduces mercury left over from historic mining operations to the food chain, threatening communities downstream and getting into the human food chain. Depending on size, location and density of these machines they can turn a clear running mountain stream into a murky watercourse unfit for swimming. 
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> # # #
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> Editor’s note: for a picture of a suction dredge in action, email request to ctucker at karuk.us
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> Also see a dredge in action on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1qwdzQ4fzI and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJYyT2U3iAg
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> S. Craig Tucker
> Klamath Coordinator
> Karuk Tribe
> cell: 916-207-8294
> home office: 707-839-1982
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> Follow our efforts to restore the Klamath on twitter by visiting http://twitter.com/#!/scraigtucker
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> www.klamathrestoration.org
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>  


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