Mr. Stopher,

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the initial scoping study for the suction dredge permitting program for California.

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MOTION TO DISMISS - CA DFG's Motion to dismiss or change PLP lawsuit

MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES IN SUPPORT OF CA DFG's MOTION TO DISMISS - CA DFG arguing irrelevantcy of PLP lawsuit

REQUEST FOR JUDICIAL NOTICE - CA DFG's requesting court to recognize claim of irrelevantcy

MOTION TO DISMISS 3pgs.pdf

MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES IN SUPPORT OF CA DFG's MOTION TO DISMISS 48 pgs.pdf

REQUEST FOR JUDICIAL NOTICE 1-33 pgs.pdf

REQUEST FOR JUDICIAL NOTICE 34-69 pgs.pdf

Constructive Notice and Comment
(On California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Notice of Preparation (NOP) for Suction Dredge Mining and Rule Making Process)

Public Lands for the People Inc. (PLP) and I appreciate the opportunity to participate in the rule making process for suction dredge mining in the state of California.

The purpose of our comments is to inform the DFG that in the process of doing their Environmental Impact Study (EIR) to promulgate Suction Dredge Regulations for the State of California, DFG should seriously consider retaining an expert on Mining laws.

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A comment post from Redding.com from someone with the opinion that SB670 is not about the salmon.

Let’s make sure we understand right from the start that this fight with the Karuk tribe is not about the salmon but about control over the river. The Fish and Game and the dept of Forestry have already agreed that dredging does not cause problems with the salmon runs in fact it helps. There is a specific season for dredging and dredging can only be done during this period of time. The salmon do not run during the dredging season and therefore creates no threat for the salmon. In fact dredging helps the salmon because it loosens up the hard packed sand and gravel and provides a better spawn. Remember, one good rain storm causes more damage in a river than year’s worth of dredging and the salmon and trout seem to do just fine.

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Found this forum post and liked it so much I posted it here. Click on the title to read the entire post.

"We who dredge our rivers need the help of all those who want to protect the right of mining
here in California

“The Enumeration in the constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” : this is the 9th Amendment of the United States Constitution.

This means that the rights identified as written are not the only rights we as a people have."

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PUBLIC LANDS FOR THE PEOPLE, INC., a California 501 C-3, non-profit corporation; Gerald E. Hobbs; Patrick Keene; Keene Engineering Co., Inc., a California corporation; Robert Haiduck; Terry Stapp; Dee Stapp; David DeCosta; James Gregory Lee; Mike Holt; Todd Bracken; Shannon Poe; and David Richard,

Plaintiffs,
v.

State of California; Arnold Schwarzenegger, in his official capacity as Governor of the State of California; California Department of Fish & Game; and Donald Koch, in his official capacity as Director, California Department of Fish & Game; and Does 1-20,

Defendants.

State Water Resources Control Board
Division of Water Quality
P.O. Box 100
Sacramento, California 95812-0100
Fax: 916-341-5620
email: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
June 6, 2007
Subject: SUCTION DREDGE MINING

Dear Board Members,

Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to comment on the water quality aspects of small-scale suction dredge mining.

As I have searched the scientific literature for studies on the effects of small-scale suction dredge mining on the environment I have learned that the preponderance of the published research studies have been directed towards assessment of its effect on the biology of the streams and rivers. In nearly every instance the results have concluded that the effects were less than significant.

The dangers of dredging on California rivers
Saturday, March 07, 2009
By Patricia Wiggins/In the Napa Valley Register
Some environmental problems are abstract, affecting places far away and species rarely seen. Others are as close as our supper plates.

The crash of salmon in California affects us all. This once-abundant fish, famed for huge king salmon in numbers so great they crowded our rivers, is now teetering at the edge of extinction.

When old gold miners have a hunch something of value is buried deep somewhere, they have the natural ingrained tenacity to keep digging, until they either go bust, drop dead, or find it. In reviewing this CEQA initial study report, and preparing written comments for submittal. I notice something, so obscure anyone but a seasoned old prospector would probably not take notice of, or take the time to inspect. Nor, for that matter make the effort to ferret out its worth, if any.

Well thought out, and carefully crafted legislation results in sound law, and subsequent regulations that are rarely ever challenged, and almost never overturned. Simply because they are meticulously legal in all aspects, from the very start. If, or when judicial review of well founded law, or regulation is initiated, judges generally have an simple task in finding the facts of the matter, governing law, and making correct expeditious judgment.