Miners sue state of Oregon over dredging ban aimed to protect salmon

Oregon’s waterstreams are rich in salmon, trout, steelhead and bass. (Image from WikiMedia Commons)
A coalition of U.S. gold miners has sued the state of Oregon over a five-year ban on most suction dredging, a technique that uses floating vacuums to suck gravel from the bottom of a water stream so it can be mined for metals.
The group argues that Oregon’s new law violates federal laws that have guaranteed mining access on U.S. lands since the 1870s, The Mail Tribune reports.
State lawmakers passed a bill in 2013 that placed restrictions on the use of motorized devices during in-stream mining of precious metals in a region with deep economic and cultural ties to both gold prospecting and migratory salmon.
The ban was supposed to end at the end of 2015, giving legislators time to formulate permanent rules. They never did.
Medford Democrat Sen. Alan Bates told The Mail Tribune he plans to introduce legislation that would keep dredging restrictions on the table. If that happens, the current ban would be allowed to continue.
More News
Ecora inks $50M streaming deal for Zambian copper mine
"The acquisition will cement copper at the core of our commodity exposure," Ecora's CEO said.
February 27, 2025 | 11:52 am
Three novel approaches that can revolutionize batteries
Scientists are scrambling to find new materials that could revolutionize energy storage.
February 27, 2025 | 10:26 am
{{ commodity.name }}
{{ post.title }}
{{ post.excerpt }}
{{ post.date }}
5 Comments
Rob
It is about time miners were given a fair hearing. Most small scale miners are also fisherman and we enjoy the beauty of nature around us. We probably take more care of the rivers than many other users. Using political red tape to prolong a ban seems highly unreasonable. Good luck to the miners I hope they succeed !
rayban
Pro vs Con . Every rain storm stirs up the steam sediment , small organisms become happy get eaten by minnows and fry and these get eaten by fish and what not . Is too much sedimentation a threat to the balance and or a hindrance to fish and aquatic life ? The barely anyway water plants in the affected areas , the Algae and bottom scum gets disturbed ?
Some aquatic life cannot take silt and sediment at all , others it is no issue . So if there is a specific issue or even possible issue , what is it ?
Worst I can see is a ban on out of season dredging . It rains and floods move millions of tons of gravel and silt around . Is it a harm to do a similar thing at other times of year ?
Dredging tends to become ineffective after a time anyway . Metals deposited over a long period of time get dredged into the sluice and then there is no new metals in the stream for a long time . Perhaps a map by GOV’T of what has already been dredged out ?
Frank Matyus
toxic metal continue to find it’s way in the water we drink, be it man or nature, lead a man made product, mercury is natural, a nature made product
gold finds it’s way into the river every winter with runoff from hillsides, also a natural nature made product
mercury and lead is efficiently removed from the environment with dredging
ban dredging will not solve the problem of fish decline, dredging has a season in many rivers and those that know dredging don’t kill fish it is quite the opposite it excites the fry to feed on the goodies floating around
if the argument is that dredging kills fish, would it not make sense to ban all forms of actives that cause harm to fish?
e johnston
Judge Rules that Government Debt is Covered by FDCPA, Forcing Collection Agency to Defend
http://www.lawblogs.net/2014/12/18/judge-rules-that-government...
God gave the Untied States of America only freedom on this planet wake up protect this god given right , Peace and God bless jesus ,,http://www.specialcollections.uws.ac.uk/documents/1.pdf
Merely being native born within the territorial boundaries of the United States of America does not make such an inhabitant a Citizen of the United States subject to the jurisdiction of the Fourteenth Amendment” … Elk v. Wilkins, Neb (1884), 5s.ct.41,112 U.S. 99, 28 L. Ed. 643.
“The fact is, property is a tree; income is the fruit; labour is a tree; income the fruit; capital, the tree; income the ‘fruit.’ The fruit, if not consumed (severed) as fast as it ripens, will germinate from the seed… and will produce other trees and grow into more property; but so long as it is fruit merely, and plucked (severed) to eat… it is no tree, and will produce itself no fruit.” Waring v. City of Savennah. 60 Ga. 93, 100 (1878.}
The United States Supreme Court has stated that “No State legislator or executive or judicial officer can war against the Constitution without violating his Undertaking to support it”.http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/37.htm TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 93 > § 1918 Disloyalty and asserting the right to strike against the Government Whoever violates the provision of section 7311 of title 5 that an individual may not accept or hold a position in the Government of the United States or the government of the District of Columbia if he— (1) advocates the overthrow of our constitutional form of government;
PUBLIC NOTICE:
Whereas this Constitution for the united States of America, Lawful children, women and the men, Title 7 USCA CHAPTER 6 § 136 (Page 3) (d) Animal The term “animal” means all vertebrate and invertebrate species, including but not limited to man and other. Now are you a form of and or you maybe practicing cannibalism. This is a question of these union States 50 now totally recognize how the criminal fraud against us are being played out, by our elected, appointed, and hired leaders/employees, Religious organization we are left with no other choice but to demand the following adjustment be made to our political system:
We have a right to know If you stand with We the People of these United States of America, now 50, 1776 constitutional laws print copy notarized and Pass on to all peace and god bless Jesus.. Confirming link God thru your forefathers of kings from a foreign land saw the great sprite and filed the Constitution Paper that is filed with the Queen todate who’s appearance not to be of royal bloodline and a Convicted Pirate this is to includes any other further kings or Queens of England and Vatican None negotiable instrument filled , constitution reference numbers included 1993,, 1776 law of the United State of Americans soil only God gave United States of Americans the garden of Eden.
read copy and print http://www.specialcollections.uws.ac.uk/documents/1.pdf
http://www.specialcollections.uws.ac.uk
Merely being native born within the territorial boundaries of the United States of America does not make such an inhabitant a Citizen of the United States subject to the jurisdiction of the Fourteenth Amendment” … Elk v. Wilkins, Neb (1884), 5s.ct.41,112 U.S. 99, 28 L. Ed. 643.
Public Notice
It is a crime for any government office or any official to auction or otherwise sell in any way, private or business property of any individual WITHOUT FIRST HAVING DUE PROCESS OF LAW, to determine the cause of action and the recourse in law. The sale of any property outside this means is illegal, and all those involved with such a sale, including those purchasing said property, are personally liable for damages, and subject to criminal charges under Racketeering (RIC…O) laws, and for violation of civil and Due Process rights. All government officials have the “Greater Duty” to know the law and comply with it, and if you are involved with such an auction without Due Process for the owner, you are in breach of your fiduciary duty and you can be held personally liable by those harmed by this fraud. Any challenge to property taxation or property sale made by any citizen requires you to respond, point by point, and to “prove up” your position in law.
by http://www.oregontrackers.com and the United States of America We the People Standing By our God fearing forefathers bloodlines to protect The 1776 God given Freedom Law of the land
http://www.specialcollections.uws.ac.uk/documents/1.pdf Filed law of the United States for American’s bloodline
[EDWARD MALONE JOHNSTON II ] a Birth Certificate fraud scheme, dead entity; American National, Heir, Successor, and Beneficiary, Living, Breathing, Bloodline Flowing Human , Animal , Being. U.C.C. 1-308 =I 207 All Rights Reserved; :www.oregontrackers.com http://www.oregontrackers
ed johnston
“All government offices are empty”?
Title 8 USC 1481 stated once an oath of office is taken citizenship is relinquished, thus you become a foreign entity, agency, or state. That means every public office is a foreign state, including all political subdivisions. (i.e. every single court and that courts personnel is considered a separate foreign entity)
The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) was enacted in 1938. FARA is a disclosure statute that requires persons acting as agents of foreign principals in a political or quasi-political capacity to make periodic public disclosure of their relationship with the foreign principal, as well as activities, receipts and disbursements in support of those activities. Disclosure of the required information facilitates evaluation by the government and the American people of the statements and activities of such persons in light of their function as foreign agents. The FARA Registration Unit of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section (CES) in the National Security Division (NSD) is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Act. http://www.fara.gov/
ORS 180.220 Powers and duties. (1) The Department of Justice shall have:
(a) General control and supervision of all civil actions and legal proceedings in which the State of Oregon may be a party or may be interested.
(b) Full charge and control of all the legal business of all departments, commissions and bureaus of the state, or of any office thereof, which requires the services of an attorney or counsel in order to protect the interests of the state.
(2) No state officer, board, commission, or the head of a department or institution of the state shall employ or be represented by any other counsel or attorney at law.
(3) This section is subject to ORS 825.508. [Amended by 1967 c.178 §3]
SOVEREIGNTY RULINGS & DEFENITIONS
1. As a natural right, men may do anything their inclinations may suggest if it be not evil in its self, and in no way impairs the rights of others. In Re Newman 9 C, 502 ( 1858)
2. The judicial power is the power to hear those matters that affect the life, liberty, or property of a citizen of the state. Sapulpa v Land 101 Okla. 22, 223 Pac. 640, 35 A.L.R. 872
3. The common law right of the jury to determine the law, as well as the facts remains unimpaired. State v Croteau 23 Vt. 14, 54 AM DEC 90 (1849)
4. The very meaning of sovereignty is that the decree of the sovereign makes law. American Banana Co. v United Fruit Co. 29 S. Ct. 511, 513 213 U.S. 347 53 L.Ed 826, 19 Ann. Cas. 1047.
5. Sovereign = A chief ruler with supreme power; a king or other ruler with limited power, an action against a foreign sovereign is not maintainable 44 L. Rep. N.S. 199.
6. The people of the state are entitled to all rights which formerly belong to the king, by his prerogatives. Lansing v Smith 4 Wendell 9,20 (N.Y.) (1829)
7 It will be admitted on all hands that with the exceptions of the powers granted through the constitution to the states and Federal Government the people of the several states are unconditionally sovereign within their respective states Ohio L. Inns & T. Co. v Debolt 16 How. 416, 14 L.Ed. 997.
8 A sovereign is exempt from suit, not because of any formal conception or obsolete theory, but on the logical and practical ground that there can be no legal right as against the authority that makes the law on which the right depends. Kawananakoa v Polyblank 205 U.S. 349, 353 27 S. Ct. 526, 527, 51 L. Ed. 834 (1907)
9 It is a general rule that the sovereign cannot be sued in his own court without consent and hence no direct judgment can be rendered against him therein for cost, except in the manner and on the condition he has proscribed. 40 La. Ann. 856,” Bouvier’s Law Dictionary Vol. 1(1897)
10 No action can be taken against the sovereign in non-constitutional courts of either the United States or the state courts & any such action is considered the crime of barratry. (Barratry is an offense at common law)
State v Batson 17 S.E. 2d 511, 512, 513
11 COURT = The person and the suit of the sovereign the place where the sovereign sojourns with his regal retinue, where ever that may be Black’s law dictionary 5th edition page 318
12 A court of general jurisdiction is presumed to be acting within its jurisdiction till the contrary is shown
Brown jur section 202 Wright v Douglas 10 Barb (N.Y.) 97; Town of Huntington Hall v Town of Charlotte 15 Vt. 46.
13 Sovereignty its self is of course not subject to law, for it is the author and source of law, but in our system, while sovereign authority is delegated to agencies of Government, sovereignty itself remains with the people by whom and for whom all Government exist and acts.
Yick Wo v Hopkins 118 U.S. 356, at pg 370
14 Every citizen & freeman is endowed with certain rights & privileges which no written law or statute is required. These are the fundamental or natural rights among all free people. U.S. v Morris 125 F 322 325
15 An indictment is required in any case where a person is being charged with an infamous crime. Any crime for which the punishment is imprisonment is an infamous crime. Supreme Court Makin v United states 117 U.S. 348
18 U.S. Code § 2381 – defines Treason as – “Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason…” and the law states that those convicted of treason – “shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.”
Prigg v. Pennsylvania: When the Supreme Court Supported James Madison’s Advice to Stop Federal Power
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcIlAwkcTv0&feature=youtu.be
Notice: All Rights Reserved. Permission to distribute for non-commercial purposes is hereby granted, in whole or part, provided attribution and a link to this article is included. Commercial distribution without the written permission of the author is prohibited. This Public email message, including any attachment(s) is limited to the sole use of the intended recipient and may contain Privileged and/or Confidential Information. Any and All Political, Private or Public Entities, Federal, State, or Local Corporate Government(s), Municipality(ies), International Organizations, Corporation(s), agent(s), investigator(s), or informant(s), et. al., and/or Third Party(ies) working in collusion by collecting and/or monitoring My email(s),and any other means of spying and collecting these Communications Without my Exclusive Permission are Barred from Any and All Unauthorized Review, Use, Disclosure or Distribution. With Explicit Reservation of All My Rights,
Without Prejudice and Without Recourse to Me. Any omission does not constitute a waiver of any and/or ALL Intellectual Property Rights or Reserved Rights U.C.C.1-308. NOTICE TO AGENTS IS NOTICE TO PRINCIPALS. NOTICE TO PRINCIPALS IS NOTICE TO AGENTS> AGENTS