PRESS RELEASES

August 6, 1999

INFORMATION WANTED

Five Recreational Mining sites in eastern Oregon have been closed by the Forest Service due to damage casued at these locations, by persons unknown1

Information is wanted to identify person or persons impersonating membership in the Oregon Chapter of the GPAA ! Persons or persons are suspects believed to be causing damage to Recreational Mining Sites and it is believed that they are also suspects in Mineral Trespass on Valid Federal Mining Claims.
Oregon Independent Miners request that any information leading to the identity of those person or persons impersonating membership in the Oregon Chapter of the GPAA be forwarded to us as soon as possible. Person or persons are believed to be causing damage to Recreational Mining Sites and causing Mineral Trespass on Valid Federal Mining Claims which is illegal now under Oregon State Law.

Reports are that a group of Environmentalists may be masquerading as miners to destroy mining’s good name here in Oregon!

All GPAA members have ID cards and under their bylaws must show their identification when asked to so. The ID card should resemble the cards shown:

If you suspect or believe that something is not what it should be and person or persons claim to be members of the Oregon Chapter of the GPAA. If person or persons refuse to show ID when asked to do so, please get names (if possible), vehicle license #, make, model of vehicle and description of ongoing actives. If you have a camera pictures are best. OIM will investigate any information provided and turn information over to LEA if found to be legitimate.

It is not know if person or persons are dangerous! However do not place yourself in conflict or danger in any case.

Please send information to:

Oregon Independent Miners
PO Box 399
Creswell, OR 97426-0399
Ph/Fax (541)895-4343 or email at: oiminer@bigfoot.com.
For more information please contact OIM or the GPAA. 

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July 2, 1999

Creswell, OR - On June 28, 1999 Governor John Kitzhaber signs Oregon Independent Miners Legislation, Senate Bill 1152 into law.  This Legislation will provide the necessary tools to protect  both small-scale and recreational mining. The Bill provides that mining is both a heritage and an economic benefit to this state and local communities.  It provides that any person's activity that restricts access, harasses or interferes in anyway a person who is engaged in lawful mining activities, is illegal. The Bill also provides for Mineral Trespass which was repealed back in 1971. Mineral Trespass covers destruction of mining equipment along with the defacing and destroying of required posted signs. Mineral Trespass also covers the removal of valuable minerals off of a mining claim without the owners permission. Mineral Trespass is now illegal again in the State of Oregon.  This Bill is the most significant Legislation to protect mining passed by the State Legislature and signed by the Governor in 70 years.  For further questions about SB 1152 or OIM please contact us at Oregon Independent Miners, P.O. Box 399, Creswell, OR  97426 or call us at (541) 895-4343. 

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March 1, 1999
KEEP PRIVATE LANDS IN PRIVATE HANDS COALITION
P. O. Box 423, Battle Ground, WA 98604 (360) 687-2471 -- FAX (360) 687-2973 -- E-Mail alra@pacifier.com
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGES WE'VE EVER SENT HOUSE CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ON BILLION DOLLAR TRUST FUND (HR 701) SET FOR MARCH 9TH AND 10TH YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!
Don Young (R-AK) has set hearings in the Resources Committee on the Billion Dollar Trust Fund (HR 701) for Tuesday, March 9th and Wednesday, March 10th at 11:00 AM. The real name is the Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1999 (CARA). It is absolutely vital that as many opponents as possible request to testify against HR 701. The location will be 1324 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC. There is no way everyone will be able to be accommodated. But it is important to ask and be turned down.
HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TODAY!
  • 1. Call your Congressman (202-225-3121) to request that he or she oppose HR 701. Do not take your Representative for granted. The next few days are critical. You must get everyone you know to call your Congressman in opposition to HR 701. No matter what else you do, make this call.
  • 2. Call at least five other people to get them to call.
  • 3. Ask that your name be added to the witness list. It is very important that you make this request to your own Representative. Even if you do not wish to testify, ask your Congressman to testify against HR 701.
  • 4. Ask that your Member of Congress request field hearings in your state and region. This is critical. The more people from your area who request to testify, the better chance you'll have to get field hearings. It is OK to tell your Representative that you cannot go to Washington but you want to testify and need local hearings.
  • 5. Ask your Congressman for a copy of HR 701.
  • 6. Ask your county commissioner to testify against HR 701 - have him ask your Congressman.
  • 7. Call your national, state and local farming, mining, grazing, and timber associations to urge them to testify and actively work against the bill. Ask them to join the new "Keep Private Lands In Private Hands Coalition." This may be the most important thing you can do.
  • 8. Call both your US Senators to ask that they testify against HR 701 in the House.

Their answer will tell you a lot about where they are on the Trust Fund bill in the Senate (S 25).

It is amazing that a long time friend and ally such as Don Young would turn on inholders, farmers, ranchers, miners and other landowners to introduce HR 701. But the worst thing is that because he introduced HR 701, others who have always been enemies of private property owners now feel empowered to introduce their own even more extreme bills. George Miller (D-CA) just introduced HR 798 on behalf of the greens (we haven't seen the text yet but it likely includes at least $1 billion just for land acquisition). The Clinton/Gore billion dollar plan will also be introduced. In the process of "compromise" the bills will end up much closer to the green proposal. Don Young's bill will end up being the platform for one of the greatest threats to private property in history. Young and his staff are trying to say they have put private property rights protections in the bill. The only one worth anything is the "willing seller" provision. The rest won't protect you at all. There is no chance the "willing seller" provision will survive a vote. Put it in the bank that the final bill will include condemnation. The reality is that Don Young doesn't have the political horsepower to protect you from his bill after it has been amended by your enemies. When the votes come, the Democrats will join together with the liberal Republicans from the East and the greens. You will lose any protections Don Young might wish to include. The bill not only attacks landowners, but multiple-users as well. Just last year a huge mine was bought out near Yellowstone using the Land and Water Conservation Fund. If HR 701 becomes law, you'll see many farms, mines, ranches, logging operations and other entities threatened by this huge Trust Fund. People who do business on Federal land think they're immune from this bill. THEY'RE WRONG. Here's a checklist regarding the Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1999 (HR 701):
  • The Trust Fund will allow the buy out of multiple-use operations on Federal land;
    • While the bill starts out more modestly, it will ultimately be increased to over $1 billion per year; Every program should have to compete for appropriations. No more entitlements;
  • No private property will be safe with these funds available;
  • There should be no net loss of private land in America. Any more purchases should be made from money gained through the sale of surplus Federal land;
  • There is little oversight of land acquisition now. There will be virtually none if this bill passes;
  • Inholder families are specifically targeted in the new bills;
  • Land acquisition has always been used as a weapon to regulate and control private landowners;
  • Hundreds of small communities in existing Federal areas will be wiped off the map;
  • Land acquisition destroys the culture and history of the US, often driving out old families;
  • Green groups will seek to designate hundreds of areas of private land as new government reservations;
  • Billions of dollars of private land will be taken off the tax rolls, forcing local taxes up;
  • Access through private land, the only access to large areas of Federal land, will be cut off;
  • Hundreds of small communities will have their tax base damaged by Federal land buying;
  • In-Lieu of tax program fails to keep up with inflation or make up for lost tax revenue to counties; and
  • The private Northern Forests of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York are key targets.

BE SURE TO SEND A COPY OF THIS MESSAGE TO AT LEAST FIVE OTHER PEOPLE

Here are more of the participating groups (individuals count too): (Fax or E-Mail back your confirmation form below - it is critical to get as many local, state, regional and national groups on board as possible)

  • Citizens for a Sound Economy National Taxpayers Union
  • Americans For Tax Reform Montanans for Multiple-Use
  • National Tax Limitation Committee U. S. Taxpayers Alliance
  • Alliance for America Communities for a Great Northwest
  • National Wilderness Institute Black Hills Women In Timber - SD
  • American Agri-Women Property Owners Standing Together - VT
  • Defenders of Property Rights Citizens for Private Property Rights - CA
  • Pennsylvania Landowners Association Fairness to Land Owners Committee -- FLOC
  • Private Landowners of Wisconsin Vermont Forest Products Association
  • Riverside Farm Bureau - CA
  • Montana Mining Association
  • Schohrie Farm Bureau - NY
    • Illinois Agri-Women
  • Republican Party of Riverside County - CA
  • NM Woolgrowers Action Committee
    • Women Involved In Farm Economics -WIFE
  • East Mojave Property Owners - CA
  • Stop Taking Our Property - IN Bootheel Heritage Association - TX
  • NE Fire Island Nat. Seashore Adv. Board - NY
  • Small Property Owners Association California Outdoor Recreation League
  • American Policy Center People for the USA - Dent County, MO
  • Mt. St. Helen Trackriders - WA /LI>
  • People for the USA, Lander Valley - WY
  • Multiple Use Association - ME/NH Keep Maine Free
  • Associated Industries of Vermont Washington County Alliance - ME
  • Frontiers of Freedom Blue Ribbon Coalition
  • American Land Rights Association - WA Western Mining Council - CA
  • Citizens For Constitutional Property Rights - FL
  • Chamber of Commerce, Wrangell - AK
  • People for the Constitution - NV
  • Arizona Trail Riders
  • Public Lands for the People - CA
  • Alaska Wildlife Conservation Assoc.
  • Competitive Enterprise Institute - DC
  • New Mexico Cattle Growers
  • New Mexico Public Lands Council
  • New Mexico Woolgrowers
  • Environmental Conservation Organization Maine Conservation Rights Institute
  • Frontiers of Freedom - WY League of Private Property Voters
  • Property Rights Foundation of America - NY Texas Wildlife Association
  • Alabama Family Alliance Nat Assoc of Reversionary Prop Owners - WA
  • Blue Line Council Idaho Cattle Association
  • Property Rights Alliance - WA
  • Curry County Oregon Project
  • Klamath Allance for Resources and Environment - CA
  • Vermont Cabinet Makers
  • Eastern Oregon Mining Association
  • Clallam County - WA/LI>
  • Citizens for Private Property Rights -MO
  • Adirondack Solidarity Alliance
  • Keep ME Posted - ME Unorganized Territories United, Maine
  • Maine Property Rights Alliance
  • Columbia Basin Environmental Council - WA
  • NW Council of Governments - WA
  • People for the USA - Beaverhead - MT
  • Riverside & Landowners Protection Coalition - TX
  • Pennsylvania Landowners Association
  • Clearwater Resource Coalition - MT
  • Rhode Island Wiseuse
  • Montana Women Involved In Farm Economics Pennsylvania Forest Industry Association
  • Take Back Kentucky North Shore Association -- MI
  • High Desert Multiple-Use Coalition - CA
  • Wind River Multiple Use Advocates -- WY
  • People for the USA, Rio Virgin - UT
  • Family Water Alliance - CA
  • American Agriculture Movement, Inc.
  • Niobrara Basin Dev. Association - NE
  • Common Sense for Maine Forest's
  • Citizens Against Refuge Proposal - OH
  • Washington Contract Loggers Association
  • Hill Country Heritage Association - TX
  • Exotic Wildlife Association - TX
  • Kankakee River Prop. Rights Task Force - IN
  • Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise
  • Davis Mountains Transportation
  • Pecos Heritage - TX
  • Northeast Regional Forest Foundation - VT
  • Trans Texas Heritage Association

E-MAIL BACK - E-MAIL BACK - E-MAIL BACK - E-MAIL BACK TO alra@pacifier.com

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