Interesting dialog, keep it going.
I thought I would share a bit of my own personal experience with Public Lands.
I work closely with the process of Federal Mining Claims. Many folks do not know that any American can file a mining claim on much of our Federal lands. This is mostly BLM land.
The process is not that difficult and it is not that expensive. If you file a claim, you are entitled to the mineral rights on that land. All the gold, silver, or what ever are yours.
But, and here is the problem. Little guys can file claims, but most claimable lands that have minerals or good prospects have been claimed up by large corporations and shell companies. Some of these shell companies are not even in the United States, but are located in offshore banking centers.
The only thing that protects claimed federal land from serious harm from extraction are local, state and federal regulations and designations. For example, to mine you must file a plan of operations that includes a plan on how to return the land to "pre-condition" when mining is completed. Or, the land can be protected by designation such as a National Monument, which limits or eliminates that mining.
I would strongly encourage folks to not give an inch to the corporations who what our Public Lands. Believe me, they don't need it to get all the minerals they want. Remember, they get your gold, your silver for almost nothing and could give a hoot about you having access to hunt Big Horn Sheep.
The worse thing hunters (and other sportsmen an women) can do is to fall into the trap of defending those companies - for what ever reason.
Just look at some of the statements of defense for them in this thread.
Peabody Energy is not your friend, Exxon is not your friend. Necessary in the modern world, yes, but they are no friend to Public Lands advocacy.
Another suggestion. Both lefties and righties should dismount and walk together. What possible good comes from bashing California or Texas or Obama or Clinton or CCN or Fox News. Many will never find common ground there, but we certainly can find common ground on saving Public Lands.
Final thought. Can you over protect public lands? Of course, but here is the rub. When you overprotect, the worse that can happen is you may not be able to do some things in that area like drive a 4x4. or similar. In the future, that might get relief. If you under protect public lands you may lose your access completely, or you may find your mountain top just got removed by Peabody Energy and your stream just got mine tailings dumped into the bottom of it.
Fight for your Public Lands.
Cheers,
Mark
I thought I would share a bit of my own personal experience with Public Lands.
I work closely with the process of Federal Mining Claims. Many folks do not know that any American can file a mining claim on much of our Federal lands. This is mostly BLM land.
The process is not that difficult and it is not that expensive. If you file a claim, you are entitled to the mineral rights on that land. All the gold, silver, or what ever are yours.
But, and here is the problem. Little guys can file claims, but most claimable lands that have minerals or good prospects have been claimed up by large corporations and shell companies. Some of these shell companies are not even in the United States, but are located in offshore banking centers.
The only thing that protects claimed federal land from serious harm from extraction are local, state and federal regulations and designations. For example, to mine you must file a plan of operations that includes a plan on how to return the land to "pre-condition" when mining is completed. Or, the land can be protected by designation such as a National Monument, which limits or eliminates that mining.
I would strongly encourage folks to not give an inch to the corporations who what our Public Lands. Believe me, they don't need it to get all the minerals they want. Remember, they get your gold, your silver for almost nothing and could give a hoot about you having access to hunt Big Horn Sheep.
The worse thing hunters (and other sportsmen an women) can do is to fall into the trap of defending those companies - for what ever reason.
Just look at some of the statements of defense for them in this thread.
Peabody Energy is not your friend, Exxon is not your friend. Necessary in the modern world, yes, but they are no friend to Public Lands advocacy.
Another suggestion. Both lefties and righties should dismount and walk together. What possible good comes from bashing California or Texas or Obama or Clinton or CCN or Fox News. Many will never find common ground there, but we certainly can find common ground on saving Public Lands.
Final thought. Can you over protect public lands? Of course, but here is the rub. When you overprotect, the worse that can happen is you may not be able to do some things in that area like drive a 4x4. or similar. In the future, that might get relief. If you under protect public lands you may lose your access completely, or you may find your mountain top just got removed by Peabody Energy and your stream just got mine tailings dumped into the bottom of it.
Fight for your Public Lands.
Cheers,
Mark
Last edited:
