>>>> Public Meetings on New Dredge Regs start 3/23/11

[mojavejoe]

The first public meeting on the DSEIR and New Regs is in Santa Clarita, in So. Cal, on Wed March 23 at 5PM. The others follow shortly after statewide. (see meeting info at bottom)

There is supposed to be DFG staff there to answer your questions one on one before the meetings. So be sure to be there for the first hour and get some questions answered.
This may be your only chance to get information to make it easier for you to write your next even more focused comment letter.

In any case this is your time to let DFG know we are not a small docile group of public land users. You want them to know how the New Regs will negatively impact you, and others. Why they are unnecessary statewide, or at least in your area from personal observation.

This will be no time for a dissertation on the DSEIR or Regs.

If you are lucky, you will have 3 minutes to say your piece on audio tape, which will be transcribed later. So prepare your remarks, into a brief summary of what you want to say. Proof read it several times over a couple days and make sure it gets your main points across, or correct the parts that don’t. Then read your final draft and time yourself. If you are under 2:45 you should be able to get that last all important concluding sentence in.

I know many feel they are not good public speakers but, You are standing up for your rights and those of a whole community of other miners. Don’t let anything deter you from this. If nothing else, you could just get up, read your comments in 3 minutes, and hand in your letter. Nothing too it really. And you will feel like you did your part like all the others that will be there.

If you don’t get to talk, you can hand in your Comment Letter and it will still count as another one in our column for these meetings.

There is power in numbers guys. So, try to take a fellow miner with you to the meetings. Or even a local business owner who may lose business if the New Regs are approved as is. Basically we need a standing room only crowd at each meeting to show we are not a small insignificant group that will be appeased easily.

That’s my 2dwt worth. Hope it helps you prepare.
See you at a meeting!

DFG’s March Newsletter with more info on meeting schedule and format:
http://www.nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.a ... ntID=27428
==========================================
Meeting Schedule:

Santa Clarita:
Wednesday, March 23 at 5 p.m.
Residence Inn by Marriott
25320 The Old Road
Santa Clarita, CA 91381

Fresno:
Thursday, March 24 at 5 p.m.
California Retired Teachers Association
3930 East Saginaw Way
Fresno, CA 93726

Sacramento:
Tuesday, March 29 at 5 p.m.
Cal EPA Headquarters Building
Byron Sher Auditorium
1001 I St.
Sacramento

Yreka:
Wednesday, March 30 at 5 p.m.
Yreka Community Center
810 N. Oregon St.
Yreka, CA 96097

Redding:
Thursday, March 31 at 5 p.m.
Shasta Senior Nutrition Program
100 Mercy Oaks Drive
Redding, CA 96003

[DJR]

I have sent my comments to the DFG. I will not be able to attend any of the meetings.
But please when commenting do not rant at the folks this would only hurt all of us. I know it's hard not to but for the good of everyone keep it simple and concise.
Thanks

[russau]

DJR i agree with your stance on this. ranting will only turn that person off!

[DJR]

Here is something I just came across. this is weird because they are trying to say we are causing problem for the fish, if it's true this would debunk some of their claims.
"No heart risk from mercury in fish, a new study says"
http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/medical/heartdisease/story/2011/03/Study-No-heart-risk-from-mercury-in-fish---/45250578/1?csp=34news&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+usatoday-NewsTopStories+%28News+-+Top+Stories%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo

[foundit]

Yep, I have known this all along due the fact that I was a fisherman and ate Tuna, reef fish, anchovies, sardines, you name it , fish was 90% of our diet minus the Bambies and Moose, mmmmm love that Bullwinkle, but that wont stop the fear mongering to get enviro agendas done, most of it is fantasy, most of it has no science behind it in the first place, where do people think mercury comes from for crying out loud, I mean from their logic the Salmon are depositing more mercury in the Klamath than anything by eating the bait fish in the ocean then dying upriver, anyone ever study that.Trust funds cause brain damage I think, it would explain a lot, From their logic I should be dead from the amount of fish I have eaten.

[mojavejoe]

Report on Santa Clarita Meeting 3-23-2011

We had a room full of about 90 miners, and not one enviro that I know of. DFG got an ear full during the 3 minute Comments given over 2 hours. Mark Stopher was right there taking notes during each comment given.

I hope all the other meetings are as well attended and the oral Comment givers are as well prepared. Be respectful and be passionate. There's nothing wrong with having deep feelings about this matter.

Please post your meeting numbers here so we can get an idea of how well the mining community was represented at each meeting.

Thanks,
Joe

[russau]

thats good news Joe! kinda strange that no greenies there?? i wonder if they know something we dont?? like Mark Stopher going to disredard anything we say or do?? he has been known to give LOTS of lip service and do what he wants todo anyway! THANKS to John "Hoser" Oates i think my computor problems are over with (for now) and i can get back into the commenting mode!

[foundit]

That sounds like it went well, I wish I could attend but being in New Mexico with the price of gas I just cant afford it, sent my comments in though, as for the greenies, who knows, maybe it was national trust fund day or something, or maybe they are just overconfident or simply running out of ways to justify their actions in this matter. Bless all that could and would attend.

[mojavejoe]

I believe there is no Meeting attendance by enviros because they already have what they want. The New Dredge Regs. It is up to us to be sure our letter numbers in opposition to the new regs, bury their letters in support of the regs so deep.... that they have little or no impact.

[CalGoldDredger]

Thanks, Joe. All Good to hear.

Meetings are fine for a Romper Room style show and tell with alot of blah, blah, blah but written comments are documented and are included within the SEIR.

I hope our written comment campaign is not a huge disappointment as it was seen with the previous scoping comments.
We should easily be in upward near 3000+ comment letters and that is just the past permitees, should be able to add 1000's if you muster up faimly, freinds, and other form of miners.

I AM TRYING TO BE HOPEFUL BUT THINKING AND PLANNING REALISTICLY. Can't see change happening, it's Shameful and SAD!!!!!!!