The BLM, whose conception came decades after these miners established themselves, claims that the Galice miners have no surface mineral rights on the land, while the miners state they have grandfather rights with documents to back up their claim.
“We’ve sent them those letters,” stated Jim Whittington from the BLM. “They also have the right to appeal our notice, that it requires either a plan of operation or notice, and some informal contacts with their lawyer…it sounds like they may appeal. So if they appeal, that starts another administrative appeal process.”
Without any official court ruling, the BLM, in conjunction with Sheriff deputies, have given the miners till April 25th to cease and desist all operations and remove all equipment, buildings and supplies from the location. Local BLM officials have gone so far as to threaten to burn the buildings down if they are not removed by the date.
The miners and the Oath Keepers have sworn to stand their ground.
BLM has made several attempts to disband the operation of the sugar pine mine through multiple unsubstantiated stop orders and now a cease and desist order. The owners of this mine have spend tens of thousands of dollars to date requesting documents, researching the claims of the BLM,and preliminary attorney fees. The sugar pine has made requests to produce the official rulings that show they are in violation which have gone unanswered. They simple reason given by the BLM is that “they say so”. The BLM claims that the mine has no surface rights to the area and in turn says that all structures and equipment need to be removed. The BLM also claims that this violation is grounds for the operation to cease and tunnels filled in. The mine predates more recent rulings about surface rights so the sugar pine feels that the new ruling is not applicable to this specific situation.
Late last week, BLM officials accompanied by Josephine County Sheriff deputies issues a cease and desist order to
the district without any official ruling by the courts. Specifically, the issue is not even scheduled to be heard in court until later in the year. The order has given the mine until April 25th to remove all equipment, buildings and supplies from the location. Local BLM officials have threatened to burn the buildings down if they are not removed by the date.
The owners of the sugar pine have stated that they will fully disobey the order as they claim that it is illegal and invalid. A call for assistance to the Oath Keeper’s has been made and there is no intention to leave the area by the deadline.
This issue has far reaching implications. The outcome from this issue and the court ruling to come will effect all of America. The issue at hand is not just about the Galice Miners and the gold in the ground, but more about what the government says you can do with the ground in your control. These miners have the rights to the minerals in the ground and the government wants that changed. What comes next could effect every American. What if your backyard has a specific mineral that the government values. By any means, can come in and tell you that you can not grow your broccoli on your land because it absorbs this “special” mineral? The bigger picture would effect farmers. What if gold, oil, or something like uranium was found under a farmer’s corn crop. Does the government have the right to those minerals and have the ability to over ride your use of your own land? This issue will have the ability dictate the future use of our public and private lands.
Stand your Ground. The BLM is getting way out of bounds.
1. OKs do not consider themselves militia, or use the term for any group that does not have support and acknowledgement from local government.
2. OKs have stated several times, that this is simply a security operation during the duration of the court proceedings.
if any one has any further interest in this story, please go to oathkeepers.org they have all the news and updates direct from the mine, with out second or third party opinions or input on the situation.
From the false premise that wild horses are overpopulating derives a bogus “lesser of two evils” argument: “it is better to push a herd into extinction through an anti-fertility drug than to push them into extinction through roundup” How so ? Imagine the argument applied to human beings to see more easily how absurd it is. Suppose a nation intent on genocide of another people were to argue falsely that they were overpopulating therefore sterilizing them was the lesser of two evils compared to putting them into a concentration camp. Wrong. Both are equally evil since based on a fundamental lie which serves the interests in the present case
of welfare cattlemen and fracking industries seeking to manage our wild horses to extinction.
The government cannot own land.