Mining

Supreme Court Justices Ask Trump Administration to Weigh In on California Mining Prohibition

The U.S. Supreme Court is requesting that the Trump administration evaluate the extent to which states can prohibit mining activity on federal lands. Earlier this week, the Justices asked the acting solicitor general to weigh in on a case brought by a part-time prospector who hopes to knock down a specific California ban on a […]

President Trump’s Nominees for Interior and Energy Easily Approved By Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Secretary of the Interior nominee Ryan Zinke and Secretary of Energy nominee Rick Perry were approved by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, paving the way for their confirmation by the full Senate. The committee approved Zinke by a 16-6 vote, and Perry by a 16-7 vote. Angering the Democrats on the Committee, […]

Mining Industry Prepares for Incoming Trump Administration

The mining industry is optimistic that the Trump administration will reduce regulatory burdens on mining and support efforts to open new mines. Several lawmakers have already introduced mining-related bills, and the American Exploration & Mining Association is working on a “wish list” of mining related asks for the incoming administration.  For example, the mining industry […]

Controversial: Obama creates 3 new national monuments, expands 2 others

Obama creates 3 new national monuments, expands 2 others In his last week, President Obama controversially announced the creation of three new national monuments and the expansion of two existing national monuments using the Antiquities Act of 1906. The Antiquities Act was passed by the United States Congress and signed into law by Theodore Roosevelt […]

Enviros Make Bid to Intervene In Mineral Leases

Environmental Groups Seek to Intervene in Mineral Lease Sale Lawsuit This week in New Mexico, nine environmental groups asked a federal judge for permission to intervene in a law suit between Western Energy Alliance (“WEA”), an oil and gas industry group, and the Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”). WEA challenges the agency, arguing that BLM […]

Three Mitchell Chadwick Attorneys Named to Top Lawyers List

Three Mitchell Chadwick Attorneys Named to Top Lawyers List Braiden Chadwick, Pat Mitchell, and Clif McFarland have all been named to Sacramento Magazine’s Top Lawyers list for 2016. From the article: Quality counts, especially when it comes to lawyers. So it makes sense that if you need one, you’ll want to choose one who’s at […]

Court of Appeal Upholds Mine’s Vested Right

Court of Appeal Upholds Santa Clara County’s Finding of Mine’s Legal Nonconforming Use Status In No Toxic Air, Inc. v. Santa Clara County, California’s Court of Appeal for the Sixth District upheld Santa Clara County’s finding that a mine in operation since 1903 was properly deemed a legal, nonconforming use. Lehigh Southwest Cement Company and […]

California Supreme Court Upholds Suction Mining Moratorium

California Supreme Court Upholds Suction Mining Moratorium On Monday, the California Supreme Court upheld California’s moratorium on suction dredging for gold. Suction dredging is a small-scale mining practice in which matter is removed from the bottom of waterways, minerals are extracted, and the residue is returned to the water. In 2009, the California state legislature […]

Alert: New Regulations and Permit Requirements for Wetlands and Waters of the State

State Water Resources Control Board: New Regulations and Permit Requirements for Wetlands and Waters of the State On June 17, 2016, the State Water Resources Control Board (“State Water Board”) proposed a regulatory and permitting framework for wetlands not otherwise covered by the federal Clean Water Act. The State Water Board had previously recognized that […]

Feds Issue First-Ever Technical Guidance For Environmental Justice

Feds Issue First-Ever Technical Guidance For Environmental Justice On June 7th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued a technical guidance document Tuesday covering how to incorporate environmental justice principles when evaluating development projects. (Press Release HERE.) According to the EPA, the Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Actions outlines approaches and methods to […]

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