The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)

Government In Action 1996 Archive.

Table of Contents.

1. AUGUST - IMPORTANT NOTICE As related by a member of ALAA,
2. SEPTEMBER - SEQUEL TO AUGUST "IMPORTANT NOTICE",
3. SEPTEMBER - ALAA (American Lands Access Association),
4. SEPTEMBER - P.L.A.C. Report,
5. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER - RS2477 RIGHTS-OF-WAY,
6. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER - EXPANDED REGULATION OF HOBBY COLLECTING,
7. DECEMBER - BLM TURNS 50.

August.

IMPORTANT NOTICE, As related by a member of ALAA (American Lands Access Association).
     While walking through a National Forest area a man picked up a broken bottle and an aluminum can to carry out. His intention was to keep the forest clean. He was accosted by a Forest Ranger who ordered him to leave the bottle where he found it, but did allow him to carry out the aluminum can.
     A short time later he received a notice of a $5,000.00 fine for removing material from a National Forest.
     Be alert - - know when you are on Forest land and be very careful about picking up anything.
          Contributed by Florence Meisenheimer.

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September.

SEQUEL TO AUGUST "IMPORTANT NOTICE".
     Last Month I reported on the fact that a gentleman was fined $5,000 for removing an aluminum can (an artifact, he was told) from the National Forest. I now have the ending to that.
     The gentleman flatly refused to pay the $5,000 so he was taken to court. The judge, after discussion, ordered a fine of $150 and 40 hours of community service. The gentleman refused, and after more discussion, the fine was reduced to $10. Other persons in the courtroom took up a collection and paid the fine, they were so disgusted with the whole situation.
          Contributed by Florence Meisenheimer.

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ALAA (American Lands Access Association).
     While attending the show in Riverside, Ray and I attended the annual meeting of ALAA. ALAA is approved of, but not sponsored by American Federation of Mineralogical Societies.
     Little by little, acre by acre, we are being squeezed out of every open space of land. As reported, one gentleman asked if he could collect firewood on public land. He was briskly told that there is no public land--it is BLM land, and that, no he could not collect even one stick of firewood without a permit. That was in Idaho. One lady present reported that she had to get a permit to pick huckleberries in the State of Washington.
     In another area, a request for a field trip permit required a request three months in advance, with a full report of how many were going on the trip and what they were collecting. Also, they may not disturb the surface of the earth, not even with a teaspoon.
     Fred Schaefermeyer, President stated that folks ask him what is ALAA doing. Fred states, "My response is that ALAA is only as effective as the members make it". As members here are some things to think about and some suggestions. HR 2943, the Fossil Preservation Act of 1996 is still locked up in the House Committee. We need to move it out, and each of you can help. First, write to The Honorable James V. Hansen, Chair of that subcommittee. Write:
          The Honorable James V. Hansen (R-UT) Chair,
          2466 Rayburn House Office Bldg.,
          Washington, DC 20515.
     Urge him to hold committee meetings and move the bill to the House Floor for action.
     Also, write your own House Member and request that he/she sign on as a co-sponsor of HR 2943 and work to move it out of committee.
     Then write your U.S. Senator and ask that he/she contact The Honorable Herb Kohl, Attn: Ms. Victoria Bassetti, 330 Senate Hart Office Bldg., Washington D.C. 20510 and offer to help co-sponsor the Senate Companion bill to HR 2943. Senator Kohl will introduce that companion bill immediately after Congress reconvenes in September.
     Funds on hand to continue our struggle to keep public lands open and protect your right to collect are at their lowest ebb in several years. YOU are needed as members!
          Florence Meisenheimer.

(Editor's Note: Our hobby needs your support and this is an excellent way to give it!)

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P.L.A.C. Report.
     Some good news. Since our last director's meeting in Visalia the Secretary of the Interior finally made the appointments to the California Desert District Advisory Council. Izzy Burns was appointed to represent recreation. Imperial County Supervisor Sam Sharp, also a member of CFMS, was appointed as well. We will be assured of having our concerns voiced for the next three years.
     The Fossil Conservation Act as initiated by A.L.A.A. has run into the normal problems of proposed legislation, too many cooks. The interests of rockhounds and amateur paleontologists would be protected by the bill as proposed. Many professional paleontologists are reluctant to agree to anything that does not give them absolute control over collection of all types of fossils, not just vertebrates. It will be very difficult to come up with a completed bill that resembles the bill ALAA worked so hard to initiate. A strong and unified support from all members of CFMS and AFMS will be necessary to achieve the desired results.
     A new planning effort in the Red Rock Canyon State Park may be an asset to rockhounds who visit Last Chance Canyon. The park only wanted some 8,000 acres but Senator Feinstein gave them 20,000+ acres which includes more than 100 mining claims and several active mines in addition to Last Chance Canyon. In January we met at the park and received assurance that they are attempting to produce a management plan that will allow rock collecting to continue in the Last Chance Canyon area. There is a precedent as some 42 State Parks do allow hobby collecting.
     Earlier this year, we had the opportunity to attend some meetings in Yuma, Arizona on the area along both sides of the Colorado River. This includes the Red Cloud Mine area on the Arizona side of the river and the Indian Pass Gavilan Wash on the California side. The Desert "Protection" Act that was passed created some Wilderness areas in the Federal Game Preserves which severely limits access to some BLM areas where the road crossed a portion of the preserve. Needless to say, this has created some major problems for residents and recreationists using the area.
     The Gavilan Wash road and several roads surrounding the Pichacho State Recreation Area were targeted by the management of the recreation area a couple of years ago. They were stopped by the County of Imperial, so now they are trying to work a deal with the BLM in Yuma as they manage both sides of the river (up to 5 miles of California in some areas). Yuma BLM originally promised to establish an Advisory Committee but so far have not kept that commitment.
     The Kofa National Game Preserve is attempting to eliminate all rock collecting in the 700,000 acres they control which includes Quartz Hill area South of Quartzsite. They claim they held a public hearing in Quartzsite a couple of years ago where only 4 people attended and all four expressed support of their proposed plan. The 30+ people from Quartzsite who drove to Yuma for this meeting expressed doubt that such a meeting took place.
     These are some examples of the ongoing concerns that PLAC members are constantly involved in. It seems that the attack on our right to use public lands for educational and recreational will never stop. We (PLAC) still need your help. Please keep informed and be sure someone representing your society or club represents you at any planning meetings that are scheduled.
          Contributed by Florence Meisenheimer,
          Federation Director.

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October/November.

RS2477 RIGHTS-OF-WAY, By George Loud, Vienna, Virginia.
     At the Riverside AFMS Convention I heard complaints from Dee Holland and others about the closure of roads which provide access to various collecting sites. I expect this situation to deteriorate in the future unless legislation is enacted which turns the land managing agencies in a different direction. You may recall that the Department of Interior proposed new rules which would have established a zero base for such rights-of-way, recognizing the existence of none and placing a burden on state authorities to prove the existence of any such right-of-way.
          Contributed by Florence Meisenheimer,
          Federation Director.

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EXPANDED REGULATION OF HOBBY COLLECTING, By George Loud.
     Given statements made by representatives of the U.S. Forest Service at recent symposia, I would not be too surprised to see new regulations which impose a permit procedure to collect any fossil on public lands, vertebrate or invertebrate.
     Spokespersons for the land managing agencies have complained recently of their lack of sufficient funding and manpower. Paradoxically, other spokespersons for these same agencies are advocating an expansion of regulating and enforcement responsibilities.
     Please support ALAA (American Lands Access Association). There is a form in your September local newsletter.
          Contributed by Florence Meisenheimer,
          Federation Director.

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December.

BLM TURNS 50, From BLM Newsbeat - 9/96.
     The Revolution was the beginning of a new day--a great protest by U.S. Citizens who declared their independence in 1776.

The resulting Treaty of Peace, signed by England in 1783 ceded to the U.S. over 270 million acres of lands east of the Mississippi exclusive of the original 13 colonies. A powerful Nation had taken the first steps on it's path into the future, and it was heading west.

The 1785 Land Ordinance was created to smoothly achieve this growth. It also mandated that all public domain lands northwest of the Ohio River be surveyed into 36-square mile townships, and sold at no less than $1.00 per acre, in tracts no smaller than 640 acres.

For the next several decades, the land-base continued to grow, and the population expanded into already-occupied territories of the west. Homesteaders, miners, and new towns began to take over lands they wanted. The Government realized that the functions of management of the public domain were too widely dispersed.

Land Sales were under Treasury, survey was under the Geographer's office, The State Department issued patents, military benefits were under the War Department--and each agency kept separate records.

Finally, in 1812 Congress created the General Land Office (GLO) as part of the Treasury Department. At last, all public land records were together in one place, making it ironically easy for them to be completely destroyed when the British torched Washington, D.C. during the war of 1812.

GLO began again and became a part of the newly-formed Interior Department. At the same time, the discovery of gold in California began another migration of pioneers across the land, in search of a better life. Public lands granted to railroad companies in 1862 soon brought even more settlers closer to the life they dreamed of.

As the early years of the 20th Century approached, President Theodore Roosevelt brought attention to the multiple-use potential of the public lands. Moved by the near-depletion of buffalo herds, and unrestrained human migration with little regard to protection of our Nation's resources, he spearheaded the creation of national parks and forests and reminded Americans that "Conservation means development as much as it does Protection."

But out west, sheep and cattle ranchers were still embattled in range wars. The General Land Office and the U.S. Grazing Service were both responsible for grazing issues, but duties were awkwardly divided.

The problem was resolved in 1946--50 years ago this past July--when the GLO and the Grazing Service were combined into one agency--the Bureau of Land Management. For the next 30 years, BLM administered the growing number of public land programs and regulations such as the 1934 Taylor Grazing Act, the General Mining Law, the Homesteading Acts, and hundreds of other statutes.

In 1976 Congress passed the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. This far-reaching legislation mandated a new public land ethic based on retaining public land in Federal ownership. It repealed hundreds of out-dated laws and policies, consolidating them into the workable provisions that guide this agency today.

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act officially ended homesteading, required environmental considerations and recordation of all mining claims, and amended the Taylor Grazing Act. It also required rejustification of withdrawals of public lands and studies of public land for wilderness designation, established a law enforcement authority in the California Desert, and called for public input from the land users themselves.

The 50-year old agency now moves into the 21st Century, holding in it's hands it's visionary "Blueprint for the Future."

     Contributed by Florence Meisenheimer.

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