National News Affecting Rockhounds

Senate Bill 6057

Attention all rockhounds. A bill has been introduced in our state Senate that will allow rock collecting on Department of Fish and Wildlife managed lands and codify allowing rock collecting on Department of Natural Resources managed lands. This is SB 6057. We need all members of every rock club in the state to contact their state senators and ask them to sponsor this bill. We also need you to contact your state representatives and ask them to introduce this legislation in the state assembly

SB 6057 is sponsored by Senators Honeyford, Hatfield, Becker, Schoesler, Shin, Delvin, and is currently in the Committee on Energy, Natural Resources and Marine Waters.

There is a link at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/ where a person can get information on this Bill. There is also a provision within the link to follow the progress of same, I am told. It is now early in the Legislative process and at least the Bill has been referred to Committee.

It is imperative that all Newsletter Editors/publishers send out notice about this Bill and encourage their organization’s members to contact their Legislators for further action to bring it to the Floor for a vote of passage. Newsletter Editors should also publish the following link http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx for their subscribers to find contact information regarding their own State Legislators and encourage them to utilize this link and become a part of the “process”.

Remember, submitting a Bill does not get it passed!! I feel it is the pressure of the constituents upon their WA State Legislators, both the in the House and the Senate, that get Bills pushed through.

It is up to the Rockhounds, Knappers and others of like interest to get moving to push on this ASAP and keep the pressure on throughout this session until it gets passed!  It is now up to us,the people who can benefit the most from the passage of this Bill, to carry the ball! If we don’t, there is no further hope for these groups to gain or even keep their collecting areas/locations open to the public! Senator Jim Honeyford has been very supportive and cooperative in our interests. He and the other signees of this bill need to be recognized for this progress to date.

So please, contact your state legislators and report any and all responses to me at bwaterss2011@gmail .com

Thank you,
Brian Waters
President
Washington State Mineral Council

Did U Know!

One of the primary constitutional responsibilities of Congress is to pass legislation funding the operation and activities of the federal government. Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 of the U.S. Constitution reads: “No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.” The power to appropriate belongs exclusively to the legislative branch. Each year Congress undertakes to pass a budget and then, within the constraints set out by that budget, pass 12 appropriations bills that provide discretionary funding for the fiscal year, which begins October 1.

As a Member of the House Appropriations Committee I am tasked with the responsibility to carefully weigh priorities for federal spending and oversee how agencies spend taxpayer dollars. It is important for citizens to understand this function of Congress, but unfortunately most people only hear short sound-bites about the budget process in the media and don’t have an opportunity to put them in context. As a result, I have tried to provide a basic outline of how the federal budget process works so that you can follow this year’s appropriations cycle.(Mike Simpson;ID congressman)

The Appropriations Committee writes 12 annual appropriations bills that provide approximately 40% of federal spending for a fiscal year. This funding is called discretionary spending. Nearly 60% of federal spending is controlled either by legislative committees or, like Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid, is on auto-pilot and does not need to be appropriated every year. This is called direct or mandatory spending.

302 allocations
The congressional budget resolution establishes spending priorities by setting an overall spending limit for the government and dividing that spending among the 20 major functional categories of the federal budget. Committees with jurisdiction over these functions must operate within these amounts, which are called 302(a) allocations, in order to stay within the overall spending limit established by the budget resolution.

The budget resolution sets the 302(a) allocation for the Appropriations Committee, which is the overall cap on discretionary spending. For FY12, the 302(a) allocation is $1.019 trillion

Each subcommittee is allocated a certain amount of funding under the full Committee’s 302(a) allocation. These allocations, which are referred to as 302(b) allocations, establish the cap on spending for each of the appropriations bills. It is important to note that the subcommittees themselves don’t determine the level of funding for each bill; they only determine how that money is spent among the agencies and programs under the subcommittee’s jurisdiction.

Twelve Appropriations Subcommittees determine discretionary funding for government functions. Each of these subcommittees produces one bill each year. Subcommittees include:
Land and Water Conservation Fund What is the Land and Water Conservation Fund and why is it important to you?

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is the primary source of funding available to the Federal land management agencies to preserve, develop and assure access to outdoor recreational resources. This includes the purchase of in-holdings within existing Federal lands, the purchase of large private holdings that may be threatened by development pressures, as well as the purchase of easements and corridors which provide improved public access to existing federal lands.

In the West, these public lands are where most hunters hunt, and many other forms of recreation take place. They are not subject to the threats of exclusive leasing that threaten hunting and outdoor traditions. They will never be sold and posted "no trespassing."

How does the Land and Water Conservation Fund get funding?
The LWCF is a "trust fund" that accumulates revenues primarily from oil and gas leases on the Outer Continental Shelf. Over the last decade, these revenues have averaged around $6.4 billion annually. The fund was created by Congress in 1965 as a way to at least partially offset the impacts of oil and gas exploration on our nation’s natural resources. The enabling legislation allowed for $900 million annually - less that 15% of the average revenues over the last decade - to be appropriated to the LWCF for acquisition habitats and recreation areas and to assist in the development of local parks and recreation facilities. The enabling legislation requires that Congress annually appropriate LWCF monies to specific projects. Unappropriated monies are returned to the Federal Treasury to fund unrelated funding needs.

What’s the problem?
Unfortunately, Congress has failed to annually appropriate the full $900 million contributed to the LWCF. In the last decade, Congress only appropriated an average of $313 million annually, or less than 5% of the available offshore revenues. Consequently, Federal land management agencies have not been able to take advantage of willing seller opportunities that would have protected important wildlife habitats from development and provided more places for hunters to hunt. The lack of available funding has precluded these agencies from actively searching for easement and fee acquisition opportunities that would improve hunter access to large tracts of existing Federal lands.

Members Call for Limitations on President’s Authority to Unilaterally Designate National Monuments

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 13, 2011 - Today, the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands held a legislative hearing on six bills that would limit the President’s authority to use the Antiquities Act to unilaterally designate new National Monuments within certain states. Last year, an internal document from the Interior Department revealed 14 areas of federal land that the Obama Administration has identified as worthy of National Monument designation under the Antiquities Act. The proposed designations would lock-up millions of acres of public lands in the West, without local input or Congressional authority, and could restrict access for energy production, recreation, and other job-creating economic activities. To prevent unilateral Administrative action, these bills would require either state approval or authorization by Congress prior to a National Monument designation.

At the hearing, Members stressed the need for local input and the potential impacts these designations could have on jobs and economic growth. “The Treasured Landscapes memo served as a canary in a coal mine, lifting the veil off the disingenuous agenda hatched by the current Administration to unilaterally lock up millions of acres throughout the West from multiple-use. Using the Antiquities Act would allow the Administration to circumvent the open congressional process, which helps ensure that the livelihoods of communities, residents, businesses and stakeholders are examined and thoughtfully considered before new public land designations are made Radical special interest groups continue to push the Administration to use the Antiquities Act. Recently former DOI Secretary Bruce Babbitt urged the Administration to use the Antiquities Act as a tool to lock up millions of acres of public lands. In light of these ongoing efforts, it is essential that Utah and other western states put in place a measure similar to that of Wyoming to ensure that the Antiquities Act cannot be used to destroy livelihoods in an effort to fulfill political agendas,” said Subcommittee Chairman Rob Bishop (UT-01).

“In September of 1996, President Clinton used the Antiquities Act to surprise Utah by establishing the 1.8 million acre Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The State had no warning that this was coming, and once it was done we had no recourse. With the stroke of the pen, 500 high-paying jobs in a rural Utah county disappeared. We thought we had seen the worst that could be done with this Act to score political points at the expense of public-lands states. Last year when the so-called, Treasured Landscapes memo was leaked to this Committee we realized that it could be much worse. We found out that this President is not only willing to abuse the Antiquities Act, but that his Interior Department was getting ready to advise him on where to do it. Two of the areas they had identified for possible monument designation are in Utah. That is why it is essential that the bills we are discussing today pass and the Congress be given the ultimate say on which areas will become national monuments,” said Senator Orrin Hatch (UT).

“In the Northern California Congressional District I represent, the federal government owns a significant amount of the land, with it reaching as high as 75% in one county. Local communities collect no taxes from these lands, money that could go to schools and roads. The federal government is also unable to manage it properly. Now the Obama Administration is talking about increasing the number of presidentially-designated national monuments. This would be detrimental to local communities across our nation, and is why I have introduced H.R. 817, which would require Congress’ approval for any National Monument designations by the President. ... In the face of severe economic challenges, we need to reform crippling government policies and regulations so that local communities can utilize their natural resources and prosper. These lands belong to the people, and local needs should drive their management, not a one-size-fits-all decree from Washington,” said Rep. Wally Herger (CA-02).

“The Montana Land Sovereignty Act isn’t about stopping new National Monuments. It’s simply about making sure that the American public has a voice in the process. ... I didn’t introduce the Montana Land Sovereignty Act to undermine the intent of the Antiquities Act.
On the contrary, my legislation restores this valuable law to its original intention: the preservation of American antiquities. But the Montana Land Sovereignty Act is also about protecting the American people from the unchecked, unaccountable expansion of Antiquities Act power,” said Rep. Denny Rehberg (MT-At large).

“It has become public that the Obama Administration is attempting yet another land grab that would add over 13 million acres to federal real estate land holdings. Considering the size of the federal government’s existing real estate portfolio, there is no need to continue unilaterally acquiring new lands without any regard to states rights or economies. ... H.R. 302, the Preserve Land Freedom for Americans Act, seeks to give the states a voice and power by requiring state approval for national monument designations by the Federal government. State governments are prepared and best qualified to make these decisions,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx (NC-05).

“Just as designation of wilderness areas is a Congressional prerogative, I believe the designation of national monuments should also be subject to Congressional oversight. My legislation [H.R. 846, Idaho Land Sovereignty Act] would prohibit any presidential administration from imposing new monument designations in the state of Idaho. Clearly the Obama Administration has given us numerous reasons to believe they need to be reined in with their job killing regulations. ... I don’t oppose public lands. I simply oppose efforts by an out-of-touch administration to forcibly lock up public lands with no Congressional oversight,” said Rep. Raúl Labrador (ID-01).



Public Review of Rockhound State Park Management Plan
by MaryKay Brady
excerpted from Friends of Rockhound SP newsletter

It was standing room only at Rockhound State Park on Tuesday, March 29th. Folks started arriving at 5:00 for the meeting scheduled to start at 6:00.

The purpose of the meeting was to allow the public to review and discuss the recent Rockhound State Park management plan, drafted by the NM State Park managers. It included a proposal to ban rockhounding within the State Park.

The following representatives attended from Santa Fe:
John H Bemis , Cabinet Secretary (designate) for Energy, minerals and Natural resources
Tommy Mutz, State Park Director
Dave Gatterman, Park projects
Christy Tafoya , Archeologist
Cynthia Lovely, Park Planner

Other State Park managers:
Rolf Hechler, Region 3 superintendant
Robert V. Apodaca, Rockhound/
Spring Canyon park superintendant

Special guests in attendance were Representative
Dona Irwin, Deming City
Council Linda Enis and David Sanchez,
John Sutherland, Luna County Manager along with Mary Galbraith, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, Linda Smrkosky Economic Development, and Virginia Pool and Pat Guthrie, representatives of the Deming Luna County Museum.

Many members from the Deming community spoke about how much rockhounding has meant to them as well as the reason they settled in this area. Several out of state people in attendance commented that they spent $2,000 and more per visit to this area. Comments included limiting the area where rocks can be gathered; lowering the amount of rocks (currently 15 pounds) and setting limits like how much per person per day for those guests camping the 21 day limit.

Mr. Bemis & Mr. Mutz were very pleased with the turnout and quite impressed to see that folks did respond—they now understand that we DO read the management plans. It was my impression and other Friends members that the park will remain as always—no ban on rockhounding but perhaps some more clear delineations of where and how much.

Mary Galbraith from the Chamber of Commerce had numbers of RV’s and folks who came into the visitor center during Rockhound Roundup—the numbers were significant. Thank you so much to all of you Friends who attended, e mailed, faxed and wrote letters. We could not meet our mission of preserving, promoting and protecting without all of you!

One example of the outpouring of support was told to me by Linda Enis, City Councilwoman, who said she received 70 e mails from all over the US in favor of Rockhound State.



Arizona rancher urges Congress to improve border security
National Cattlemen's Beef Association | Updated: April 15, 2011


WASHINGTON – Jim Chilton, Arizona rancher and member of the Public Lands Council(PLC) and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association(NCBA), told members of Congress during an oversight hearing held jointly by the Government and Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on National Security, Homeland Defense and Foreign Operations and the Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands that inadequate security along the border between the United States and Mexico, especially on public lands, has put ranchers and their families living near the border in constant danger.

“We have been burglarized twice. Many of our neighbors have suffered similar loss of security and property. Our losses have been great and our sense of security in our own country has been severely damaged,” Chilton said. “The Border Patrol must control the border at the border so that citizens’ civil rights, property rights and human rights are protected.Ranchers along the border cannot have peace of mind until the border is secured.”

Chilton said environmental laws, including the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA), have “unduly hampered” the ability of U.S. Border Patrol agents to control the border. He said he and many other ranchers have had challenges with federal land managers causing serious delays for the border patrol. According to Chilton, the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) two mile wide and 50 mile long San Pedro National Conservation Area excludes any mechanical entry or exit resulting in a drug trafficker’s “dream path to enter Arizona and walk unhindered and hide in heavy vegetation for 50 miles. The only way the Border Patrol can patrol that contraband highway is on foot or horseback."

U.S. Representative Rob Bishop (R-Utah) recently introduced H.R. 1505, the National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act, to help improve border security on public lands. The legislation would prevent the secretaries of the Department of Interior (DOI) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) from impeding, prohibiting, or restricting the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) efforts to obtain operational control of the border. It gives DHS immediate access to federal lands, and allows the agency to waive certain policies preventing it from obtaining full operational control of the border.

PLC and NCBA support H.R. 1505.

“There are millions of acres of remote federal lands along our southern border where border patrol agents are unable to do their job because of misguided environmental policies,” said NCBA President Bill Donald. “Now, dangerous and aggressive drug and human traffickers are perusing the same lands our ranchers live and work on day to day. This bill would allow for the access and surveillance equipment border patrol agents need to protect these lands — and our members.”

John Falen, president of PLC, said while lands under management by the DOI and USDA are crucial to public lands ranchers’ livelihoods, ranchers are suffering huge losses on those lands along the southern border. Livestock stress and weight loss, destruction of fences, broken pipelines, water pollution, hazardous chemical use and dumping and destroyed forage, he said, are not the only damages caused by these drug operations.

“Drug traffickers are well armed. They use traps and aren’t afraid to harm ranchers who are only trying to go about their daily business,” he said. “This isn’t just costing our industry millions; it’s costing lives. We hope Congress recognizes the true lawlessness on our borders by passing this long overdue legislation.”