Latest News, Congress considering 3 bills to turn over federal lands to states Options

[rrhobdy]

Hey... We need to do something about the latest news on Yahoo.com where it is reported that Congress is now considering 3 separate bills to transfer millions of acres of federal lands and National Forests to the States. What is that going to do to us prospectors when it is the states that do a worse job of denying us access to lands to pan or prospect than the national government. Granted, I've got my beefs with the Forest Service and BLM, but not like I do with various states that prohibit us from doing anything like panning, sluicing, dredging, etc.

[traddoerr]

Hello all,

Been awhile since I have posted, dropped in a time or two to read up on everyone's adventures. As mentioned above these bills can spell real trouble for everyone that uses public lands. Even though this has only gone through committee, and most likely will be killed on the floor it is an issue that is being pushed by greed. Last year they tried to pass similar bills that were killed once on the floor. For any and all of us who prospect/hunt/fish on public lands stand to loose the very things that make us who we are.


Here is a statement from Back Country Hunters & Anglers (BHA) web site on the subject.

[On June 15th the House Committee on Natural Resources held a legislative markup on 19 bills and passed two out of committee that would spell disaster for our national public lands.

Rep. Raul Labrador’s (ID) Self-Sufficient Community Lands Act (H.R. 2316) and Rep. Don Young’s (AK) State National Forest Management Act of 2015 (H.R. 3650) would result in the seizure of millions of acres of public lands and threaten the health of our national forest system, fish and wildlife habitat, and public access to quality hunting and fishing.

Contact your members of Congress today and tell them legislation like this doesn’t belong in America - and would compromise the integrity of our proud public lands legacy.]

Hope you all have a great year digging!!!