Arkansas River Mining Claims, Managing agencies plan to expand on "relinquished" claims Options

[ASTROBLEME]

Hello Everyone... especially owners of Mountain Robber #3 and Music Man mining claims,

I was wishing it was just an April Fools Joke but this is serious business for owners of Arkansas River mining claims. A public notice in the local paper on April 1st 2017 advises that comments on an Environmental Assessment are due by May 1. Please take some time to look at the plan and make sure you take advantage of the opportunity to make appropriate comments. The agencies involved expect impacts of free camping access to be spread throughout the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, so I'd suggest you review the plan if you have any mining claims between Leadville and Pueblo Reservoir. Here's the link to their proposal;

Salida East Recreation Site

Most of the public lands in the upper Arkansas River basin are being managed under leases between the U. S. Bureau of Land Management and the Colorado Parks and Wildlife agencies. This is a beneficial arrangement in most cases but over the past few years, I've seen an erosion of rights for those that aren't vigilant on proposals being put forth on/near their claim holdings. Before I retired from my scientist/researcher position with Colorado Department of Natural Resources, I was in far too many meetings where government staff expressed opposition to mining interests where miners weren't even part of the proceedings. I could rarely give input to clarify mineral interests due to my limited authority over those matters and that was further complicated by staff not understanding the law and having previously formed strong personal opinions. The opposition ideology is getting a push back...the pendulum is moving the other way now! When mineral claim owners assert their rights as input is allowed, they certainly get the agencies attention and can sufficiently protect their interests.

If you download the Salida East Recreation Site Environmental Assessment take a look at page 13. Their plan clearly states "If mining claims on adjacent BLM lands are relinquished and no longer encumbered BLM could consider adding these areas to the R&PP lease per CPW's initial request (figure 3)." Well folks...there is no figure 3 published in that EA. I'm paying close attention as I've went around this same tree many times while protecting my mining claims. In 2008, the records of my mining claim relinquishment across the site for their proposed area for development was archived. Shortly thereafter, they accelerated building roads, pullouts, boat ramps and other enticements for the public to use. Now they claim too much public use and too many problems. They think those issues can be resolved by intense management and charging the public for what they already have access to.

I've never been one to sleep on my rights and have posted my comment letter below. My hope is that you will be inspired and take similar action to assert you're opinions.

Sincerely,

ASTROBLEME