In Kentucky, this bill was sent to the Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee on January 24.

SB 105 (BR 1240) - D. Seum, P. Hornback
AN ACT relating to metal detectors in state parks.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 148 to define "metal detector" and "public area"; allow use of metal detectors in public areas; require registration of use of metal detector within state park or monument office; amend KRS 148.991 to provide a penalty for violation.

Call 1 800/321-7181 to voice support for Senate Bill 105, pertaining to allowing metal detecting in State Parks.

Ralph Gould

To:  All Mining and Prospecting Clubs

Subject:  Request for Coordination of Efforts

The California Department of Fish and Game is scheduled to release the final SEIR and dredging regulations on February 15th.  We believe there will be only small changes from the draft we reviewed last April – May.  This means the regulations will be highly restrictive to dredging and large parts of the State will permanently be closed to dredging.

It is critical that all pro dredging, prospecting and mining organizations across the State (or organizations or individuals in other states who are interested in what happens legislatively in California) need respond with a coordinated effort.  Our responses will not change the SEIR or the regulations – that much is clear.  However, a strong coordinated response will provide the groundwork for an administrative challenge of the SEIR.  It is crucial to the future of dredging that we challenge the Significant Findings and make the State prove the science.

This challenge may also create a precedent where the government and states will have to stop using flawed science in order to come to  pre-concieved conclusions. This ruling may affect further rulings in ALL states!

The Western Mining Alliance is not a club.  We are simply a handful of people- who are researching, writing papers and publishing the information to fight the ban on dredging.  Our objective is to provide information and organize a coordinated response to the regulations.

Currently, our effort is in California, but it is obvious that ALL organizations in ALL states need to develop a network where we can collaborate and share information, as our industry is being attacked from all sides, and so far we have no coordinated response, anywhere!
We ALL need to create grass roots organizations in ALL states.

We need everyone to stand together to change the laws, which unfairly restrict our right to mine.

We must be proactive and for once go on the offensive.  We have prepared lobbying sheets, media sheets and summary papers for our prospector/miner (this means ALL GOLDSEEKERS) lobbyists to talk to legislators with in California.  We have a designated person to coordinate a lobbying effort.  I’d like to discuss with you how we can collaborate within a short deadline to mobilize all mining supporters in the State to challenge the suction dredging regulations for right now and any other upcoming regulations in the future. Our futures depend upon our coordinated response RIGHT NOW.

I need to talk with you as your earliest convenience, as time is short and we need a massive movement of miners, literally within a month.

If you live outside California and want help in our efforts or you want to talk about future coordination efforts (our hands are pretty full here in California), I still would love to talk to you.

We are looking for businesses/people who want to be listed on our supporters page. The businesses don't need to be based in California. Let us know if you know anyone.

By the way, it doesn't cost anything to join our organization. If people cannot afford $25 (it helps our admin costs), but they want to be active volunteers, that is ok too. We need lots of people working across many states, working for the benefit of the whole industry.

Currently we are looking high and low for research scientists, attorneys, and engineers who want to help with the fight. A web person who understands wordpress would help too.  

Rick Solinsky
Chief Operations Officer
Western Mining Alliance
www.thewma.org
wminerick@gmail.com

530-587-1920       8 am-11 pm Pacific Time

Keith Wills of World Wide Association of Treasure Seekers, Inc. (WWATS), guest on  Relic Roundup Mon, Jan. 30

Keith Wills has worked tirelessly to help get the word out about legal issues through the World Wide Association of Treasure Seekers, Inc. (WWATS). He also is an engineer and can answer most technical questions you have about detectors. Don’t miss this exciting show on Monday (Jan 30). Show runs from 9-10 PM. Call in (678-369-7943), join in our chatroom, or just listen. Tune in on Relic Roundup at the link below.

http://relicroundup.blogspot.com/

See you there,
Butch Holcombe

Publisher of American Digger Magazine and co-host of Relic Roundup

Received the following from Mark Schuessler this morning and wanted to share it with you all.  Mark pretty much summed it up....we need to strike while the iron is hot.  Keep emailing those legislators.  This bill just might make it.  

http://www.alreporter.com/al-politics/political-news/state-news/1084-historical-artifacts-leads-state-employees-use-state-office-time-and-equipment-to-fight-legislation.html

Hello Divers,

The discussion over diving rights in Alabama continues and the Legislators are aware of the continued misuse of state time and equipment by the Alabama Historical Comission to fight the legislative process. Please read the article below from the Alabama News Reporter that further explains this.

http://www.alreporter.com/al-politics/political-news/state-news/1084-historical-artifacts-leads-state-employees-use-state-office-time-and-equipment-to-fight-legislation.html

Many of you have taken the time to write letters to the Legislators in support of SB 81 and HB 54. Thank you. If you have not written them yet please take a few minutes to email them and ask them for their support. Even if this isn't your type of diving, people should not be denied the right to explore Alabama's waters and keep isolated finds.  Here is a full list of the Senators and Representatives email addresses that we have compiled that you can easily copy and paste to ask for them to support SB 81 and HB 54.

http://ssdsupply.blogspot.com/

Please forward your letters and any correspondence from the Legislators back to us so that we know who supports diving freedom in the state. Forward to us at ssdsupply@aol.com.

Thank you,

Steve, Forrest and Spencer Phillips
Southern Skin Divers Supply
4515 5th Avenue. South
Birmingham, AL. 35222
205-595-3052
www.ssdsupply.com