Recreational mining permits eyed
From our weekly issue dated February 03, 2010
A proposed update of a 1988 ordinance may open up land owned by Josephine County to recreational mining.
The issue was discussed by the board of county commissioners during its Thursday, Jan. 28 meeting with its legal staff at the courthouse in Grants Pass.
Forester Vic Harris said he asked the county?s legal department to review the existing ordinance since increased gold prices have prompted a renewed interest in mining.
Legal Counsel Steve Rich suggested the establishment of a recreational mining permit system. He said that the county lacks the ability to regulate commercial-grade mining operations, but could simply replace the existing ordinance to allow for low levels of suction dredge mining.
Chairman Dwight Ellis said that charging $30 to $50 for an annual permit would be reasonable. Harris stated that the current ordinance calls for a $50 application fee and an additional charge of $300 to mine a section of county-owned creek.
Ellis said that the permit could include the insistence that applicants comply with federal and state regulations.
Rich said that any proposed ordinance would have to go through a public hearings process.
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