Miners seek political involvement
From our weekly issue dated November 11, 2009
The recent conviction of a Gold Hill man on a charge of illegal mining has members of that industry scrambling to become more organized and politically involved.
Clifford Tracy, 37, was arrested by U.S. Forest Service officers on Sept. 9 during a traffic stop after leaving his mining claim on Sucker Creek in Illinois Valley. He was found guilty by U.S. District Court Judge Owen Panner on Monday, Nov. 2 in Medford.
Tracy’s conviction was a main topic during the Friday, Nov. 6 meeting of the Southwest Oregon Mining Association (SOMA) at Pottsville, near Merlin. Approximately 50 people were present, including Josephine County Commissioner Sandi Cassanelli.
Miner Hal Anthony told the group about the challenges inherent in seeking justice through the courts.
“We need to learn the law,” Anthony said. “This is on us.”
Anthony said that miners are getting caught “flat-footed” as more restrictions and administrative rules regulating their industry are passed into law.
“There’s a way to go about doing this,” he said.
At least one miner at the meeting expressed concern about his own lack of legal knowledge. But SOMA Vice President Ron Gibson challenged the miners to start standing up for their rights.
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“We all have to learn,” Gibson said.
Studying the law is a “tremendous undertaking,” Gibson said, given the enormous quantity of federal laws in the United States.
Also discussed were ways to engage the public and battle negative perceptions of miners.
Gibson acknowledged the inherent difficulty that those involved in mineral extraction might have in changing their tactics. Miners are known for being very private, minding their own business, and keeping to themselves — hardly a winning strategy for a group hoping to revamp its image.
“Miners are very independent people,” Gibson said.
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