Reclaiming the Sierra Agenda Now Available

The full agenda for our Reclaiming the Sierra conference is now available online, as are many other details.  Visit these links on the conference website to learn more about this exciting event that is right around the corner!

• Agenda
• Speakers
• Tours
• Films
• Healthcare Professionals Workshop
• Community Workshops
• Registration

Jared Blumenfeld, EPA Region 9 Administrator, tenatively speaking at Reclaiming the Sierra

UPDATE:  Unfortunately Mr. Blumenfeld will not be speaking at Reclaiming the Sierra this year. 

April 20, 2012 - The Sierra Fund is excited to announce that we are currently making arrangements with Mr. Blumenfeld’s staff for him to speak at Reclaiming the Sierra 2012 in the afternoon of Friday, May 4, 2012. This keynote will be a great transition from our full day of technical tours and films to our annual conference reception.

Mr. Blumenfeld has spent nearly two decades on the front-lines of protecting the environment both at home and internationally. His priorities at EPA include strong enforcement; environmental justice; protecting and restoring our air, land and waters; building strong federal, state, local and tribal partnerships; and taking action on climate change.

Fish & Game Issues new suction dredge regulations – but they won’t take effect until July 1, 2016

NEVADA CITY, 29 March 2012 - The California Department of Fish and Game issued new regulations for suction dredge mining in California late Friday March 16, 2012.  These regulations stem from a year-long rule-making process and were adopted just one day before the rule-making process either needed to be completed or started over again.

The rules do not meet the standards adopted by the California Legislature and signed into law by Governor Brown.  Those standards created a moratorium on DFG’s suction dredge mining permit program until:

• a new regulatory program is enacted that protects the environment from harm and a fee structure adopted that pays for the cost of enforcing the suction dredge program, OR
• July 1, 2016.

“These regulations fall short of the requirements set by the California legislature  by allowing a program that will result in significant cultural and environmental harms,” notes Elizabeth “Izzy” Martin of The Sierra Fund.  “Since these regulations do not provide the protections required by the Legislature, the Department’s regulations are basically going to sit on a shelf until July 1, 2016.”

Izzy’s Capitol Round Up

By Izzy Martin, The Sierra Fund CEO

NEVADA CITY, 15 March 2012 - The Sierra Fund has been very active recently in the California State Capitol to educate members and their staff about the impact of abandoned mines on the state, and reforms needed to protect people, water quality and fish.

Over the last month The Sierra Fund participated in a legislative briefing at the State Capitol, spoke to community college classes, led staff from the national Sierra Club on a tour, met with the Directors of key departments, testified at a State Water Resources Control Board meeting on proposed regulations for mercury in California reservoirs, met with Senators’, Assemblymembers’ and Governor’s staff, and talked to lots of miners.

Just a few of our activities: