BLM Legal Extortion

[Steve in Idaho]

Recently we got a letter from the BLM ,Idaho state office in Boise, Idaho saying that we were missing a signature on a quit claim deed to a mining company that we filed last year. In 2008 one of our pardners died, so we left his signature off of the maintenance fee waiver form sent to the BLM. In 2010 the BLM Land Law Examiner caught this and had us send him a death certificate and a search through the county for a will for our dead partner The BLM then had us file an amendment to the maintenance fee waiver form to remove our dead pardner from the files. The BLM Land Law Examiner then assured us that all of our paper work was in order. 2014 we get a registered letter saying that we did not have all of the signatures correct on the quit claim deed to the mining company and they would not file this quit claim deed until either we refiled a new claim locating notice or pay them $140 per claim per year. We think that they held this deed for ransom. This would cost us $1400 and the problem would magically go away. If we refiled new claim notices it would hold up the mining company 6 to 9 months to start their work on the claims, so we paid the $1400 to get the BLM off our back. Since then we talked to another person that has the same problem and they would have to pay 9 years back fees to the BLM for a similar problem. Doing the assessment work and a maintenance fee waiver keeps us from paying the $140 per claim per year. Has any one had this problem come up recently ?

 

[Hoser John]

NEVER RENT PUBLIC LANDS-simply file annual labor,small miners exemption and pay taxes(some states) and good to go. I do it all every year prior to the end a august when exemption due. Then all forms done early and no mistakes. Your in one mell of a hess fer sure. Amendment should have cured the paper mess and then it all goes back to date of original location. You were robbed and if I---well they never would have got that $1,400 and I'd a filed a appeal as then all aspects covered and adjudicated and final. You were indeed BLMd...sic sic sic sorry state of affairs. John

 

[IdahoGoldGettR]

Thanks for posting this Steve. I have a mining friend who's partner past away better than a year ago. He did the paper work similar to your circumstance but after hearing your dilemma, I am forwarding your post to him so that he is aware there may be future problems lurking with BLM.

Here my 2 Cents Worth:

1). BLM & Water Resources and the recent implementation of EPA are pushing to rid miners and mining all together.

2). What better way than to complicate the filing process, drum up some confusing software for the LR2000 Mining Report (which by the way is not compatible with dial-up internet), and invite EPA to over rule Water Resource regulations that are already in play.

3). If they can't oust the miner off their claims with all the above BS, then they try the tactic Steve and others are encountering to discourage and finance their agenda.

4). Not worry employees of BLM, Water Resource & EPA - If they succeed by eliminating all mining and make it obsolete, they'll still have their jobs, just a different title.


Steve, I completely understand the need to pay them off so as not to delay the mining company any further. John's point about filing an appeal is a valid one. At some point do we (the miners) just lay down and take what they give us or do we stand up and fight for what is ours. I believe this post has shed some light making others aware of what has happened or could happen to others. Perhaps the next time BLM tries to enforce these same harsh penalties, they will be met with resistance which could result in a different outcome. For those in BLM who think it can't happen to them: You really aught to view the YouTube Boise meeting pertaining to dredging & EPA. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19Pn9B0y26o&feature=youtu.be

Strong backing there. Next up,,,,, BLM

 

[Steve in Idaho]

All they wanted was the money. The money curried all of the missing signature problems. After we filed an amended notice their law person told us that we were OK with the required signatures, but he did not put it in writing as we asked. If I had a lot of money to spend, I would get a good mining lawyer and go after them.

 

[Gold Nuggets]

Your last sentence Steve is exactly what all of the blm, deq, dsl and other regulating agencies all over the country are counting on. The small scale miner does not usually have the monitary resources to "go after them" in a court of law, therefore, they will screw the majority of the small scale miners and think nothing of it. It is totally disheartining and wrong and they will usually NOT tell you what the proper procedure for filing is until after you pay the price of finding out the hard way.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

The "land specialist" was the person that caused this problem and she admitted that they had made a mistake in not catching this problem after their "Land Law Examiner " had us go through the process to get the problem of a missing signature resolved. Neither one of these people would give us a memo stating that the problem was fixed and that our paper work was in order.

 

[Hoser John]

sic stinkn' darn shame. Notarized signatures now required on all association claims paperwork by all members ,on all paperwork here in kalif land of ignorance. I've dumped all associated claims and just mine now as sooo much cheaper,easier and under the radar now-John

 

[mudpuppy]

Screw Them! Unenforceable! Not enough manpower to cover all the BLM! Get out there and dig away! Print some sort of bogus Id off the interwebs and tell them you work for Sandia/White Sands and are doing research/pluto recovery from a top secret hazard spill! print up some official looking magnetic emblem for the side of your truck...
Boy these guys chap my @ss!
Sorry, dealing with some State dipshid over here at the moment made me vent on your thread...gosh!
Mud!