Victory on suction dredge mining reform: Governor Brown signs SB 637

California Gov. Jerry Brown today signed into law Senate Bill 637 to protect California’s water supplies, wildlife and cultural resources from the damaging effects of destructive suction dredge gold mining. The new law requires that all small-scale miners using motorized suction pumps obtain a Clean Water Act Permit from the State Water Resources Control Board before mining in California waterways.

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California Court threatens to reopen rivers to destructive suction dredge mining

Damaging practice would harm waterways, wildlife, cultural resources The following press release was published by The Sierra Fund’s partners at the Center for Biological Diversity SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.— A coalition fighting highly destructive suction dredge mining is considering further legal options after a state judge ruled that a California law banning the practice is preempted […]

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