HomeMy WebLinkAboutAB 120BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BILLCONNELLY
First District
ADMINISTRATION CENTER LARRY WAHL
25 COUNTY CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 200 - OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA 55965 Second District
TELEPHONE; (530) 538-763 MAUREEN KIRK
Third District
STEVE LAMBERT, Chair
Fourth District
KIM K. YAMAGUGHI
Fifth District
3une 28, 2011
The Honorable Jerry Brown
Governor, State of California
State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Assembly Bill 120 - (Assembly Committee on Budget)
Dear Governor Brown:
The County of Butte opposes AS 120 as the bill proposes to modify an existing moratorium prohibiting suction
dredging by extending the moratorium an additional five years to June 201 b. The proposed extension through
the 2011-2012 California Budget circumvents the current public process that is in place as the Department of
Fish & Game {DFG} concludes its environmental review process and develops regulations to address issues
clearly defined in that process. This bill negates that environmental review process and imposes an extended
moratorium without public input.
Butte County is home to many modern day gold miners and has land within its boundaries with federal mining
claims on it. As gold mining was one of the first economic drivers in the foothills and mountains that line Butte
County on the east, it continues to be a piece of the economic foundation of Butte County and surrounding
counties and should not be hampered without a very thoughtful public process. The gold miners, with federal
claims that are SO-100 years old, provide valuable habitat restoration at no cost to the taxpayers through their
dredging operations. Currently, the Department of Fish & Game is spending public funds to have gravel hauled
in to create habitat far fish that could have been done for free by suction dredgers.
On behalf of the Butte Caunty Board of Supervisors, i encourage you to veto AB 120 and not circumvent public
input on this issue.
Sincerely,
Steve Lambert, hair
Butte Caunty Board of Supervisors
cc: Members, Butte County Board of Supervisors