from the Environmental Justice Coalition for Water

Letters of support needed for SB 670, the bill to halt suction dredging

CSPA has sent a letter of support to Senator Wiggins with a copy to Zeke Grader, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations

Sample letter included at end of article

by Debbie Davis, Legislative Analyst, EJCW

May 13, 2009 -- The Karuk Tribe and others around the State have been fighting to stop the destructive practice of suction dredge mining until the proper CEQA review is completed and the permit is revised to cover both DFG requirements and water quality requirements. SB 670 (Wiggins) would put a moratorium on suction dredge mining until the new permit is issued. The bill will be up for a floor vote at the end of next week or the beginning of the following week. It is an urgency statute and thus needs a 2/3rds vote.

Please take a moment to send a letter of support for the bill and to forward this call for letters out to others. Please also fax a copy of your letter to Senator Wiggin's office at (916)323-6958.

Sample letter:

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The Honorable [Insert your Senator’s Name here]
California State Senate
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
 
RE: Support for SB 670
 
Dear Senator [Your senator’s name]:
 
I write to you today to express our strong support for SB 670 (Wiggins), which would establish a permit moratorium on the destructive practice of in-stream suction gold dredge mining until an environmental impact report assessing the practice’s impacts is prepared and new regulations are written based on that assessment. 
 
[Insert your organization’s name and how many people you represent or other useful information.]
 
Suction dredge mining is a destructive practice disrupting rivers and streams and destroying fish habitat. Given the current state of the salmon fisheries California cannot afford to wait any longer to determine just how much damage this recreational practice causes. SB 670 will put an immediate moratorium on suction dredge mining to pause the destruction while the Department of Fish and Game conducts a long overdue environmental impact report.
 
California’s salmon are vital to our economy, ecosystem health, and salmon are a cultural and dietary resource for many California Tribes. A complex combination of forces continue to cause the precipitous decline of salmon in California. While suction dredge mining is not the only cause, there is sufficient reason to believe that the practice is at least partially responsible. California’s own Department of Fish and Game has acknowledged, in sworn statements, that this mining practice is harming the spawning success of several fish species, including the coho salmon, which is on the brink of extinction.  Yet the department has refused to stop or even limit this recreational activity until new regulations are adopted. 
 
Enactment of SB 670 will enable California the time necessary to responsibly assess the impacts of suction dredge mining and to develop both a DFG and a water quality permit that provides protection for two of California’s most valuable resources: our water and our fish. Doing so is a step toward upholding California’s Tribal Trust responsibilities to ensure that Tribes have access to cultural resources. In addition, a moratorium will save an estimated $1.26 million annually in state general fund dollars. These dollars are currently subsidizing the permit program.
 
We respectfully urge your aye vote on SB 670.
 
Sincerely,