I like how they are classifying this as an emergency to get it forced thru quickly and would go into effect as soon as passed. I guess the New England states are reverting back to English rule. You know...Do as I say and like it!

English rule caused a revolution.

We are dealing with a dredge ban in Tn right now to. Thought it doesn't cover the whole state. Right now the entire state except the Tellico Ranger district is off limits for dredging including private property. The state plans on having a state wide permit for prospecting in which at that time dredging will be allowed in the areas they seem fix. Our local chapter has been working with the state agencies and the rangers to get to agreeable regulations but so far not looking real good because they plan on regulation all prospecting not just dredging. The worse part is up till this happened last year the only place in the state that required permits or had any rules was the Tellico Ranger district right now there they only ones allowing dredging. I hope things turn out ok for you guys up there as with us here It doesn't just effect one state other states see what happens and start pulling the same stuff, and once you lose a little bit of freedom they just keep coming after the rest a little more each time. Good Luck

I emailed around 10 Maine legislators a while back and received 1 reply from the Rep. from Skowhegan (I think). Same ol' ,same ol', wishy washy, pacifying general talk. They are gonna' do what they want to do no matter what. That unfortunately is the real world nowadays. Gary

if you guys have a petition or anything like that , that people can sign to show support let us know , as I said earlier we dealing with problem here in Tennessee but if just got worse, they came come out with there final draft of there regulations and fees and if they get this passed in June it will end prospecting in Tn for good, There pretty much looking at closing all rivers and creeks in the state that have gold in them except one to dredging. and closing pretty much all but 6 or 7 to even panning, this also comes with a $900 first year fee for the permit , not sure how much after that for each year, we have started up a petition and I know a few guys have posted it on other parts of the web site but if you would please sign , doesn't matter if your a TN resident or not , same as with you guys it effects you in the state as well as those that might come from other states to prospect. Thanks

Petition link: 

http://www.ipetitions.com...general-permit-for-2

It's over for this year in Maine, LD 1671 was amended so that not as many rivers were closed but I am willing to bet they will be back. As for the petition in TN I have already signed it and I also blogged about what is happening in TN, I have shared the petition all over facebook and posted it to twitter. See blog here: http://prospectorjack.wor...rs-out-of-the-water/ I have also Email TDEC, the entire senate and the house in Tennessee. I haven't heard back from any of them. I did get one auto response from 1 senator notifying me that he will not read my email because I don't live in his district. Don't let that discourage you they need to see as many emails and letters as possible, phone calls are good too.

Thanks John for your help, the Public Hearing is tonight, see how it goes then one more month till we find out what's going to be enforced. I hope you guys make head way in Maine and that they don't come back after you guys next year.

The first thing people have done wrong is to allow anyone to tell you how you can use a piece of property that you own. 

No government agency should have the authority to delegate how a person is allowed to use the property that they bought and own.

Our government only has as much power and authority as we the people allow them to have. 

People need to stop being "sheep" and allowing our government to run rampant doing whatever they please with total disregard to the people they were elected 

to work for. 

It's just like any other type of job that you would hire someone to do for you. If you do not like the way they are doing it, fire them...!

If enough people would make a stand and declare that enough is enough and it will not be tolerated any longer, we would be able to regain the freedoms that we have lost due to not responding.

Just my two cents...!

 

Don't give up the good fight my friends!