supervisors and two other organizations in support of the legislation. They also state their concern as to the withdrawal of land within their county. Mr. EDMONDSON. Without objection it will be made a part of the record. Hearing no objection it is so ordered. (The material referred to follow :) CERTIFIED COPY OF RESOLUTION No. 67-105 PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF CALAVERAS AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, APRIL 17, 1967. RESOLUTION NO. 67-105 Whereas, the Department of Interior has proposed to withdraw from entry all areas of the Public Domain which might be potentially valuable for geothermal steam, and Whereas, Congressman Harold T. "Bizz" Johnson has vigorously opposed this action, particularly in the absence of full and comprehensive public hearings, and Whereas, this Board of Supervisors is in full accord with the stand taken by Congressman Johnson, Now, therefore be it resolved that this Board of Supervisors does hereby unanimously endorse Congressman Johnson's efforts to oppose the withdrawal of lands potentially valuable for Geothermal Steam. Passed and adapted by the following vote: Ayes: Supervisors Cuneo, Bernasconi, Boles, Minto and Fischer. Absent: None. . I, Basil E. Esmond, County Clerk and Ex-Officio Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Calaveras, California, hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of a Resolution passed and adopted at a regular meeting of said Board of Supervisors held on Monday, April 17, 1967. BASIL E. ESMOND, County Clerk and Ex-Officio Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Calaveras, Calif. Congressman, Second District, California, DEAR SIR: This is in response to your letter of April 13, 1967 to Mr. Carl Kelly, Clerk, Board of Supervisors, El Dorado County. The Board at a regular meeting held Monday, April 17, 1967, stated their stand against withdrawal of any land in El Dorado County for geothermal purposes without a public hearing. If we can be of any further assistance in this matter, please do not hesitate to contact us. Very truly yours, BARBARA L. Cook, RESOLUTION NO. 67-23 Whereas Volume 32, No. 25 of the Federal Register dated Tuesday, February 7, 1967, contained "Notice of Proposed Withdrawal and Reservation of Lands" which notice indicated that the Bureau of Land Management has filed an application for withdrawal of all public lands which are valuable or prospectively valuable for geothermal steam from all appropriations under the Public Land laws including, without limitations, the mining laws and the mineral leasing laws; and Whereas the reason given in said notice is that the Bureau of Land Management desires the withdrawal of said lands for the protection and conservation of natural resources, including geothermal steam and the minerals and other resources of value in said land; and Whereas the definition and designation of such areas apparently have been delegated to the Conservation Division of the United States Geological Survey in Los Angeles; and Whereas information has been received by this Board that maps of lands so affected are being circulated by the United States Geological Survey; and Whereas, this Board believes that approximately 480,000 acres in a strip generally including the central Owens Valley, south to near Independence; and approximately 120,000 acres in the Saline Valley area; and approximately 80,000 acres of the Warm Sulfer Springs area; and approximately 300,000 acres in the Southwest corner of Inyo County; and about 120,000 acres around Tecopa, all of which are contained within Inyo County, is involved in said withdrawal; and Whereas this Board believes that if said lands are to be automatically segregated, no valid mining claims may be located by individuals; and no minerals or oil leases may be executed by the Federal Government and those leases or claims pending are to be set aside; and all land exchange and land patents in course of arrangement by United States Bureau of Land Management are to be stopped and any and all mining claims located on such lands after the date of withdrawal will be useless; and Whereas mining as an occupation and an industry is of paramount and prime importance to the citizens of Inyo County; and Whereas a large section of Inyo County is currently withdrawn by the Federal Government whereupon all mining and other uses are restricted; and Whereas the above mentioned withdrawal would effectively stifle and prevent economic growth in Inyo County for the foreseeable future; and Whereas said notice above referred to indicates that for a period of 30 days from the date of publication of said notice, all persons who wish to submit comments, suggestions or objections in connection with the proposed withdrawal, may present them in writing to Boyd Rassmussen, Director of Bureau of Land Management, Department of Interior, Washington, D.C.; and Whereas said notice indicates that if circumstances warrant, a public hearing will be held at a convenient time and place which will be announced; and Whereas the circumstances above referred to certainly do warrant a public hearing. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Inyo, State of California, go on record as opposing the aforementioned withdrawal of the above described lands or any other lands in the County of Inyo whereby said lands become restrictively segregated for the exclusive preservation of geothermal steam, and Be it further resolved that this Board go on record as requesting a public hearing on this matter as provided in the aforementioned Notice of Proposed Withdrawal and Reservation of Lands, and Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be sent to Boyd L. Rasmussen, Director, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C., 20240; Mr. Phillip R. Bradley, Chairman, State Mining and Geology Board, Department of Conservation, State Mining and Geology Board, Ferry Building, San Francisco, 94111; United States Geological Survey, Conservation Division in Los Angeles; the Board of Supervisors of Mono County; Senator Howard Way, Assemblyman Eugene A. Chappie, Congressman Harold T. 'Bizz' Johnson, United States Senator Thomas H. Kuchel, United States Senator George Murphy. Passed and approved this 3rd day of April, 1967. Chairman, Board of Supervisors. I, Daniel T. Bromley, County Clerk and Ex-Officio Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, certify that aforesaid Resolution No. 67-23 was unanimously adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Inyo, State of California, on the 3rd day of April 1967. DANIEL T. BROMLEY, by Deputy Clerk. Hon. HAROLD T. (Bizz) JOHNSON, Representative in Congress, Second Congressional District, DEAR BIZZ: Reference your letter of April 13, 1967, the Modoc County Board of Supervisors commend you for the fine job you have been doing in opposition to the Dept. of Interior's proposal to withdraw from mineral location and leasing areas of public domain thought valuable for geothermal steam prior to public hearing. We soundly oppose the department theory and will voice our opposition to the Bureau of Land Management by resolution prior to the April 30th deadline. Since 600,000 acres of the 838,000 acres involved in California are located in our congressional district we feel that our pleas should be weighed heavily. Rest assured that our undivided support will continue to be with you as you pursue this matter. Yours very truly, JOHN B. LAZAGUE, Chairman, Modoc County Board of Supervisors. COUNTY OF MONO, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, Bridgeport, Calif., March 22, 1967. Representative HAROLD T. JOHNSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN JOHNSON: The reason for the enclosed excerpt was the fact that the Federal Register of February 7, 1967, published the proposal of the Department of Interior to withdraw from all mineral location and leasing those areas of the public domain thought valuable or prospectively valuable for geothermal steam. The Board had no notice or information concerning the matter until a letter was received from the Resources Agency of California, State Mining and Geology Board, on March 14, 1967. The area affected in Mono County is nearly all the County and excludes only lands North and West of Fales, and a small strip along the Sierra Nevada and in the Southeast, generally the White Mountain area Eastward. As mining revenues are important to the County and it may be two or more years before surveys are completed to pin-point locations that are valuable for geothermal steam, we feel the action should have followed public hearings. Very truly yours, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, MONO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS (MINUTE EXCERPT) MARCH 21, 1967 Moved by Mahan, seconded by Partridge, that the Board communicate with Congressional representatives requesting their assistance in having the order for withdrawal from all mineral location and leasing those areas of the public domain thought valuable or prospectively valuable for geothermal steam set aside until proper public hearings can be held in Mono County and further request that any proposed withdrawal of public lands in Mono County be set for public hearings before the issuance of any order thereon. COUNTY OF Nevada, Nevada City, Calif., April 27, 196¡. Hon. HAROLD T. JOHNSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN JOHNSON: A review of those public lands being considered for withdrawal for geothermal purposes in Nevada County has been made. These lands appear to be within the Toiyabe National Forest and have been indicated as "prospectively valuable" only. At their meeting of April 25, 1967, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors, voted to go on record as being opposed to the withdrawal of these "prospectively valuable" lands. Sincerely, THEO A. KOHLER, Jr., County Clerk and ex Officio Clerk, Board of Supervisors, County of Nevada. By MAXINE E. GAINES, Deputy. RESOLUTION No. 1770 OPPOSITION TO WITHDRAWAL FROM MINERAL LOCATION AND LEASING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN Whereas, Congressman Harold T. "Bizz" Johnson, Second Congressional District, California, is opposed to the United States Department of Interior's proposal to withdraw from mineral location and leasing certain areas of the public domain thought valuable or prospectively valuable for geothermal steam; and, Whereas, this board is sympathy with the position of and Congressman Johnson's opposition to said Department of Interior's proposal, Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Plumas, State of California, that this board adopts the position of Congressman Harold T. "Bizz" Johnson with respect to the proposal to withdraw from mineral location and leasing certain areas of the public domain. The foregoing Resolution was duly passed and adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Plumas, State of California, at a regular meeting of said board held on the 15th day of May, 1967, by the following vote: Ayes: Supervisors: Larison, Jeskey, Dean, Donnenwirth and Hunter. Noes: Supervisors: None. Absent: Supervisors: None. Attest: R. H. HUNTER, Chairman, Board of Supervisors. RAYNELLE SLATEN, County Clerk and ex Officio Clerk of Said Board of Supervisors. RESOLUTION OPPOSITION TO THE WITHDRAWAL FROM MINERAL LOCATION AND LEASING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN Whereas the U.S. Department of Interior has proposed to withdraw from mineral location and leasing certain areas of the public domain thought to be valuable or potentially valuable for geothermal steam; and Whereas this proposal is opposed by Congressman Harold T. Johnson, Second District of California; and Whereas the members of Plumas County Taxpayers' Association consider that this action by the U.S. Department of Interior would not be in the best interest of the people of the State of California, Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Membership of Plumas County Taxpayers' Association that this association opposes the said proposal and does hereby adopt and support the position of Congressman Johnson in opposing the proposal to withdraw from mineral location and leasing these certain areas of the public domain. Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to each of the following: Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall, Senator Thomas Kuchel, Senator George Murphy, Senator Daniel K. Inouye, Congressman Harold T. Johnson, Congressman John E. Moss and Congressman Bob Wilson, The foregoing Resolution was duly passed and adopted unanimously by the Membership of Plumas County Taxpayers' Association at a regular meeting in Quincy, Calif. on May 15, 1967. PHIL J. SCOTT, President, Plumas County Taxpayers' Association. DOWNIEVILLE, CALIF., May 4, 1967. Re: Resolution No. 67-10. Hon. HAROLD T. JOHNSON, Member of Congress, House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN JOHNSON: Mr. Donald G. Patton, Chairman of our Board of Supervisors, has requested that I reply to your letter of April 12 regarding the above resolution. Copies of the resolution have been forwarded to the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, as well as other persons. If the copies have not reached these departments, please advise, and additional copies will be sent. Your continuing assistance with our problems here in Sierra County is very much appreciated by all of us. Thank you. Yours very truly, GORDON I. SMITH, District Attorney and County Counsel. RESOLUTION No. 67-10 Whereas by a recent notice published in the "Federal Register," the Bureau of Land Management proposes to withdraw certain public lands from all appropriations under the public land laws, based on protection and conservation of natural resources, including geothermal steam resources; and Whereas the County of Sierra is affected thereby inasmuch as said area proposed for withdrawal includes "A strip 3 townships wide NW and SE in east part of County, west line this strip about through Weber Lake," which strip lies within the boundaries of Sierra County; and Whereas the mining of gold and other mineral resources has always been, and is, one of the major activities within Sierra County, and the withdrawal of the above-described area will seriously affect future mining prospects which are essential to the economy of Sierra County; and Whereas the Board of Supervisors of Sierra County feels that the area included as contained within this county should be deleted from said proposed withdrawal until such time as it is definitely determined that there are specific geothermal steam resources which require protection to an extent over and above the development of gold and other mineral resources in said area; Now, therefore, be it resolved: 1. Sierra County does vigorously oppose inclusion of any areas within Sierra County in the above-described proposed withdrawal of public lands from future appropriations under the public land laws, until such time as it is definitely proven that the proposed withdrawal is necessary over and above the economic necessity of retaining said lands as prospective gold and other mineral areas subject to future development. 2. The Clerk is hereby directed to send certified copies of the within resolution to Senators Thomas H. Kuchel and George Murphy, Congressman Harold T. Johnson, Boyd L. Rasmussen, Director, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240, Senator Stephen P. Teale, Assemblywoman Pauline L. Davis, Norman B. Livermore, Jr., Administrator of the Resources. Agency, Sacramento, California, James G. Stearns, Director of Conservation, Sacramento, California, Philip R. Bradley, Chairman, State Mining and Geology Board, Ferry Building, San Francisco, California 94111, and Mr. Lewis L. Huelsdonk, Downieville, California. The foregoing resolution was duly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Sierra County, California, held on April 3, 1967, by the following vote: Ayes: Supervisors Woods, DeGrio, VanNelson, Torri and Patton. Noes: None. Attest: Chairman, Board of Supervisors of Sierra County, California. DON G. PATTON, GEORGIE M. PETERMAN, Clerk of Said Board.. |