Dear river enthusiasts and recreationists,
What follows is an announcement provided by the Missouri Chapter of the American Fisheries Society concerning the subject of gravel mining. Please circulate this information to other people who have an interest in this issue. Currently there are two separate situations involving gravel (and sand) mining that need the immediate attention of all Missourians who value our streams and the recreation and beauty they provide. If you choose to write letters, keep in mind that letters concerning SB 360 (described below) probably need to go out immediately to your state Senator. Letters to the MO DNR Land Reclamation Commission must be received in Jefferson City by March 14th. This is a chance for you to voice your appreciation for Missouri's streams.
URGENT NEED FOR CITIZEN LETTERS
Gravel Mining Talking Points for:
(1) Writing a mailed letter to Land Reclamation Commission to adopt gravel mining rules
(2) Writing emailed or mailed letters to 10 senators on Missouri State Senate Commerce and Environment Committee to oppose SB0360, a gravel mining exemption bill
Folks: The issue of mining sand and gravel in Missouri's streams has reached two new critical junctures. The first involves adoption of rules that determine how commercial miners extract these materials from our streams. The second involves proposed legislation that would effectively exclude 74% of all commercial miners from any rules. It is very important that you write letters supporting resource management positions that draw a balance between mineral extraction and stream resource protection. The talking points listed below are provided to assist you with those letters; once the first letter is written, slight modifications will easily produce the others. If you need more help, a draft example letter can be found at the bottom of this message; modify and use it as you see fit. While developing your message, do so by beginning from the perspective of how important Missouri's streams are to you, and finish with a personal experience. Here are the main points; use the ones that work best for you.
Dear Land Reclamation Commission (for adopting gravel mining rules)
Dear Senator ????. (for getting SB0360 vetoed)
1) The opening sentence for your letter to the Land Reclamation Commission supporting adoption of gravel mining rules should say something like "I'm writing to you today to urge you to adopt the version of the instream gravel mining rules proposed by the American Fisheries Society during the recent Gravel Mining Working Group deliberations." For your letter to Governor Holden regarding the gravel mining bill, say something like "I'm writing to you today to urge you to kill SB0360, the gravel mining exemption bill proposed by Senator Steelman."
2) Next sentence establishes your concern for the health of Missouri's streams. "I'm a fisher/floater/photographer ?..? ?I want my children and grandchildren to enjoy Missouri's nationally recognized rivers and streams as I've known them ??.? or something else personal.
Follow with some or all of these points:
3) Gravel and sand mined from Missouri's streams are economically important commodities ($41 million in 1995).
4) Fishing and other stream-based recreation also are economically important activities in Missouri; stream fishing alone accounted for $170 million in 1996. This figure does not include the additional economic activity generated by swimmers, canoeists, hunters, and other stream recreationists. (This one puts #3 into context.)
5) This bill would exempt 74% of commercial gravel miners from any rules and allow each of those miners to take 5,000 tons of gravel, which is the equivalent of 500 10-wheel truck loads. Private landowners taking gravel for personal uses are already exempt under existing law.
6) The proposed rules for instream gravel mining were previously in place and followed by gravel miners for two years (April 1995 to April 1997), so claims by miners that the new rules will increase their costs are without basis. There have been no documented negative economic impacts to the Ozark region or the mining industry under the existing regulations. (This one disputes claims by miners that they will be "regulated" out of the business.)
7) The negative effects of instream gravel mining are well documented in the scientific research literature. These effects have been documented not only nationally but also in the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas. Effects include erosion of streamside private property (and its real estate value), erosion of public property, damage to private and public infrastructure (roads, bridges, pipelines, and utility lines), losses in productivity of our valuable fisheries, and losses to our rich biological diversity. Claims by rules opponents that gravel must be "cleaned out" of our streams to prevent erosion or should be bulldozed against eroding stream banks to protect them are quickly revealed as untrue once these claims are compared to the indisputable facts uncovered by scientists over the last 20 years. (In other words, the science speaks for itself.)
8) Close with a personal experience like "I've personally witnessed the damage that uncontrolled gravel mining can produce. Uncontrolled mining is not only a danger to Missouri's economy, it's also a danger to an important part of Missouri's heritage: laughing children catching their first fish with proud parents looking on." or something to this effect. Remember to make it personal and, of course, be honest.
Sincerely,
(Use your home address and home computer.)
For the Land Reclamation Letter, send it to:
Staff Director
Land Reclamation Commission
P.O. Box 176
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Send the letter against the gravel mining exemption bill (SB0360) to the 10 senators on the Missouri State Senate Commerce and Environment Committee overseeing this bill; you can send it by email or regular mail. Go to this website to send emails or to get mailing addresses:
http://www.senate.state.mo.us/03INFO/comm/comm.htm
Just click on a name, go to their individual email portal, paste your letter into the email box, and send.
It would also help if you could send a copy to your Missouri congressperson. Go to this website to find his or her address:
http://www.senate.state.mo.us/zipcode/leg_lookup.htm
Here is a sample letter:
February 19, 2003
< senator's name>
<senator's address>
Dear Senator ,
As a Missouri citizen concerned about the long-term health of our valuable rivers and streams, I'm writing to urge you to withdraw the Gravel Mining Exemption Bill (SB0360) from consideration. Scientists from Missouri and elsewhere understand the economic, social, and scientific issues involving our state's valuable aquatic resources. They recognize that gravel and sand mined from Missouri's streams are economically important commodities ($41 million in 1995). However, they also understand that fishing and other stream-based recreation also are economically important activities in Missouri. In 1996, stream fishing alone accounted for $170 million in direct expenditures (U.S. Department of Interior report). Add to that figure the economic activity generated by swimmers, canoeists, hunters, and other recreationists, and you have an economic powerhouse that far exceeds the economic impact of instream gravel mining in Missouri. In addition, there have been no documented negative economic impacts to the Ozark region or the mining industry under the existing regulations. Therefore, we ask, do you want to endanger Missouri's already fragile economy by exempting gravel mining from modest rules that would minimize damage to Missouri's nationally recognized rivers and streams?
The negative effects of instream gravel mining have been well documented by scientists. These effects have been documented not only nationally but also in the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas. Effects include erosion of streamside private property (and its real estate value), erosion of public property, damage to private and public infrastructure (roads, bridges, pipelines, and utility lines), losses in productivity of our valuable fisheries, and losses to our rich biological diversity. Claims that gravel must be "cleaned out" of our streams to prevent erosion or should be bulldozed against eroding stream banks to protect them are quickly revealed as untrue once these claims are compared to the indisputable facts uncovered by scientists over the last 20 years. I believe that profitable instream gravel mining can be done under modest rules designed to also protect our valuable stream resources.
This bill would exempt 74% of commercial gravel miners from any rules and allow each of those miners to take 5,000 tons of gravel, which is the equivalent of 500 10-wheel truck loads; private landowners taking gravel for their own personal uses are already exempt under existing law. SB0360 is not only a danger to Missouri's economy, it's also a danger to an important part of Missouri's heritage: laughing children catching their first fish with proud parents looking on. Do the right thing for Missouri and kill this bill.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your home address