Voices from Our Community

Letters to the editor (The Union)

MINE WOULD GENERATE JOBS
by Margaret Forbes, Nevada City
January 12, 2009
 

In response to each and every article concerning the reopening of the Idaho Maryland Mine, I would like to say this:
 

Yes, the little creek in Memorial Park was contaminated, but as we grew up in this area, we also played in it and drank from it and surprise, we are still here. That was before there were so many homes that had sewer problems at the time.
 

As far as the rivers go, Mrs. E, all the beer cans that your spouse and others have picked up are not from the miners. Most of today's trash is from people who don't know how to pack out what they pack in. We used to go to these different rivers all summer, even after we grew up and had our own families.
 

But after the hippie generation, we stopped due to the nudists, broken glass, and what we came across while walking along the trails or by the beaches.
 

Please understand that the miners did not make this mess, it was the different types of people.
 

I am very proud to say that my father was a miner, and all the miners and their families took care of each other.
 

The mines up here had people working during the Depression, no welfare or any other help.
 

Remember, if the Idaho-Maryland Mine reopens, it will be under scrutiny of the "big boys" as far as the pollution, water levels, traffic, etc...
 

Please keep your eyes open and realize that there are not may jobs opening in Nevada County. This is why it's called the Gold Country.

 

Other Voices  
The Union
464 Sutton Way
Grass Valley, CA 95945
December 1, 2008

Dear Editor,

RE: Re-opening Idaho-Maryland Mine, Conflict of Interest, Heidi Hall

A few weeks ago, Thursday, November 13, 2008, The Union newspaper had an article titled: “Mine issues off limits for 2 commissioners,” by Dave Moller, Senior Staff Writer.

The two Grass Valley planning commissioners were Rey Johnson and Eleanor Kenitzer, respectively.

Quoting The Union article: “Commissioner Rey Johnson will have to avoid discussion or voting on mine issues because he owns two parcels of land that are close to it, according to City Administrator Dan Holler. The city leader said Wednesday that City Attorney Ruthann Ziegler issued a legal opinion saying Johnson could not participate in mine matters for fear of the perception he could profit from it.”

The Union article goes on to say: “Commissioner Eleanor Kenitzer is the mine’s office manager, who said she has already removed herself from mine matters and will continue to leave meetings any time it comes up.”

This same Union newspaper article quotes Mine President, Dave Watkinson saying: “Watkinson, however, wondered if Heidi Hall of the new group CLAIM-GV does have a conflict due to her job with the federal Environmental Protection Agency, which has her on loan to the state’s water board.”

Again, quoting the same Union newspaper article; “Hall is a founding member and board member of CLAIM-GV and also was recently appointed to the board of the South Yuba River Citizens League. She said she has discussed the situation with her federal and state bosses and was told she has no conflict.” She goes on to say: “I don’t do any work on any mining issues,” Hall said. “I am on both boards as a Grass Valley resident, and my employers know that I do not represent them on the boards in any way shape or form.”

Personally, I feel that Heidi Hall has a very clear conflict of interest between her employment, her personal group memberships (CLAIM & SYRCL) and the Idaho-Maryland Mine project.

The above stated Union newspaper article quoted Mine President, Dave Watkinson, as saying that Ms Hall worked for the federal Environmental Protection Agency, which has her “on loan” to the state’s water board. I wanted to know what “…on loan…” meant. With additional research information was found on www.linkedin.com/pub/8/376/159 This information looks somewhat like a resume, and it was printed out on November 11, 2008. On the first page it shows her current job title and her employers:

*Environmental Protection Specialist at California State Water Resources Control Board *EPS at US EPA (Environmental Protection Specialist at United States Environmental Protection Agency)

It goes on to state “Heidi Hall’s Specialties:”

“Management of innovation teams, including green building, advanced recycling, lifecycle work, organics, alternative chemicals, pollution prevention, nonpoint source pollution. Experienced at relationship building with many Federal, State, Local and Tribal resource agencies.”

(In the Union article that I have been referencing, Ms Hall says: “I don’t do any work on any mining issues.” Hall says “I am on both boards as a Grass Valley resident…” Well, maybe she hasn’t done “any work on any mining issues” specifically in the past, but she certainly is now—especially with being a Founding Board Member for the CLAIM organization.)

A November 3, 2008 article in The Union newspaper, titled: “New group targets impacts of potential reopening of gold mine.” The second paragraph states: “The group, “Citizens Looking at Impact of Mining in Grass Valley,” is up front about its viewpoint: “We do not believe that the Idaho Maryland Mine project (mine and/or ceramics plant and/or aggregate plant) is a good fit for our community, “ CLAIM President Ralph Silberstein told The Union.”

The third paragraph of this same November 3rd (08) article lists “…Heidi Hall, an Environmental Protection Agency worker (Hall noted she does not represent the EPA in the group; she sits on the board as a private citizen). !!!Heidi Hall is the CLAIM groups treasurer!

The linkedin.com publication also states “Heidi Hall’s Experience (The “on loan” information is in this section:

Heidi Hall’s Experience:
Environmental Protection Specialist
California State Water Resources Control Board
(Government Agency; 5001-10,000 employees; Environmental Services industry)
May 2005 – Present (3 years 7 months)

“Build bridge between the Federal EPA and SWRCB in the Non-point Source Pollution program in the Department of Water Quality. Work with Regional Boards to award grants from an $8 million appropriation. Develop planning documents. Limited term assignment – on loan from US EPA for 4 years total as an Environmental Protection Specialist.

US EPA (Government Agency: 10,001 or more employees; Government Administration industry) July 1989 – Present (19 years 5 months)

“Currently on an Intergovernmental Personnel Act (on loan) to the California State Water Resources Control Board in the Nonpoint Source Pollution unit. Works to reduce or eliminate pollution not yet regulated, i.e. sediment from timber harvesting and rural roads, urban and agricultural runoff, marinas, and hydromodification. Using grants, some regulations, overseeing statewide activities.”

May 14th, 2005, Ms Hall wrote an article to The Union newspaper (www.theunion.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050514/OPINION/105140087&...) titled: “Who will stand up for environment? By Heidi Hall-Norman.) In the second to the last paragraph, in the last two sentences it says: “In addition, there is federal and state grant money which appears to not even have been pursued which could be used to staff and implement dozens of great environmental programs. What is going on here?”

This article was written in the same month and year in which Ms Hall began her “on loan” position with the California State Water Resources Control Board—May 2005. My question here is: In Ms Hall’s personal letter to The Union in May of 2005—she clearly states that there is federal and state grant money !!!!! “…which appears to not even have been pursued…” How did Ms Hall know that? Did she use her employment status to find out, or did she find out as an individual?

Also, back to the www.linkedin.com/pub/8/376/159 paperwork where Ms Hall states in her job with the CSWRCB she will: “Work with Regional Boards to award grants from an $8 million appropriation. Develop planning documents. Limited term assignment – on loan from US EPA for 4 years total.”

Please define: “Regional Boards ” that you are awarding grants to--from the $8 million (!!!$8 million!!!). Does that include the two agencies that you personally belong to? (Founding Board Member and treasurer to CLAIM and Board Member to SYRCL) If CLAIM and SYRCL did receive grant money from the $8 million appropriation, did you assist as a state or federal employee, or as a member of the organization?

Also, in another document, downloaded from California EPA- State Water Resources Control Board, Water Quality (Water Boards: Nonpoint Source Staff) Downloaded on November 11, 2008, with the document showing “(updated 5/11/07) on page 3 it shows you listed three rungs down from Unit Chief, Steve Fagundes, in the NPS Plan Implementation Unit.” “Plan Implementation Unit”----- What does that mean?

Everyone who is a state and federal tax payer is, in a round about way, paying Heidi Hall’s salary, and the bottom line here—Heidi Hall’s employment as a state and federal employee and her involvement with CLAIM and SYRCL “…as a Grass Valley resident…” are in direct conflict of interest regarding the re-opening of the Idaho-Maryland Mine.

If the Grass Valley City Attorney, Ruthann Ziegler “…issued a legal opinion saying Commissioner Johnson could not participate in mine matters…” --how is it that Hall feels her employment with the Federal Environmental Protection Agency and the State Water Resources Control Board and her personal affiliations with CLAIM-GV (Citizens Looking at Impacts of Mining), GV, 2008 –of which she isn’t just a “”Founding Board Member,” she’s the treasurer and also SYRCL (South Yuba River Citizen’s League), 2008 ---how does Heidi Hall even remotely think there isn’t a conflict of interest?

On Thursday, November 20, 2008, The Union newspaper had an article titled: “Grass Valley planning commissioner quits over mine controversy.” This article states in paragraph four: “Kenitzer resigned from the panel late Tuesday, citing more votes on the horizon concerning the proposed Idaho-Maryland Mine, where she works.” Again, Kenitzer had always recused herself previously during mine issues. If Eleanor Kenitzer sees the concern of a possible conflict of interest—even after always rescuing herself—how can Heidi Hall feel that she can work for the state and federal government and also sit on the boards to two non-profit, grant receiving organizations and claim she is just “a private citizen?”