The budget maneuver that shuts down suction dredge mining in California is a legislative trick, Sen. Ted Gaines said Thursday.
Budget subcommittees in both houses of the Legislature have approved extending a dredging moratorium until new regulations are developed while preventing the Department of Fish and Game from spending any money to develop those rules.
"This is maddening," said Gaines, R-Roseville, in a prepared statement. "The taxpayers have already spent more than a million dollars on a draft EIR (for new regulations.) The Legislature didn't like what it said so they are moving the goalposts on the miners."
Conservation and fishing groups have supported controls on the mining. Gaines introduced legislation – which died in committee – earlier this year to lift a moratorium in effect since 2009.
He vowed to try reversing the budget cut before the full Legislature votes on the 2011-2012 budget.
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