Neighbors victorious in upholding state environmental and mining laws in Butte County
October 22, 2009 by donal brown
Filed under 1st Amendment News, News & Opinion, Uncategorized
A citizen group is celebrating a recent court victory over Butte County and a mining company. They fought off a SLAPP suit and overturned a use permit granted to the New Era Mine for a gold mining operation in their neighborhood. The permit defied state environment and mining laws. -DB
Time to celebrate: There was a party going on in Dry Creek Canyon Saturday afternoon. About 20 folks who live in the pretty little valley were gathered at the home of Rich and Darlyne Meyers, hoisting champagne flutes in celebration of their recent court victory over Butte County and the New Era Mine. The 12-acre gold mine is at the north end of the two-mile-long canyon, which is off Messilla Valley Road east of Butte College.
These people had a lot of moxie. First off, the effort was expensive, forcing each of them to pony up major cash. (Fortunately, an anonymous benefactor gave a large donation to the cause.) Then they were hit with a bogus $1 million countersuit; instead of freaking, they hired the best anti-SLAPP lawyer in the state and got the suit thrown out of court. They also had to take on the county, which approved the mine’s continued operation in what we now know was defiance of state environmental and mining laws.
The members of the coalition gave full credit to Keith Wagner, their attorney, but the guy receiving the lion’s share of praise Saturday was Rich Meyers, the retired school custodian who led the 18-month effort. “The General,” they called him.
They were justifiably proud of their effort, believing it set a precedent in environmental and mining law and has led county staff to take their jobs as mining watchdogs more seriously.
Harriet Spiegel, who teaches English at Chico State, expressed it this way: “I’m just so proud of my little canyon!”
Copyright 2009 CHICO COMMUNITY PUBLISHING, INC.
