From: CHARLES CHASE

Sent: Mon Mar 21 12:53:07 2011

To: ToxicsRuleMaking

Cc: Senator Doug Whitsett; Senator Jeff Kruse; Senator Ted Ferrioli; REP Bentz; Rep Anderson; Rep.gregsmith@state.or.us

Subject: Rule Making

Importance: Normal

03-21-2011

RE: Rule Making EQC

Dear Sir:

I oppose EQC’s establishment of “Implementation-Ready” TMDLs. DEQ believes it is necessary for the agency to “select surrogate measures and conditions” and to “determine specific amount of surrogate measures needed to achieve TMDL goals” to achieve their desired water quality standard.

Oregon Placer mining will be affected by the rulemaking if adopted by the Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) . The rules, as proposed, will have significant effects on Oregon Placer mining operations by implementation of the Water Quality Management Plans and Rules adopted by LACs across the state.

These rules are out side of the best management practices of placer miners here in Oregon. To arbitrarily force another segment of our business community into non existence because of over regulation plus extreme enforcement will kill a thriving mining industry. I can well understand why mining companies steer clear of Oregon. This is one of the major reasons that exploration for Rate Earths and other precious metals have ceased here in Oregon because of the heavy hand of EQC and the subsequent enforcement....

Thank you

Chuck Chase,

Northeastern Oregon Miner and Executive Director of the Eastern Oregon Mining Association