I attended a news Conference/Reveal of the proposed Monument and Joshua Tree National Park Expansion on Monday September 25th where Congressman Ruiz announced this to the press and the world.  Some of the information presented by him and other speakers was misleading at best; i.e., he said mining could continue, but what wasn't said is that it will cost each mining claim owner $10s of thousands and possible over 6 figures just to submit a Plan of Operations that may or may not be approved by the National Park Service. No guarantee after spending all that money. For Small-Scale/Casual Use miners, as nearly all in this area are, it is too expensive, meaning we will be forced out. By BLM definition we can only use "hand tools", no heavy machinery. All miners are hoping to strike it rich, but the vast majority barely make a profit, so this cost is out of the question.  

Bighorn Sheep in the area would see a vast increase in human presence, under the proposal, which would completely disrupt their corridor in which the Expansion area falls in. We cannot let the sheep be disrupted like this. 

My visit to Congressman Ruiz's office on Friday September 29th revealed that the Congressman specifically told the conservation/environmental groups pushing this agenda that they must reach out to all the stakeholders. I informed his staff that this did not happen; no miners were contacted, the Mining District Chairman was not contacted, the BLM Desert Advisory Council was not contacted, etc. Seems anyone that might oppose this was conveniently not contacted. 

The opposition is growing! Keep up the good work and share this petition everywhere. The Congressman's staff is now aware and watching this as it grows.