Attorney General Jerry Brown: California Gold Mining Program Solvent - Legislature on Eve of Killing Industry Over $1.8M Math Mistake Says Gold Pan California

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Jun 09, 2011, 03:20 ET

CONCORD, Calif., June 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Gold Pan California (www.goldpancalifornia.com), a gold mining supply shop located in the Bay Area, is bustling with suction dredge gold miners who are anxiously trying to get information about what is going on in Sacramento. "This is a new financial disaster headed straight to the heart of the Golden State," says owner Mike Dunn. Pointing to legal documents from then-Attorney General Jerry Brown, Dunn says adamantly "The question of solvency was explicitly confirmed by the DOJ."

What the gold miners and Dunn are in upheaval about is an inaccurate $1.8 million budget deficit in the suction dredging gold mining program, which the Department of Fish and Game administers. If the Legislature rules in favor of the trailer budget bill language to "cut" the erroneous $1.8 million deficit, the consequences would be sweeping: the entire California suction dredge gold mining industry will be killed, putting 4,000 miners out of work permanently and affecting another 15,000 inter-related jobs their industry supports.

Because the budget cutting language was inserted just 3 weeks ago, no miners were allowed to publicly comment on the mistake. Now, Dunn is trying to call on every Legislator to alert them to the obvious but disaster provoking mistake. "I'm bringing the proof with me in hard copy. Everyone can agree with the very deliberate wording by the DOJ. The program pays for itself, period."

Indeed, just yesterday the first Federal lawsuit against the State was filed in Sacramento by a miner who knows he's standing on firm ground.

The suction dredge gold mining industry generates $23 million in California, and affects more than 14 sectors including restaurants, hardware stores, gas stations and camping outfitters. "These are real mom and pop businesses that rely on us miners every season," says Dunn. "We're trying to give the Legislature buckets of water to put out the fire before it gets to them."

There will never be a time when it doesn't make sense for a man to prospect for gold, and hopefully former Attorney General Jerry Brown's golden words will get to the Legislators in time to avert a disastrous end to the industry that put California on the map.

About Gold Pan California:

The company was founded in 2008 by Mike Dunn, an international gold mining specialist who has been suction gold dredge mining for 33 years.

For more information visit http://www.goldpancalifornia.com

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SOURCE Gold Pan California