On Saturday, November 7 at 9:00 a.m. in the Government Center, 5100 Bullion Street, members of Western Lands Community Alliance (WLCA) are organizing a program to discuss conditional use permitting (CUP) for mining, an issue being voted on by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, November 17 at 2:00 p.m. Conditional use permitting is already required on mining activities on parcels under 160 acres in size.

Under current law, mining is permitted without a conditional use permit for parcels 160 acres or more in size. WLCA supports making mining activities a conditional use on all parcels (where not already prohibited) regardless of size because of the substantial impacts those activities can have on the surrounding property rights. Members of the public are invited to attend to learn about why a CUP is a good policy for our county. WLCA has invited several speakers to discuss mining, its potential impacts and conditional use permitting.

WLCA is a group of mostly ranchers and agriculture supporters from Hornitos and Catheys Valley who have organized to protect agriculture, rangeland and a rural way of life in Mariposa County.

For more information visit the WLCA website: saveranchlands.org or call: (209) 376-2320.