great MRE, too bad it's in NorCal I wish Blue Moon's project was not in NorCal.
San Bernardino County (eastish of Los Angeles; far away from the Blue Moon location) is the only county in California that has multiple operating mines and remains truely open to development of more mines. Counties (eg, Mariposa Co., where Blue Moon is) in the central sierran foothills of California reflect anti-mining attitudes that seem common in the last 1/2 century. While the region was mining from 1848 into the mid-late 20th century, the lower-elevation Sierra Nevada foothills have become populated by a lot of people who've moved in from the SF Bay Area, etc., and often bring anti-mining sentiment with them.
As example of the attitudinal challenges faced by anyone seeking to develop a mine along the western side of the Sierra Nevada mountains, check the story of Rise Grass Valley (aside from the personnel mess of Ben Mossmann, CEO).
Each County in California has its own relationship with the state's Board of Mining. Either the county has an independent program of permitting and oversight, or those duties are assumed by the state. This makes it tough to quickly and accurately research and forecast the permitting environment and politics in most locations in California.
@No.1.Geologist Too bad Blue Moon's project is in NorCal. (I'm a retired college geology teacher/engineer in NorCal). San Bernardino County (eastish of Los Angeles) is the only county in the state that remains truely mining supportive. Counties (eg, Mariposa Co.) in the central CA sierran foothills reflect anti-mining attitudes that seem prevalent in the last 1/2 century. Yup the region was pro gold from 1848 into the 20th century, but the lower Sierra Nevada foothills have become populated by a lot of people who've moved in from the SF Bay Area, etc., and are often not really open minded to mining. Witness the debacle that Rise Grass Valley (aside from the Ben Mossmann mess) has experienced in Nevada County, also a region of former Au mining.