Gold Hill man heads back to court for illegal mining

Tracy, who was convicted of a similar crime on Sucker Creek in 2008, is scheduled to appear Thursday, Dec. 8, in the Medford courtroom of U.S. District Court Judge Owen Panner.
In the latest case, Tracy is accused of illegally discharging a 1.5-mile long plume of sediment into a salmon-bearing section of Galice Creek in June.
According to a federal affidavit obtained by the Mail Tribune, Tracy filed a notice with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to conduct a year-round mining operation on Galice Creek. He announced that he would cross the creek two times a day every other day for fuel and supplies for his mining claim. His plan also called for the cutting of trees from the area to make room for his claim.
The BLM requested that Tracy further explain his intentions, because Galice Creek is a salmon-bearing stream that is used by the endangered coho salmon.
According to the BLM, Tracy ignored the agency's inquiries.
On June 16, two BLM geologists were working on Galice Creek when they noticed the stream was unusually clouded by sediment. They followed the plume 1.5 miles and found it had originated from Tracy's claim.
Pictures provided by the BLM showed large mounds of excavated dirt piled around the claim, as well as a dredging pond, a large excavator and a dump truck.
Court documents filed against Tracy in 2009 said he not only mined without permission but continued to excavate a 4.75-acre claim along Sucker Creek after BLM officials warned him not to.
He illegally cut more than 20 trees up to 40 inches in diameter near Sucker Creek, dug two large pits on the site, dug in a road and released sediment into the stream, an important watershed for coho salmon.
In the 2009 case, Tracy received a small fine and was placed on 12 months probation for his illegal mine.
Reach reporter Chris Conrad at 541-776-4471 or email cconrad@mailtribune.com.