Guide to the Bodie Consolidated Mining Company Collection, 1901-1993
(bulk 1988-1993)
Processed by Amy Patterson
California State Parks Archives
4940 Lang Avenue
Suite 114
McClellan, CA 95652
Phone: (916) 263-0779
Fax: (916) 263-0858
Email: department.archives@parks.ca.gov
URL: http://www.parks.ca.gov
2003
California State Parks Archives. All rights reserved.
Note
Geographical (By Place)--California--Mono County
Guide to the Bodie Consolidated Mining Company Collection, 1901-1993
(bulk 1988-1993)
California State Parks Archives
Contact Information:
- California State Parks Archives
- 4940 Lang Avenue
- Suite 114
- McClellan, CA 95652
- Phone: (916) 263-0779
- Fax: (916) 263-0858
- Email: department.archives@parks.ca.gov
- URL: http://www.parks.ca.gov
- Processed by:
- Amy Patterson
- Date Completed:
- 2003
- Encoded by:
- Amy Patterson
Copyright 2003 California State Parks Archives. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Bodie Consolidated Mining Company collection,
Date (inclusive): 1901-1993
Date (bulk): (bulk 1988-1993)
Collection number: Consult repository
Collector: Bodie Consolidated Mining Company
Extent:
28.2 cubic feet
30 Boxes
Repository:
California. Department of Parks and Recreation.
Abstract: The Bodie Consolidated Mining Company Collection contains records collected and created by the Bodie Consolidated Mining Company
(BCMC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Galactic Resources Ltd. of Vancouver, Canada, which performed mining exploration activities
near the Bodie State Historic Park between 1988 and 1993. The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) acquired these records
in 1997 along with property and geologic ore samples. Records include internal memos, correspondence, press releases, newspaper
clippings, administrative and financial records, legal and property title documents, historical reference materials and records,
drilling summaries and logs, geologic and metallurgic reports, environmental baseline studies, draft environmental impact
reports, cultural resource documentation, aerial photographs, and miscellaneous mining-related reference materials. BCMC's
exploratory activities near Bodie State Historic Park were the source of much controversy. BCMC ceased operations in the Bodie
area in early 1993, after its parent company went bankrupt.
Physical location: California State Parks Archives
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open for research. Individual employee records, individual social security tax records, and applications for
employment and resumes containing personal information amounting to approximately .3 cubic feet are permanently restricted.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the California Department of Parks and Recreation. Literary rights
are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish,
please contact the California State Parks Archives.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Bodie Consolidated Mining Company Collection.CSPA-324: [box: folder number], California State Parks
Archives, McClellan, California.
Acquisition Information
The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) acquired these records in 1997.
Administrative History
The Bodie Consolidated Mining Company (BCMC) was created in 1988 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Galactic Resources Ltd. (GRL)
of Vancouver, Canada, to perform mining exploration activities near the Bodie State Historic Park in Mono County, California.
Much of BCMC's management was conducted through Galactic Services Inc. (GSI) of Reno, Nevada (also a subsidiary of Galactic
Resources) while day-to-day operations were managed at the project site in Bodie.
The creation of the BCMC sprang from Galactic Resources' acquisition of property near the Bodie State Historic Park from Homestake
Mining Company in 1988. This property included public Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, and land leased from individuals
who held mining claims in the area. Homestake had been conducting exploratory drilling activities in the area periodically
in the 1970s and mid 1980s. In 1986, Homestake had conducted an internal Environmental Reconnaissance Report on its Bodie
holdings, which concluded that the area contained vast reserves of gold and that a mining operation would encounter only minor
opposition. Homestake offered the property for sale the next year, telling prospective buyers that gold could be extracted
by open pit mining methods. In early 1988, Galactic Resources began evaluating Homestake's Bodie property for purchase.
Galactic's initial evaluations of the site were not uniformly positive. An internal memo called it a "high risk prospect"
in April 1988. Nevertheless, the company agreed to acquire Homestake's mining rights in the area in May 1988. Homestake and
Galactic Resources entered into a "strategic agreement" in which Galactic purchased Homestake's entire interest in the Bodie
Mining District, amounting to over 47 square miles. This transaction was worth approximately $39,500,000.
Galactic Resources Ltd. was run by Robert Friedland, a man with a somewhat obscure past who founded the company in the early
1980s and made a name for himself in financial circles for his "innovative" financing of mining operations. Galactic's mining
properties included the Summitville Mine in Colorado, Ivanhoe Mine in Nevada, Ridgeway Mine in South Carolina, and mines in
Asia and South America. In the late 1980s, Galactic Resources was one of the top 25 gold mining companies in North America.
From the start, BCMC was a very small operation that relied heavily on contractors to complete most of its functions, including
drilling, assaying, and reclamation, as well as surveying, data gathering, lobbying, and public relations. At various times
its formal staff was comprised only of two to three employees, and it relied heavily on management and legal staff from Galactic
Services in Reno, and administrative staff at Galactic Resources in Vancouver. The original manager for the Bodie project
was William B. Williams of Galactic Services, who remained in Reno. Chief Geologist Mark Whitehead, with assistant chief geologist
Gordon Gumble, set up a mobile office on the ridge near the Bodie State Historic Park. They also hired three "rig geologists"
and a local labor crew. GSI lawyer Kirk Williams served as "landman" and legal counsel for the project.
BCMC's initial move into the Bodie area did not spark controversy, although the company did receive some local press coverage.
Newspapers reported that the company was doing low-level exploration, and that any mine development was likely three to five
years away. In August 1988, BCMC filed an Application for a Director's Review with Mono County for permission to continue
Homestake's mining exploratory activities. The Directors Review did not have as many requirements as a formal "use permit,"
nor was it subject to the same level of public review or comment. BCMC's application noted that less than five acres would
be disturbed and that BCMC planned to drill 50 holes on BLM lands and 85 holes on "fee" lands. No appeals were made to the
application and Mono County approved it within a month. BCMC began drilling in fall of 1988.
Although in all public statements Galactic and BCMC insisted that the company did not have specific plans for the Bodie property
and that its activities were merely exploratory, internally, Galactic staff discussed the likelihood of an open-pit mine at
least as early as September 1988. The company also recognized the need for a "permit strategy" early on to assure that it
would be able to pursue its goals and counter any opposition. The permit strategy was based on the assumption that the Bodie
site had at least ten million tons of ore reserves, that one million could be extracted per year with open pit mining, and
that the ore would be processed with cyanide, a method used by most modern mining operations. The company hired a permit strategy
consultant, who informed Galactic that the most sensitive issue was the proximity of an active mining area to Bodie State
Historic Park, but that a "well-conceived plan" would mean that renewal of mining in the area "could meet with a positive
reaction."
Galactic also recognized in 1988 that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) would be required for mining activities, and possibly
for exploratory drilling, and sought to control the eventual outcome of such a report. An EIR would be prepared by a contractor
hired by the "lead agency" for the project (in this case Mono County) but the contractor would likely rely on technical information
provided by BCMC. BCMC soon hired Western Cultural Resource Management (WCRM) of Denver to begin archeological and historical
research (GSI also hired a Reno-based manager, Penny McPherson, for that project) as well as other contractors to perform
"baseline" environmental studies. Galactic's permit strategy consultant felt that "by controlling the baseline information
that the EIR-EIS consultant has to review, Galactic Services will thus specify the scope and extent of the study." ("Permit
Requirements and Strategies,"1988, Folder 6.0, Box 10.)
However, Galactic's hope that BCMC's activities would raise only limited concern and its belief that it could control the
permitting process to its advantage soon gave way to another reality. By 1989 the project had become a highly charged political
issue that would eventually involve Mono County, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, the National Park Service,
the Bureau of Land Management, the California State Legislature, and the US Congress, as well as the public and various advocacy
organizations.
In early 1989, public and media attention began to turn toward BCMC's activities in Bodie. Using Galactic's promotional materials,
and statements by BCMC, GSI, and GRL staff, newspapers began reporting that Galactic planned an open pit mine, and that it
believed that a substantial amount of gold would be found. Editorials appeared suggesting that the ridge behind the Bodie
town site would be destroyed, noise and dust would ruin the quiet atmosphere, blasting would harm or destroy the town's buildings,
and cyanide would endanger the local environment. Mono County began to receive letters of protest, and environmental organizations
and the California State Park Rangers Association (CSPRA) began to express concern over the project. CSPRA formed an organization
called "Save Bodie!" to raise public awareness of the project.
BCMC and Galactic staff soon recognized they needed to project a positive image of their activities in order to offset negative
press. The company hired public relations firm Hill and Knowlton. Hill and Knowlton published the "Bodie Bulletin," a pamphlet
extolling the project and suggesting that mining would revive Mono County's economy. The Bulletin also argued that the family
that had sold the town site to the State, the Cains, always wanted mining to resume. Galactic Services also organized the
Mono County Mining Committee to promote mining as a boon to the local economy.
By mid 1989, increasing public scrutiny of BCMC's activities had turned the project into a political issue. In May 1989, California
Congressman Richard Lehman (D-San Jose) urged the National Park Service to survey the boundaries of the Bodie National Historic
Landmark. The NPS, which had become alarmed by the resumption of active mining exploration in the area, soon embarked on this
boundary survey. The NPS issued a memo that suggested that the Bodie NHL should incorporate the "total picture," including
landscape features in the surrounding area. This stand alarmed Galactic and its public relations consultants, who argued that
the company should "go public to challenge the rarified ‘Ghost Town' premise being developed by the National Park Service"
and argue that mining would enhance the Bodie experience. The California DPR also issued a media packet in summer of 1989
expressing concern over the effects of a mining project on aesthetic, historical, and physical dangers to Bodie State Historic
Park, although the agency did not take an official position on the project.
While criticism of the project mounted, there was support for BCMC's activities as well. Mono County, and especially four
of five members of its Board of Supervisors, was positively disposed toward BCMC's presence in the area. The Supervisors expressed
their displeasure at various measures designed to stop mining in Bodie, and passed resolutions declaring that mining was beneficial
to the county economy. Mono County told Congressman Lehman that it intended to protect the town of Bodie but "at the same
time, protect the rights of our citizens to propose uses for their lands."
In the meantime, Chief Geologist Whitehead and his staff supervised crews of laborers and geologists as they drilled over
100 sample holes on the property between 1988 and 1990. They also oversaw the work of various contractors gathering environmental
and cultural resource and archeological data. However, as public pressure mounted, an increasing amount of their time was
also spent monitoring media coverage of its activities and of critics, giving tours to politicians and the media, writing
editorials and letters, and reporting to Galactic on the state of the project and of public relations.
In early 1990, NPS completed its research on the NHL boundary, which concluded that it should include Galactic land. Other
political challenges to the Bodie project appeared that year. In March the chairman of California State Senate's Natural Resources
and Wildlife Committee, Dan McCorquodale, introduced a resolution to urge the Bureau of Land Management to prevent mining
on federal lands adjacent to Bodie State Historic Park. Senate Joint Resolution 60 (SJR 60) directed the BLM to consider withdrawing
public lands within the Bodie Mining District from mineral land classification to "protect and perpetuate" its national resources.
The appearance of SJR 60 angered the Mono County Board of Supervisors and BCMC, although SJR 60 had no actual legal power
to limit mining in the area. Mono County Supervisors complained that it infringed on their power to decide land use planning
issues in Mono.
When BCMC submitted a second Application for a Director's Review in May of 1990 to continue its drilling activities, the company
faced a very different political climate. Mono County issued a public notice soliciting comments on the Director's Review,
and received many letters that demanded some kind of public hearing over BCMC's permits for drilling. These letters came from
citizens, and state and federal agencies. At this point, Mono County had to admit that the project was "controversial." Mono
County decided a use permit would be required and issued its decision in August. In late September BCMC submitted an application
for a use permit for a "significantly expanded mineral exploration program."
The Mono County Planning Department also decided that an EIR was required for it to comply with the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) and suggested that BCMC fund an EIR, which would be open to public scrutiny. This EIR would cover the exploratory
drilling program only. BCMC, which had assumed that such a report would be necessary, agreed. Mono County issued a Notice
of Preparation (NOP) for the EIR. Many public responses to the NOP criticized the fact that the contractor assigned to prepare
the EIR (Beak Consultants, Inc.) would rely on data provided by BCMC. The original EIR was on a very tight schedule, with
drafts due within weeks of the selection of the EIR contractor. This schedule suggested to some critics that either BCMC or
Mono County sought to conduct an EIR in name only, with no time for Beak to do independent analysis. However, the EIR was
delayed repeatedly, in part due to delays in submitting technical reports, and in part due to public controversy. The Draft
EIR did not appear until late November of 1992, almost two years late.
In the meantime, both internal and external forces had transformed the Bodie project. The NPS draft nomination for Bodie Historic
District Boundary Enlargement appeared in late 1991, with an expanded boundary encompassing almost 3000 acres. In the same
year, the Bureau of Land Management also released its Bishop Area Resource Management Plan (which included Bodie). The plan
called for the area to be designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern. Under this designation, BCMC would have to
submit a Plan of Operations to the BLM.
Political pressure was also coming from the federal legislative level. In March 1992, Richard Lehman and George Miller co-sponsored
the Bodie Protection Act of 1992 (HR 4370) which would have withdrawn 6000 acres of public lands in the "Bodie Bowl" from
mineral entry, required an expedited review of the validity of all recorded claims and the voiding of any invalid claims,
and prohibited further mineral patenting of federal land in the area (except in grandfathered cases). HR 4370 failed in the
Senate. However, the bill was reintroduced the next year as the Bodie Protection Act of 1993 (HR 240). By 1993, the political
climate had shifted, and Mono County and the Pete Wilson administration supported the bill. Although this bill eventually
failed as well, another Bodie Protection Bill introduced in 1994 did pass.
Meanwhile, BCMC was experiencing internal pressures. The general decline in the price of gold damaged the financial standing
of Galactic Resources, which had less money to devote to the Bodie project after 1989. The cordial relationship that BCMC
enjoyed with its cultural resource contractor, Western Cultural Resource Management, also deteriorated.
However, it was issues related to Galactic Resource's Summitville mine in Colorado that brought the Bodie project to an unexpected
conclusion. The Summitville Mine had long been a problem for Colorado and Galactic. The mine had opened in 1986, and serious
environmental problems soon appeared. Periodic cyanide spills were occurring, wiping out aquatic life on a 17-mile stretch
of the Alamosa River. Summitville was allowed to continue its operations for a while despite these problems, but operations
were finally suspended in 1991. In July 1992, Galactic and Colorado agreed that the company would complete remediation and
reclamation of the site by the end of November and that the company would raise its bond with the State to over seven million
dollars, with refunds during different phases of work. In late fall, the state refunded 1/3 of the bond despite continuing
environmental problems and despite estimates that the site clean up could cost Colorado up to 20-70 million dollars. Yet in
1992 Galactic announced that it would have to sell nearly all its assets, including the Bodie property, to cover costs at
Summitville. Galactic's initial asking price for the Bodie property was 35 million dollars.
The California Department of Parks and Recreation, which had been long concerned with the fact that Bodie State Historic Park
was surrounded by mining claims, took interest when Galactic announced it was disposing of holdings. However, Galactic's reduced
asking price of 12 million dollars in October 1992 was more than the DPR was able to spend. CEO Peter Guest of Galactic (Robert
Friedland had left the company at the end of 1990) told the DPR that if it did not buy the property, Galactic would market
it to other mining companies. However, Galactic could not find a buyer. The Summitville Mine filed for bankruptcy in December
of 1992, and the EPA's Superfund took control of the site. The Summitville Mine eventually brought down Galactic Resources,
which also declared bankruptcy in January 1993. Control of the company's few remaining assets, including the Bodie property,
passed to the control of a trustee. BCMC ceased operations soon after, and the property was eventually sold to the DPR in
1997 for $5,004,000.
Chronology
Pre-1850 |
The Bodie area is inhabited by Mono Paiute Indians. |
1859 |
The Bodie district is "discovered"by gold prospectors W. S. Body and E.S. Taylor. Body dies the following winter in a snowstorm. |
1860 |
A small group of miners begins working claims and organizes the mining district in July, honoring Body by naming it after
him. The name is gradually standardized to "Bodie" in the next few years.
|
1860s |
The town of Bodie grows slowly. The Bodie Bluff Consolidated Mining Company (later the Empire Company) brings miners to Bodie
and by 1864 a permanent mining community is established.
|
1875-1877 |
The discovery of a rich vein of gold ore begins the "Bodie Rush." |
1877-1882 |
The Bodie district reaches its peak production. In its heyday, Bodie has a population of over 6,000 residents, and possibly
more than 10,000.
|
1883-1890 |
Mines begin shutting down and Bodie experiences a steady decline. By 1890, only two mines are in operation. |
1890s |
Bodie resident and property owner J.S. Cain introduces cyanide mining and electricity, sparking a small revival of mining
in Bodie. This revival consists mostly of reworking of old mine tailings and low-grade ore dumps. Only a few hundred residents
of Bodie remain.
|
1910-1920 |
Bodie's population drops from 500 to less than 100. By the 1920s, Bodie has become known as a "Ghost Town" and attracts tourists. |
1928-1932 |
The Treadwell-Yukon Company (with the Homestake Mining company as a silent partner) undertakes an extensive exploration program,
sampling all accessible mine workings in the Bodie Bluff and Silver Hill areas. The company processes about 400,000 tons of
discarded ore and mined quartz.
|
1935 |
The National Sites Act creates the National Historic Landmark System. J.S. Cain, the primary property owner in the Bodie area,
leases his mining property to the Roseklip Mines Company and moves to San Francisco.
|
1935-1942 |
The Roseklip Mines Company erects a cyanide plant and mines 55,000 tons of material. |
1942-1945 |
World War II interrupts mining in Bodie. |
1946 |
The Klipstein-Rosecrans Mill is destroyed by fire, mining is halted, and the town is all but abandoned. Bodie becomes a popular
tourist destination.
|
1946-1962 |
The Cain family employs a guard to watch over the town of Bodie, and begins negotiations with the State of California to purchase
the town site for conversion to a state park in the mid 1950s. The Cains do not offer all of the surrounding land for sale
to the state, retaining mining rights and leasing the land to various prospectors.
|
1958 |
The National Park Service completes a Historic Sites Survey Form outlining the nationally significant characteristics of the
Bodie Historic District. The NPS does not give the landmark a clear boundary, but suggests that the setting and isolation
are important qualities of the ghost town.
|
1961 |
The Bodie Historic District is designated a National Historic Landmark on July 4 as part of the "Mining Frontier" theme. |
1962 |
The purchase of the Bodie town site is completed, and the town and some surrounding land (324 acres total) is designated a
State Historic Park.
|
1966 |
The town of Bodie is named to the National Register of Historic Places. |
1968-1969 |
The ASARCO mining company performs samples on some of the underground workings around Bodie, drilling approximately 39 holes. |
1972-1974 |
The Phelps-Dodge Mining Company works in the Bodie area, performing underground sampling, and drilling 10 holes in the northern
part of the district.
|
1976 |
Homestake Mining Company conducts a somewhat intensive exploration program in the Bodie district for the next two years, drilling
at least 63 holes.
|
1978 |
The California Department of Parks and Recreation releases the Bodie State Historic Park Resource Management Plan, General
Development Plan, and Environmental Impact Report, which reaffirm that Bodie State Historic Park will be preserved in a state
of "arrested decay." The General Development Plan's land use recommendations argue against open pit mining as a resolution
to land use conflicts arising from mining interests in the area.
|
1983 |
Homestake farms out its Bodie property to the NERCO minerals company, which performs a limited reevaluation of the potential
ore to be found in the Bodie District.
|
1985-1986 |
Homestake increases its operations in Bodie once again, drilling 11 "reverse circulation" holes, creating a detailed geologic
map and performing metallurgical testing. Homestake Mining also performs an internal "Environmental Reconnaissance Report"
on the area, and collects baseline data for a future Environmental Impact Report. The company offers the property for sale
soon after.
|
May 1988 |
Homestake and Galactic Resources Ltd. of Vancouver, Canada enter a "strategic agreement" in which Galactic purchases Homestake's
entire interest in the Bodie Mining District. This transaction is worth approximately $39,500,000.
|
Summer 1988 |
Bodie Consolidated Mining Company (BCMC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Galactic Resources, is created. |
August 1988 |
BCMC applies for a "Director's Review" from Mono County for an extension of the permit for exploratory drilling. BCMC begins
exploratory drilling at the Bodie site.
|
September 1988 |
BCMC's application for a Director's Review is approved and the permit is extended. BCMC hires Western Cultural Resource Management
of Denver to begin archeological and historical research in preparation for an eventual EIR.
|
June 1989 |
The National Park Service begins an update and upgrade to the National Historic Landmark documentation in Bodie in response
to the new exploratory drilling. The NPS seeks to secure a more expansive definition of the Historic Landmark District that
includes the surrounding landscape, including land controlled by BCMC.
|
1989 |
Galactic Services Inc. of Reno (another subsidiary of Galactic Resources and the entity responsible for most management functions
of BCMC) organizes the Mono County Mining Committee to promote mining as part of Mono County's revised General Plan.
|
June 1989 |
BCMC temporarily suspends drilling activities at Bodie, resuming a few months later. |
March 1990 |
California Senate Joint Resolution 60 is passed, directing the BLM to consider withdrawing public lands within the Bodie Mining
District from mineral land classification.
|
May 1990 |
BCMC's application for another Directors' Review to extend its drilling permit sparks controversy. Mono County recognizes
that the project is controversial, and concludes that BCMC should apply for a "Use Permit" and that an Environmental Impact
Report would be required for its drilling program. BCMC agrees to the EIR.
|
September 1990 |
Mono County releases a "Notice of Preparation" (NOP) for BCMC's EIR, and distributes it for comment. A contract is signed
for Beak Associates to create the EIR for BCMC's exploratory activities. The original due date for the administrative draft
of the EIR is set at October 1, 1990, with the Draft EIR due December 1, 1990, and the Final EIR due February 15, 1991.
|
October 1990 |
Public meetings are held in Mono County regarding the NOP. Mono County begins receiving hundreds of letters regarding the
NOP.
|
March 1991 |
Mono County announces that subsequent issues raised by the public have lengthened the time needed for preparation of the EIR,
and pushes the due dates for each version of the EIR back approximately 6 months.
|
June 1991 |
Mono county officially suspends the time period for the EIR due to "unanticipated and unreasonable delays" in submittal of
technical reports by BCMC.
|
August 1991 |
WCRM completes its work for BCMC, noting that it felt that BCMC staff put pressure on WCRM personnel to modify their conclusions.
BCMC responds that any changes suggested reflected merely the poor quality of the WCRM reports.
|
September 1991 |
BLM issues its final resource management plan for the Bishop area, which includes Bodie. The plan calls for the area to be
designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern, which is intended to protect historic values in the area. Under this
designation, BCMC would have to submit a Plan of Operations to the BLM. BCMC files a protest. The plan is also criticized
for not going far enough to protect Bodie, as it does not recommend the withdrawal of land from mineral development. The BLM
initiates a review of all objections to the plan that extends into late 1992.
|
March 1992 |
H.R. 4370, the Bodie Protection Act of 1992 is introduced in the US House of Representatives by California Congressman Richard
Lehman.
|
May 1992 |
Mark Whitehead, BCMC's Project Manager appears before the Interior Mining Subcommittee of Congress to oppose HR 4370. |
1991-1992 |
Closure and cleanup of its Summitville, Colorado mine creates financial hardship for Galactic Resources. It announces that
it will sell the Bodie property to pay for cyanide cleanup operations in Summitville as part of its reclamation agreement
with the state of Colorado.
|
October 1992 |
California Department of Parks and Recreation begins discussions with Galactic Resources to acquire its Bodie property. |
November 1992 |
Mono County completes the Draft EIR and a Notice of Completion is filed, making the EIR available for the public for review
through the end of December.
|
December 1992 |
The Summitville Consolidated Mining Company declares bankruptcy and leaves its cyanide gold mine in Colorado. |
January 1993 |
Galactic Resources Ltd. files for bankruptcy in Canada. |
March 1993 |
HR 240, The Bodie Protection Act of 1993 is introduced in Congress, with support from the Save Bodie organization, Mono County,
and California Governor Pete Wilson, but does not pass. Meanwhile, BCMC leaves the Bodie region.
|
April 1993 |
The Bureau of Land Management's Bishop Resource Management Plan is adopted. |
October 1994 |
The Bodie Protection Act of 1994 passes Congress. This act withdraws 6135 acres of federal lands from mineral location and
entry under US mining laws. It also allows additional non-federal lands to be withdrawn under the law if first acquired by
BLM.
|
1993-1996 |
DPR personnel recommend that the DPR pursue acquisition of the Bodie property and seek funding sources for purchase from the
Galactic trustee. The DPR begins negotiations with the trustee, attorney Robert Rusko of Peat, Marwick, Thorne of Vancouver.
The asking price for the property drops gradually from 12 million to about 5 million US dollars.
|
1997 |
The State of California buys BCMC's land, property and records for $5,004,000. The land purchase includes 517 acres of land
around the Bodie State Historic Park.
|
September 1997 |
The Bodie State Historic Park is re-dedicated. |
Scope and Content of Collection
The Bodie Consolidated Mining Company Collection contains records collected and created by the Bodie Consolidated Mining Company
(BCMC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Galactic Resources Ltd. of Vancouver, Canada, which performed mining exploration activities
near the Bodie State Historic Park in Mono County, California, between 1988 and 1993. The Department of Parks and Recreation
(DPR) acquired these records in 1997, along with property and ore samples.
Records include memos, correspondence, press releases, newspaper clippings, administrative and financial records, legal and
property title documents, historical reference materials and records, drilling summaries and logs, geologic and metallurgic
reports, environmental baseline studies, draft environmental impact reports, cultural resource documentation, aerial photographs,
and miscellaneous mining-related reference materials.
BCMC's exploratory activities near Bodie State Historic Park were the source of much controversy. BCMC's activities prompted
the National Park Service to update its documentation to secure a more expansive definition of the Historic Landmark District.
Federal and State lawmakers introduced legislation limiting the potential for mining in the Bodie area. The California State
Park Rangers Association created a group called "Save Bodie" to protest BCMC's presence in the area. Mono County received
hundreds of responses to the "Notice of Preparation" for BCMC's Environmental Impact Report. Researchers interested in this
controversy will find Series 6, "Environmental and Permitting," and Series 1, "Administrative," of most use. These series
contain a number of internal and external documents that highlight these issues. Files relating to the Mono County Planning
Department (beginning with "6.3.3.5") have a number of documents that relate to the need for the EIR; files relating to the
Mono County Board of Supervisors (6.3.3.7) show the county's positive orientation toward mining activities. Administrative
files of most relevance to the controversy in Series 1 include those beginning with "1.4" through "1.6", which relate to public
relations and internal and external correspondence of BCMC staff. Series 9, "Mining/Pit Operations" also contains documents
on Galactic's plans regarding the Bodie site.
Researchers primarily interested in the geologic and metallurgical data collected by BCMC will find Series 8, "Geological"
and Series 7, "Metallurgy," of most value. Series 8 contains drill hole logs from BCMC, and re-logs of previous drilling activities,
as well as assay analysis reports. Series 7 contains materials regarding the metallurgical testing of geologic samples from
BCMC's drilling program, including "shake test" results, and results of cyanide testing. Researchers interested in the environmental
baseline data collected by BCMC contractors, or archeological or historical data collected by Western Cultural Resource Management
should consult Series 6, "Environmental and Permitting," particularly files beginning with "6.1.1.2."
Those interested in historical mining claims on the land near Bodie, or in the details of the financial transaction between
Galactic Resources and its predecessor, Homestake Mining, should consult Series 2, "Land and Legal" and Series 12, "Historical."
Researchers interested in the history of the Bodie mining district may also wish to consult the Bodie State Historic Park
Archives (c. 1875-1970) held at the California State Archives. Records related to a nineteenth century mining concern also
named "Bodie Consolidated Mining Company" can be found in that collection.
BCMC ceased operations in the Bodie area in early 1993, after its parent company Galactic Resources declared bankruptcy.
Organization
The collection is organized into thirteen record series. The series in this collection correspond to an original file index
created by Galactic Resources for BCMC records. A copy of this file index can be found in Box 1, Folder 14, and is also in
the appendix to the paper version of this finding aid. Series (and file index number) 10, "Recovery Plant," contained no records.
Series 11, "Photographs," was originally designated "Aerial Photos" in the BCMC file index. This series now includes all photographs
found among the records, including non-aerial photos. For an explanation of the arrangement of that series, see the series
scope and content description. Series 13, "Restricted Items," is the only series that does not correspond to the Galactic
file index, and is made up entirely of items permanently restricted from the open collection.
Within each series, the original numbering system created by Galactic has also been retained. This numbering system assigned
a decimal to each file, breaking down the records from general to more specific. For example, Series 4 contains "Cost and
Accounting" Records. Files under index number "4.8" contain invoices from BCMC's contractors. Subsequent categories describe
the type of work performed, and, in some cases, an individual contractor: e.g. "4.8.2" contains invoices from contractors
performing assaying, and "4.8.2.1" contains invoices specifically from the "American Assay" company. The numbering system
does not assign a "meaning" to each decimal, rather it is a way of dividing files from more general to more specific categories.
The original decimal numbers have been retained and marked on each folder in each series. However, the staff at the BCMC was
not scrupulous in following this file index. They sometimes assigned a letter instead of the last number, or did not bother
to assign numbers to files at all. In most cases, it was apparent where the file belonged within the file index system, and
the correct file number has been assigned to the file. In the very few cases where no file index number could be found that
corresponded to the contents of the folder, a number was assigned that reflected the correct placement of the file relative
to other files. For example, folders containing large numbers of invoices from specific companies were found that were not
assigned a file number within Series 4. In those cases, the folder was assigned the next logical file number.
There are also are many gaps in the file number sequences. In many cases, a file number existed on the BCMC file index, but
no files associated with those numbers were found among the records. For example, no records were found filed under category
2.1 "Land Check Reports," or under 2.1.2, "Background Materials", but records were found under file designation 2.1.2.4 "Bodie
Area MTPs and HIs." Hence, the file decimal numbers should be used primarily as a guide to the contents of the folders, and
to the general relationship between the records. Folder titles also have been taken from the file index, with additional information
added for clarification, if necessary.
In most cases, documents within folders have been arranged chronologically. Any further arrangement information can be found
in the individual series descriptions in the container list.
The Collection is organized into thirteen series:
Series 1: Administrative Records, 1988-1993. 3 cubic ft.
Series 2: Land and Legal, 1901-1993. 5.5 cubic ft.
Series 3: Infrastructure: Contracts and Agreements Operating, 1988-1992. .7 cubic ft.
Series 4: Costs and Accounting, 1988-1993. 1.7 cubic ft.
Series 5: Engineering and Construction, 1988-1993. .1 cubic ft.
Series 6: Environmental and Permitting, 1901-1993. 7.7 cubic ft.
Series 7: Metallurgy, 1988-1990. .3 cubic ft.
Series 8: Geology, 1985-1991. 4.2 cubic ft.
Series 9: Mining/Pit Operations, 1988-1990. .2 cubic ft.
Series 10: Recovery Plant. 0 cubic ft.
Series 11: Photographs, 1988-1990 and undated. 2.9 cubic ft.
Series 12: Historical, 1984-1992 and undated. 1.6 cubic ft.
Series 13: Restricted Material. .3 cubic ft.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection.
Subjects
Bodie Consolidated Mining Company.
Gold mines and mining--California--Mono County--Archival resources.
Historic sites--California--Mono County--Archival resources.
Material Cataloged Separately
Approximately 140 items were removed from the collection before processing in September 1997 due to ongoing litigation between
the EPA (through the US Dept of Justice) and the former head of Galactic Resources, Robert Friedland. This litigation related
to cleanup costs for the Summitville Mine in Colorado. These documents were removed from the collection by Lee Forman, Friedland's
lawyer, under the terms of the purchase and sale agreement between DPR and BCMC, which allowed the removal of any "attorney-client
privileged information." Although it was agreed that the documents would be relinquished to the California Department of Parks
and Recreation upon the conclusion of the case, the documents have not been returned to the collection as agreed, although
the lawsuit was settled in December 2000.
A large number of maps (approximately 850 items) associated with the collection but currently unprocessed may be added to
the collection at a later date. Geologic ore samples relating to this collection (approximately 4500 cubic feet) are on loan
to the University of California, Davis as of 1998 and will remain in UCD's custody until 2008.
Related Collections
Bodie State Historic Park Archives (c. 1875-1970) California State Archives.
Series 1:
Administrative Records,
1988-1993
Physical Description: 3 cubic ft.
Scope and Content Note
This series consists of administrative records, including petty cash receipts, organizational records, insurance documents,
human resource reference materials, and payroll records. It also contains a large number of memos, reports, and correspondence
between personnel in the BCMC office, Galactic Services in Reno, and Galactic Resources in Vancouver, as well as management
meeting minutes of the Vancouver office (not necessarily related to BCMC operations.) This series also contains records relating
to public relations and the press. There are clippings of articles related to Galactic, BCMC, and Bodie, as well as other
mining companies and projects. There are also letters to and from the public regarding BCMC's activities in Bodie. Other records
include correspondence among BCMC, Galactic, and its public relations consultants.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by subject according to the Galactic file index system. Correspondence is arranged by sender, and
thereunder chronologically.
Box 1 : 1-4
1.0.1 Petty Cash Receipts1990-1992
Box 1 : 13
Taxes (State and Federal) (Restricted)
Box 1 : 15
1.1.2 Master Distribution Schedule (Bodie Project Acronyms and agency contact list)
Box 1 : 16
1.1.3 Organization Charts (and Directories)
Box 1 : 17-22
1.1.4 Federal Express Receipts1989-1992
Box 1 : 22
Received Items19901991-1992
Box 1 : 23
1.2 Project Procedures/Instructions
Box 1 : 25
1.4 Public Relations (Three campaign buttons in Oversize Box 28)
Box 1 : 26
1.4.1.2 Press Releases- Galactic Resources
Box 1 : 27
1.4.1.1 Press Releases- BCMC-GSI
Box 1 : 30
Media Coverage (Other places and misc. articles)
Box 2 : 1
1.4.4 Responses to Press/Media
Box 2 : 2
1.4.5 Public Relations People (Eric Toll and Parcel, Mauro)
Box 2 : 4-5
1.4.5.2 Hill and Knowlton
Box 2 : 6
1.4.5.3 Ray Hunter (Pragma)
Box 2 : 7
1.4.5.4 The Friends of Bodie and Save Bodie!
Box 2 : 9
1.4.5.6 California Desert Coalition
Box 2 : 10
1.4.5.7 Western States Public Lands Coalition
Box 2 : 11
1.4.6.1 Letters to BCMC- Unfavorable
Box 2 : 12
1.4.6.2 Letters to BCMC- Favorable
Box 2 : 13
1.4.7 Responses to Letters
Box 2 : 14
1.5 Intra-company communications
Box 2 : 15
1.5.1 Management Directives
Box 2 : 16
1.5.2 Trip Reports/Site Visits
Box 2 : 22
1.5.4 Management Meeting Minutes
Box 2 : 23
1.5.5 Inter-department Memos
Box 2 : 24
1.6 Inter-Company Communications
Box 2 : 26-27
1.6.1.1 Mark's Memos (Mark Whitehead)1990
Box 3 : 1
1.6.1.1(a) Mark's Memos (Mark Whitehead)1991-1992
Box 3 : 2
1.6.1.2 Mark's Memos (Mark Whitehead)1988-1989
Box 3 : 3-4
1.6.1.3 Gordon's Memos (Gordon Gumble)1988-1993
Box 3 : 5
1.6.1.5 Steve Enders' Memos
Box 3 : 10
1.6.5 Other Companies (Quartz Mountain)
Box 3 : 14
1.8.1.1 Health/Life/Disability
Box 3 : 15
1.8.3.1 Resumes- Labor (Restricted)
Box 3 : 16
1.8.3.2 Resumes- Geologists (Restricted)
Box 3 : 17
1.8.3.3 Resumes- Office (Restricted)
Box 3 : 18
1.8.6 Safety and Security/Loss Prevention
Box 3 : 19
1.8.6.1 Emergency Services
Box 3 : 23
1.8.7.1 Admundson, Steve (Restricted)
Box 3 : 24
1.8.7.2 Bosch, Rodger (Restricted)
Box 3 : 25
1.8.7.3 Gumble, Gordon (Restricted)
Box 3 : 26
1.8.7.5 Stewart, Diane (Restricted)
Box 3 : 27
1.8.7.6 Whitehead, Mark (Restricted)
Box 3 : 28
1.8.7.7 Experts (Resumes and Company Brochures)
Box 3 : 29
1.8.7.8 Past Employees (Restricted)
Box 3 : 30
1.8.8 Federal /State/Leg EEO/Immigration
Box 3 : 32
1.9.3.1 Filled Time Sheets1988
Box 3 : 33
1.9.3.2 Filled Time Sheets1989
Box 3 : 34
1.9.3.3 Filled Time Sheets1990
Box 3 : 35
1.9.3.4 Filled Time Sheets1991
Series 2:
Land and Legal,
1901-1993
Physical Description: 5.5 cubic ft.
Scope and Content Note
This series contains a variety of documents related to legal issues surrounding the Bodie project, the acquisition of land
and property, and general legal and land-issue matters. Included are Bills of Sale, title reports, assessor's plats, recorded
conveyances, leases, payments, prospecting permits, options, and deeds. This series also contains a large number of Location
Certificates (GSI claims) in both Nevada and California, including amended claims. There are also a large number of Notices
of Intent to Hold Mining Claim, Proofs of Labor, and Assessment Work Notices, both for Galactic, and previous claimants. This
series also contains the work files, memos, and correspondence of GSI's "landman" Kirk Williams, including memos and notes
relating to permit strategies, meetings with the JS Cain Co., tax issues and tax assessments (for Mono County in particular,)
BCMC's relationship with the DPR and with claim owners in the area, escrow payments and leases, and legal issues with public
relations significance. Also included are appraisal records, historical records relating to the acquisition of the Bodie town
site by the state, and copies of the agreements between Homestake and Galactic, including all related agreement schedules.
This series also includes copies of the complete minutes of the JS Cain Company from 1901 through the mid 1970s.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by subject according to the Galactic file index system. All correspondence is arranged chronologically.
Claims are arranged by location notice numbers, which correspond to the location of the claim.
Box 4 : 4
2.0.1.1 General Status Reports
Box 4 : 5
2.0.1.1 General Status Reports(OVERSIZE BOX 28)
Box 4 : 6
2.0.1.2 Acreage Summary Report
Box 4 : 7
2.0.1.3 Recommendation to Purchase JS Cain Co.
Box 4 : 8
2.0.1.4 Exhibit "A" for All Properties
Box 4 : 10
2.0.1.6 Homestake Agreement Exhibit A
Box 4 : 12
2.0.1.8 Bodie Property Descriptions: Project Area
Box 4 : 13
2.0.2 Memos and Correspondence
Box 4 : 14-19
2.0.3.2 Mono County Tax Assessment
Box 4 : 19
(File 3: Additional Tax Appraisal Material)
Box 4 : 20
2.0.3.3 Information Package- Prospective Buyers
Box 4 : 21
2.0.3.4 Trust for Public Land
Box 4 : 23
2.0.3.6 County Land Use Planning
Box 4 : 24
2.0.3.7 Tax Forms (blank)
Box 4 : 25
2.0.3.H Landowner Correspondence
Box 4 : 26
2.0.3.I History Statement
Box 4 : 27
2.0.3.J FOIA and CA Information Practices Act
Box 4 : 28
2.0.3.K Law Firm Interviews
Box 4 : 29
2.0.3.L Miscellaneous Historic Items
Box 4 : 30
2.0.3.M Greyhound Package Express
Box 4 : 31
Residential Property Appraisal Records
Box 4 : 32
Assessors Master Property Record
Box 4 : 34
Cain Condemnation, 1964- Exhibit A and Other
Box 4 : 36
2.1.1.2.1 Out of Area- Homestake Property
Box 5 : 1
2.1.1.2.2 Out of Area- Competitor Property
Box 5 : 2
2.1.1.2.3 Out of Area- Invalid Claims
Box 5 : 3
2.1.1.C Grey Mill Title Report
Box 5 : 4
2.1.1.D Title Report NW/4SE/4Sec. 10-4N-27E (OVERSIZE BOX 28)
Box 5 : 6
2.1.1.E Bulwer Tunnel (OVERSIZE BOX 28)
Box 5 : 7
2.1.2.1.1 Wild Rose Claims
Box 5 : 8
2.1.2.2 Wild Rose Document Drafts
Box 5 : 9
2.1.2.3 Lease Information Background Homestake
Box 5 : 10
2.1.2.4 Bodie Area MTPs and HIs
Box 5 : 11
2.1.2.4.1 BLM Claim Index California
Box 5 : 12
2.1.2.4.2 BLM Claim Index- Nevada
Box 5 : 13-14
2.1.2.5 General Background Materials from Homestake
Box 5 : 15
2.1.2.6 Park Condemnation Orders
Box 5 : 16
2.1.3.1 11X14 Property Outline Quick Reference
Box 5 : 17
2.1.3.2 BLM, Metsker and Others
Box 5 : 20
2.1.3.5 Mono County Assessor's Plots (OVERSIZE BOX 28)
Box 5 : 24
2.1.4.C Bodie-Land Bodie State Park
Box 5 : 25-26
2.2 Project Acquisition Documents
Box 5 : 27-28
2.2.1 Homestake Agreement and Closing Documents
Box 5 : 29
2.2.1.1 Recorded Conveyances from Homestake- 50%1988
Box 5 : 30
2.2.1.2 Recorded Conveyances from Homestake - 1%1989
Box 5 : 31
2.2.1.3 Recorded Conveyances from Homestake - 24%1989
Box 5 : 32
2.2.1.4 Recorded Conveyances from Homestake - 25%1990
Box 5 : 33-34
2.2.2 Spanish Mine Closing Documents
Box 6 : 1-2
2.3.1.1 Lost Carcass and Buzzard Mine
Box 6 : 11-12
2.3.3.1.2 By-Laws and Minutes
Box 6 : 13
2.3.4.1 Central Pacific, Union Pacific, etc. (Gray Deed)
Box 6 : 14
2.3.4.1.1 Gray to Homestake
Box 6 : 15
2.3.4.1.2 Tracey to Homestake
Box 6 : 16
2.3.7 Escrow Arrangements
Box 6 : 17-18
2.4.1.1.1 GSI Claims- Nevada
Box 6 : 18
(Location Notices and Other)
Box 6 : 19-23
2.4.1.1.2 GSI Claims- California
Box 6 : 20
(Location Notices 231-420)
Box 6 : 21
(Location Notices 421-610)
Box 6 : 22
(Location Notices 611-789)
Box 6 : 23
(Location Notices 790-1160)
Box 7 : 1-2
2.4.1.1.2 GSI Claims- California
Box 7 : 1
(Location Notices 1161-1479)
Box 7 : 3
2.4.1.1.3 GSI Amended Claims
Box 7 : 4
2.4.1.1.3 GSI 954, 955, Ready for Relocation
Box 7 : 9
2.4.1.5 Central Pacific, Union Pacific, etc. (Gray) Claims
Box 7 : 10
2.4.1.6 Coupon Gap, Ajax South, BLM, Author 1 and 2, Amarillo
Box 7 : 11-15
2.4.1.G Millsite and Placer Claims
Box 7 : 17-18
2.4.3 Annual Assessment (Proofs of Labor)1942-1988
Box 7 : 19-20
2.4.3.1 Background from Homestake
Box 7 : 21
2.4.3.1.1 Cain, Buzzard, et.al. Claims
Box 7 : 22
2.4.3.1.2 Zeus and NLM Claims
Box 7 : 23
2.4.3.2.1 Galactic Filings1988
Box 7 : 24
2.4.3.2.2 Galactic Filings1989
Box 7 : 25
2.4.3.2.3 Galactic Filings1990
Box 7 : 26
2.4.4 Abandonment Notices
Box 7 : 27
2.5.2.1 Joint Ventures- Amax
Box 7 : 28
2.5.4 Confidentiality Agreement
Box 7 : 29
2.6.1.1 Outerbridge Copies of Title Reports Covering Unpatented Claims
Box 8 : 1-4
2.6.1.1 Outerbridge Copies of Title Reports Covering Unpatented Claims, cont.
Box 8 : 5
2.6.3.2 Lost Carcass and Buzzard Mine Materials
Box 8 : 6
2.6.3.3 JS Cain Company Materials from Homestake (In Binder)
Box 8 : 8
CA vs. Cain Property Condemnation
Box 8 : 9
JS Cain Meeting Preparation
Box 8 : 12
2.6.4.3 Prepared Documents
Box 8 : 13
2.6.4.4 Completed Documentation
Box 8 : 14
2.6.4.5 Recorded Documentation
Box 8 : 15
2.8.1 California Trespass Laws
Box 8 : 16
2.9.1 CA Location Certificate Form
Series 3:
Infrastructure: Contracts and Agreements Operating,
1998-1992
Physical Description: .7 cubic ft.
Scope and Content Note
This series consists of routine administrative records relating to the BCMC office and its operations in Bodie. Records include
contracts with utility companies, insurance documents, leases, utility bills, and receipts for general office services. One
folder, "Labor and Management," was withdrawn as it contained rejected personnel applications containing social security numbers.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by subject according to the Galactic file index system.
Box 8 : 17
3.1 Office Lease and Agreements
Box 8 : 21
3.1.6.1 Insurance- Equipment
Box 8 : 22
3.1.6.2 Insurance- Property
Box 8 : 23
3.1.7 Equipment and Furniture
Box 8 : 26
3.2.2 Certificates of Insurance
Box 8 : 30
Contel Phone bill summaries, AT+T Bill Summaries
Box 8 : 32
Phone Bills and Statements10/90-6/91
Box 9 : 3
3.4 Labor and Management (Restricted)
Box 9 : 9
3.5.6 Gas and Maintenance
Series 4:
Costs and Accounting,
1988-1993
Physical Description: 1.7 cubic ft.
Scope and Content Note
This series contains administrative records relating to the financial administration of BCMC and its contractors, the company
budget, and long-term fiscal planning. The bulk of the records include BCMC bank statements and checks, and contracts and
invoices from contractors who performed services for BCMC. There are also a small number of budget and planning documents
related to cost projections and budget needs.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by subject according to the Galactic file index system. Invoices are arranged by type of service,
and thereunder alphabetically by contractor.
Box 9 : 13-20
4.0.4 Bank Statements and Receipts
Box 9 : 13
Bank of America Statements
Box 9 : 18
Voided Checks and Deposit Slips
Box 9 : 20
Vancouver Correspondence Regarding
Box 9 : 22
4.2 Capital Cost Estimates
Box 9 : 23
4.3 Operating Cost Estimates
Box 9 : 27
4.8.1 Archeology- Cultural Resources
Box 9 : 52
4.8.7.7 Welsh- Jack Clark
Box 9 : 53
4.8.7.8 Western Cultural Resource Management
Box 10 : 1
4.8.7.10 Beak Consultants, Inc.
Box 10 : 3
4.8.8.1 Backhoe (Rocky Mountain Machinery Co.)
Box 10 : 6
4.8.9.1 Container Packaging Inc.
Box 10 : 7
4.8.9.2 Contract Geological Services
Box 10 : 10
4.8.9.5 Material and Machine Fabricators, Inc.
Box 10 : 11
4.8.9.6 Saw Blades (Highway 50 Rock Shop)
Box 10 : 12
4.8.9.7 Standard Filters Corp.
Box 10 : 14
4.8.10 Geophysical (contract)
Box 10 : 15
4.8.10.1 Aeromagnetics (contract)
Box 10 : 20
4.8.13.3 Carl's Blueprinting
Box 10 : 22
4.8.13.5 Morill and Machabee Inc.
Box 10 : 24
4.8.13.7 Schwabacher Frey
Box 10 : 25
4.8.13.8 Societe Generale
Box 10 : 28
4.8.13.11 Business Computer Rentals
Box 10 : 29
4.8.14 Office Maintenance
Box 10 : 33
4.8.15.2 Hill and Knowlton
Box 10 : 36
4.8.16 Roads and Reclamation
Box 10 : 38
4.8.16.2 Eleven V Enterprise
Box 10 : 41
4.8.17.1 Interstate Safety
Box 10 : 44
4.8.19 Vehicles (Lee Bros. Leasing)
Box 10 : 49
4.8.20.2 Construction Specialty
Box 10 : 51
4.9 AFEs (Radio Communication Equipment)
Series 5:
Engineering and Construction,
1988-1993
Physical Description: .1 cubic ft.
Scope and Content Note
This small series contains administrative records relating to BCMC project and development schedules, drilling, and permits.
This series also contains filled purchase orders and purchase order logs. Despite the name of the series, these records do
not relate primarily to Engineering or Construction, but rather are general administrative records similar to those found
in Series 1, 3, and 4.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by subject according to the Galactic file index system. Purchase orders are arranged chronologically.
Box 10 : 53
5.2 Planning and Scheduling
Box 10 : 54
5.2.1 Computer Database Info
Box 10 : 56
5.3.1.4 Filled Purchase Orders
Series 6:
Environmental and Permitting,
1901-1993
Physical Description: 7.7 cubic ft.
Scope and Content Note
This very large series contains materials relating to the preparation of the Environmental Impact Report, general environmental
and permit issues, and BCMC and Galactic's relationship with various federal, state, and local oversight agencies. Records
with file index numbers beginning with 6.0 through 6.1.1.1 relate to more general environmental issues, regulations, permit
strategies, and the BLM's Bishop Plan. Files beginning with 6.1.1.2 relate to the preparation of the Environmental Impact
Report. Files beginning with 6.1.2 relate to other (non-BLM) federal agencies; files beginning with 6.2 relate to state-level
agencies; and files beginning with 6.3 relate to local/county-level agencies and organizations, particularly Mono County.
A large portion of the records in this series concerns the preparation of the EIR. Files begging with 6.1.1.2.2 include copies
of the drafts of the EIR as well as various reports and data collected by contractors beginning in 1988 for eventual EIR preparation.
The EIR/EIS files include memos, correspondence, and reports, the Notice of Preparation for the EIR and letters of response,
many drafts of BCMC reports to the EIR contractor, and copies of the draft administrative EIR and Draft EIR. Other files include
the "baseline data" gathered by contractors on topics such as air, water, blasting/seismic, geochemistry, noise, history,
oil, reclamation, socioeconomics, soil, traffic, vegetation, visual impact, and wildlife. There is also a file on "archeology"
that relates to the contractors hired to review the cultural resource data for the EIR. These contractor files consist mainly
of memos, reports, statistics, and correspondence.
Related files beginning with 6.1.1.2.3 concern the archeological and historical work done by Western Cultural Resource Management
(WCRM) for the EIR. The Cultural Resource Management (CRM) portion of the EIR made up the most extensive (and expensive) portion
of the EIR baseline data gathering and the results constituted the largest part of the EIR report. WCRM files include correspondence
relating to research design, progress reports, schedules, invoices, memos, budgets, contracts, field manuals and reference
guidelines for CRM. There are also a large number of reports from WCRM to BCMC dated 1989 through 1991, including annotated
bibliographies, research design documents, and copies of the draft and final reports on the prehistory and history of project
area. Another copy of the meeting minutes of the J.S. Cain Company, 1901 through 1985, is included in these files. There are
also a number of field notes on historic and archeological sites. Files beginning with 6.1.1.2.3 also include many internal
Galactic documents mainly created by Penny McPherson, the GSI employee who oversaw the CRM program, including memos regarding
the selection of the CRM contractor, the budget, and the deteriorating relationship between BCMC and WCRM over time.
This series also contains records relating to federal agencies such as the National Park Service, the Advisory Counsel on
Historic Preservation and the Bureau of Land Management. Records include correspondence, copies of regulations, memos, and
records relating to NPS's boundary survey, as well as copies of the BLM's Bishop Area Management Plan.
Also included are similar records relating to state agencies, including memos and correspondence between Galactic (and BCMC)
and the California Department of Parks and Recreation. There are also materials from the "Save Bodie!" committee of the CSPRA,
and copies of DPR's Bodie State Historic Park acquisition documents and other related documents from the California State
Archives dating from the 1950s and 1960s.
Finally, this series also includes records relating to Mono County, the local governing agency for the project. Most of the
records relate to the Mono County General Counsel, the Mono County Planning Department, and the Mono County Board of Supervisors.
Records include correspondence and memos, copies of general plans, permits, receipts, copies of letters received by Mono County
regarding the Bodie project, Directors Review applications and use permit applications. There are also a number of documents
related to "MRTAC" a technical advisory committee that sought to create a "mineral policy" for Mono County's general plan.
BCMC attempted to write this mineral policy for the county through MRTAC, which was comprised mainly of BCMC and GSI staff.
There are also records (largely from 1989) of the Mono County Mining Committee, an organization created by GSI to promote
mining as part of Mono County's general plan.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by subject according to the Galactic file index system. Records are arranged according to level of
government (federal, state, or county), and thereunder by specific agency or subject. Reports are organized chronologically.
Box 10 : 57-58
6.0 Environmental and Permitting
Box 10 : 59
6.0.1 Environmental Liability Assessment
Box 10 : 60
6.0.2 Environmental Compliance
Box 11 : 2-7
6.1.1 Bureau of Land Management
Box 11 : 3-4
Bishop Resource Management Plan
Box 11 : 5
Bishop Resource Management Plan Draft
Box 11 : 6
Bishop Resource Management Plan-Final-Vol. 1
Box 11 : 7
Bishop Resource Management Plan-Final-Vol. 2
Box 11 : 8
6.1.1.0 Bodie Hills Technical Review Team
Box 11 : 10
Homestake's Notes and Drafts of ERR1986
Box 11 : 11
Homestake's Draft Environmental Reconnaissance Report
Box 11 : 12
6.1.1.1.1 NOI- Notice of Intent
Box 11 : 13
6.1.1.1.2 POO- Plan of Operation
Box 11 : 14-15
6.1.1.2.2 EIR/EIS- Environmental Impact Report (General)
Box 12 : 1-15
6.1.1.2.2 EIR/EIS- Environmental Impact Report
Box 12 : 3
Draft of BCMC's Report to Beak, Oct. 2, 1990, First Copy
Box 12 : 4
Draft of BCMC's Report to Beak, Oct. 2, 1990, Second Copy
Box 12 : 5
Draft of BCMC's Report to Beak, Oct. 5, 1990
Box 12 : 6
Drafts of BCMC's Report to Beak, Various Chapters
Box 12 : 7
Draft BCMC's Report to Beak, Chap. 4 only
Box 12 : 8
Draft Chapters of DEIR- Chps. 1-3, 5, 8, and 12
Box 12 : 9
Draft Chapters of DEIR- Chp. 4, sections 4.2-4.5
Box 12 : 10
Draft Chapters of DEIR- Chp. 4, sections 4.6, 4.8-4.12
Box 12 : 11
June 1992 Draft of Administrative DEIR
Box 12 : 12-14
Sept. 1992 Draft of Administrative DEIR
Box 13 : 1-3
6.1.1.2.2 EIR/EIS- Environmental Impact Report
Box 13 : 1-2
Oct. 1992 Draft of DEIR, cont.
Box 13 : 4
6.1.1.2.2.1 Air Studies (General and Air Sciences)
Box 13 : 5-9
6.1.1.2.2.2 Air Studies II (Condor Reports)
Box 13 : 10
6.1.1.2.2.3 Aquatic Biology
Box 13 : 12-15
6.1.1.2.2.5 Blasting/Seismic
Box 14 : 2-6
6.1.1.2.2.10 Ground Water
Box 14 : 8
Minutes of the JS Cain Co.1901-1985
Box 14 : 9
Articles and Excerpts on Bodie
Box 14 : 14
6.1.1.2.2.15 Socioeconomics
Box 14 : 16
6.1.1.2.2.17 Surface Water
Box 14 : 18
6.1.1.2.2.19 Vegetation (and Wildlife)
Box 14 : 19
6.1.1.2.2.20 Visual Studies
Box 15 : 1-2
CR Archeology and History
Box 15 : 4
Field Notes, R. Morris, Bodie 1990
Box 15 : 7
Notes on H009-H013; H019-H023; H059; H065; H072; H089; H093
Box 15 : 8
Scale Drawings/Sketch Maps/Photo Logs
Box 15 : 10-11
CRM Reference Materials, Virginia City NHL
Box 15 : 12
6.1.1.2.3.1 Personnel (WCRM)
Box 15 : 13-14
6.1.1.2.3.2 Correspondence (WCRM)
Box 16 : 1
6.1.1.2.3.3 Budget (WCRM)
Box 16 : 2-3
6.1.1.2.3.4 Contracts (WCRM)
Box 15 : 4-7
6.1.1.2.3.5 Data Requirements (WCRM)
Box 15 : 4
Data Requirements-General
Box 15 : 7
Forms, Guidelines, Instructions
Box 15 : 8
Various WCRM reports and Report Drafts
Box 15 : 9
Jan. 1989 Annotated Bibliography
Box 15 : 11
Revised Sept.1990 Research Design
Box 15 : 12
March 1990 Cultural Resource Documentation
Box 15 : 13
Nov. 1990 Feature Descriptions
Box 15 : 14
Oct. 1990 Drafts of Prehistoric and Historic Reports- Partial
Box 17 : 1
Draft Class III Cultural Resources Inventory- Historic- Vol. 1, Chps. 1-7
Box 17 : 2
Draft Class III Cultural Resources Inventory- Historic- Vol. 1, Chps. 7-12
Box 17 : 3
Drafts of Final report- Historic- Chps. 8-10
Box 17 : 4
March 1991 Draft Class III Cultural Resources Inventory- Prehistoric- Vol. 1
Box 17 : 5
July 1991 Final Class III Cultural Resources Inventory- Prehistoric- Vol. 1
Box 17 : 6-7
July 1991 Final Class III Cultural Resources Inventory- Prehistoric- Vol. II, Appendices
Box 17 : 8-9
July 1991 Final Class III Cultural Resources Inventory- History- Vol. II, Appendices
Box 17 : 10
6.1.2 National Parks Service
Box 17 : 11
6.1.2.1 National Parks Service- Regulations
Box 17 : 12
6.1.2.2 National Parks Service- Correspondence
Box 17 : 13
6.1.3 Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
Box 17 : 15
6.2.0 California Mining Association
Box 17 : 16
6.2.1 California Department of Conservation
Box 17 : 17
6.2.4 California Department of Parks and Recreation (General)
Box 18 : 1
6.2.4.1 Correspondence through 1989 (DPR)
Box 18 : 2
6.2.4.2 Correspondence, 1990 and after (DPR)
Box 18 : 3
6.2.4.3 Boundary Issue (DPR)
Box 18 : 4
6.2.4.4 CSPRA (California State Park Rangers Association)
Box 18 : 6
6.2.6.2 Water Resources Control Board
Box 18 : 7
6.2.9 California Regional Water Quality Control Board- Lahonton
Box 18 : 8
6.3.2.1 Bridgeport Public Utilities District
Box 18 : 10
6.3.3.2 Mono County Building Department
Box 18 : 11
6.3.3.3 Mono County Department of Public Works
Box 18 : 12
6.3.3.4 Mono County Health Department
Box 18 : 13
6.3.3.5 Mono County Planning Department
Box 18 : 14
6.3.3.5.1 Mono County Planning Department- Regulations
Box 18 : 15
6.3.3.5.2 Mono County Planning Department- Correspondence1988
Box 18 : 16
6.3.3.5.3 Mono County Planning Department- Correspondence 1989
Box 18 : 17
6.3.3.5.4 Mono County Planning Department- Correspondence1990-1992
Box 18 : 18
6.3.3.5.5 Mono County Planning Department- Permit/Compliance
Box 18 : 19
6.3.3.5.6 Mono County Planning Department- MRTAC
Box 18 : 20
6.3.3.7 Mono County Board of Supervisors
Box 18 : 21
6.3.3.8 Mono County Mining Committee
Series 7:
Metallurgy,
1988-1990
Physical Description: .3 cubic ft.
Scope and Content Note
This series contains memos, correspondence, notes, and reports regarding the metallurgical testing of geologic samples from
BCMC's drilling program. The series also contains a large number of contractor reports, results of testing and analysis of
samples, "shake test" results, and results of cyanide testing. This series also includes some contractor proposals, and copies
of reports on the petrography of the area.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by subject according to the Galactic file index system. Reports are arranged chronologically.
Box 18 : 25
7.3.3 Outside Laboratories
Series 8:
Geology,
1985-1991
Physical Description: 4.2 cubic feet.
Scope and Content Note
This series contains the bulk of records relating to BCMC's drilling program in Bodie. Most of these documents date from 1988
to 1990. Records include drilling plans, requests for authorizations of expenditures, resource potential reports and estimates,
memos, status reports, notes from meetings, and schedules. This series includes a large number of drill hole logs for all
191 holes in the project site, including holes dug by previous mining companies re-logged by Galactic. There are also monthly
and daily drilling summaries for both "Core" and "RVC" (Reverse Circulation) holes from August 1988 through 1990. Also included
are assay analysis reports from the American Assay Laboratory dating from September 1988 to November 1989, "Bondar Clegg"
results, and assay comparisons. This series also contains contracts, proposals, and correspondence with drilling contractors,
daily drill reports from contractors, and orders for assays. There are also memos and correspondence regarding land and air
surveys done by Holmes Engineering, survey information from Homestake from 1985 and 1986, and geo-chemical results from ore
samples. There is also a small amount of correspondence with USGS geologist Miles Silberman and reference materials published
by him. Also included in this series are 23
8 ½ X 14 transparencies in folder 8.1.3.1 showing geologic formations, numbered by section in the lower right hand side.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by subject according to the Galactic file index system. Assay reports and drilling summaries and logs
are arranged chronologically.
Box 19 : 2
8.0 Geology (Analysis Pad) (OVERSIZE BOX 29)
Box 19 : 4
Drill Hole Data- Computer Printout (OVERSIZE BOX 29)
Box 19 : 6
Drilling Summaries, Drill Hole Locations
Box 19 : 7
Drill Hole Summary Sheets, Holes #1-65
Box 19 : 8
ASARCO Drilling and Assays, Drill holes #1-11
Box 19 : 9
Drill Hole Logs #1-11- Galactic Re-logs
Box 19 : 10
Drill Hole Logs #12-24, Phelps Dodge and Homestake
Box 19 : 11
Drill Hole Logs #25-41, Homestake
Box 19 : 12
Drill Hole Logs #42-58, Homestake
Box 19 : 13
Drill Hole Logs #59-72, Homestake
Box 19 : 14
Drill Hole Logs #73-84, Homestake
Box 19 : 15
Drill Hole Logs #85-99, Galactic
Box 19 : 16
Drill Hole Logs #100-119, Galactic
Box 19 : 17
Drill Hole Logs #120-136, Galactic
Box 20 : 1
Drill Hole Logs #137-153, Galactic
Box 20 : 2
Drill Hole Logs #154-176, Galactic
Box 20 : 3
Drill Hole Logs #177-191, Galactic
Box 20 : 4
Hole 94- Notes on Samples
Box 20 : 6
Drill Hole Summaries and Shift Summaries
Box 20 : 8
Computer Printouts of Drill Hole Information
Box 20 : 9
Drill Hole Logs #100-119, Galactic
Box 20 : 11
Daily Drill Reports- RVC 1988
Box 20 : 15
Daily Drill Reports-Core1988
Box 20 : 16
Daily Drill Reports- Drill #4681989
Box 20 : 17
Daily Drill Reports-Drill #26101990
Box 20 : 18
Daily Drill Reports-Drill #34081990
Box 20 : 21
Unresolved Sampling Problems
Box 20 : 28
Bondar-Clegg Results and Assay Comparisons
Box 21 : 1-4
8.1.4.1 American Assay Laboratory
Box 21 : 4
Reports 6/89-11/89 and misc.
Box 21 : 5
8.1.4.3 Chem Assay (Shake Testing)
Box 21 : 8
8.1.5.2 Survey Information
Box 21 : 9
8.1.5.3 Survey Data- Drill Holes
Box 21 : 12
8.1.8 Geochemistry (1988 Homestake Geochemical Results)
Box 21 : 18
Bodie Underground X-Cuts- conversion to Drill Hole Logs
Box 21 : 22
Drill Hole Cross-Sections and 4-Pit Resource Estimates
Box 21 : 23
8.3.3.1 Resource Estimates1990
Series 9:
Mining/Pit Operations,
1988-1990
Physical Description: .2 cubic ft.
Scope and Content Note
This small series consists mainly of memos and reports regarding the evaluation of the Bodie area's resource potential and
ore reserves. Many of the memos in this series are marked "confidential." Records also include progress reports, drilling
plans, estimates of pit reserves, climate data and certificates of analysis of samples. Many of the documents in these files
are found in other series as well.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by subject according to the Galactic file index system.
Box 22 : 11
9.4 Geo-technical (Geochemical Results)
Series 10:
Recovery Plant
Physical Description: 0 cubic ft.
Scope and Content Note
No documents were found associated with this Galactic file index designation.
Series 11:
Photographs,
1988-1990 and undated
Physical Description: 2.9 cubic ft.
Scope and Content Note
This series consists of three types of photographic materials: aerial prints, negative transparencies, and 35mm and Polaroid
photographic prints. The aerial photographs were taken on October 18, 1988 by McLean-Harper aerial photography. They include
almost 400 views of the project site taken at 1:10800 scale; over 360 are reproduced as 9 ¼ X 9 ¼ color prints. Another five
oblique views are reproduced only as black and white 9 ¼ X 9 ¼ prints, along with black and white prints of some views found
in the color print files. The prints are numbered, apparently by location (sector)-view (section) (e.g. 14-4 or 2-5). There
are also nine negative transparencies of aerial views of the area at various scales created for BCMC by Carl's Blueprinting,
likely for map creation. There are also over 900 photographic prints (35mm and Polaroid). Approximately 69 are miscellaneous
photographic prints in loose form, including 44 3X5 (35mm) color prints of a "Bodie Old Timers" picnic, 21 Polaroid prints
from a file labeled "Project Acquisition Documents" showing the project site, and four Polaroid prints of "Bodie Office Alternatives"
showing various buildings in the Lee Vining and Bridgeport area. There are also three photo albums of Polaroid prints. The
first two contain over 800 images of ore samples in storage boxes. These ore samples are presumably the same samples bought
by DPR and loaned to UC Davis. The samples are numbered with a code corresponding to their drill hole; e.g. the letters in
BGC-89-135 refer to a B "Bodie" hole, drilled by G "Galactic," with C referring to the type of hole ("Core"). The number "89"
means it was drilled in 1989, and "135" is the overall hole number. The final album contains miscellaneous Polaroid prints
of the project site area, probably taken by Steve Mehls of WCRM during the archeological survey.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by subject. Aerial photographs are arranged by location and view. Polaroid photographs of ore samples
are arranged by drill hole number.
Box 24 : 1-360
Aerial Photos: 360 9 ¼ X 9 ¼ Color Prints1988
Box 25 : 1-10
Aerial Photos: 9 ¼ X 9 ¼ Black and White Prints, Oblique views 1-5 (2 copies each)1988
Box 25 : 11-17
Aerial Photos: 9 ¼ X 9 ¼ Black and White Prints, Labeled 7-10-7-161988
Box 25 : 18-24
Aerial Photos: 9 ¼ X 9 ¼ Black and White Prints, Labeled 8-9-8-151988
Box 25 : 25-29
Aerial Photos: 9 ¼ X 9 ¼ Black and White Prints, Labeled 15-1-15-51988
Box 25 : 30-35
Aerial Photos: 9 ¼ X 9 ¼ Black and White Prints, Labeled 16-1-16-51988
Box 26
2 oversized albums containing approximately 500 and 300 Polaroid prints of ore samples from drill holes
Box 27
Oversized album: "Steve's Crime File" 38 Polaroid prints; small box of Photographic prints:Bodie Old Timers (44) Project Acquisition
Documents (21) Bodie Office Alternatives (4)
Series 12:
Historical,
1984-1992 and undated
Physical Description: 1.6 cubic ft.
Scope and Content Note
This series includes both "historical" records given to Galactic from Homestake Mining Company and reference materials collected
by BCMC. The "historical" materials include newspaper clippings on Mono County from the mid 1980s, Mono County guidebooks
and pamphlets, some internal Homestake correspondence and memos up to 1986, use permits, short internal reports, and information
on the "Bodie Prospect," including an estimated mineral inventory. There are also some Homestake correspondence and memos
relating to the sale of the Bodie interests to Galactic. Historical materials also include Homestake's internal Draft Environmental
Reconnaissance Report, including notes and maps, and collected information (mainly from BLM) on archeology, history, land
use, soils, vegetation, wildlife, and population. There are also USGS reports on hydrochemistry, and other water code reference
materials. The "historical" files also include a small number of Galactic memos and correspondence regarding the Bodie purchase,
most of which is found in other series. The series also includes reference materials found among BCMC's files, including materials
on mining, historic resource management, California environmental laws, and a draft EIR for another mining project in the
area.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by subject, and chronologically within each subject topic.
Box 22 : 12-22
12.0 Historical- Homestake, Treadwell, Etc.
Box 22 : 12
Correspondence, Notes, and Memos on Bodie Purchase1988
Box 22 : 13
Homestake Correspondence and Memos on Bodie 1985-1986
Box 22 : 14
Homestake Information on Bodie "Prospect"1987-1988
Box 22 : 15
Newspaper Clippings on Mono County- 1985-1986
Box 22 : 16
Mono County Guidebooks and Pamphlets
Box 22 : 17
Homestake Draft Environmental Reconnaissance Report1986
Box 22 : 18
EIR/EIS Reference Materials Collected by Homestake
Box 22 : 19
Reference Materials from Homestake- Air and Earthquake
Box 22 : 20
Reference Materials from Homestake- Mono County/Mammoth Lakes
Box 22 : 21
Reference Materials from Homestake- Population Studies
Box 22 : 22
Reference Materials from Homestake- Water Issues
Box 22 : 23-25
12.0 Historical- Homestake, Treadwell, Etc.
Box 22 : 23
"Field Notes of the Survey of the Palfrey Quartz Mine, Mono County CA, 1879" Bodie Mineral Survey, Vol. I, reprint
Box 22 : 24
"Field Notes of the Survey of the Russian Quartz Mine, Mono County, CA, 1879" reprint
Box 22 : 22
"Concept of Discovery and Mineral in Character as Related to Small Gold Mines" Evans, 1985
Box 23 : 1
"A History and Evaluation of the Mono Mills and Railroad Logging District, Inyo National Forest, CA" William Sawyer1988
Box 23 : 2
"Discovery Location Recordation and Assessment Work for Mining Claims in California" BLM1989
Box 23 : 3
"Solid Mineral Reclamation Handbook" BLM1992
Box 23 : 4-5
"Managing Historical Resources" BLM Training Guide1989
Box 23 : 6
"Historic Sites Survey and National Historic Landmarks Program- A History" NPS1984
Box 23 : 7
"Bodie State Historic Park Resource Management Plan" DPR1979
Box 23 : 8
"Wilderness Recommendations- Benton-Owens Valley Bodie-Coleville Study Areas- Final EIS" BLM1987
Box 23 : 7
Castle Mountain Project Draft EIS/EIR1989
Box 23 : 8
Castle Mountain Project Draft EIS/EIR, Summary and Appendix E1989
Box 23 : 9
"A Preservationists' Guide to the California Environmental Quality Act" Rubens1991
Box 23 : 10
The CEQA Environmental Quality Act" OPR1986
Box 23 : 11
"California Environmental Laws"1989
Series 13:
Restricted Items
Physical Description: .3 cubic feet
Scope and Content Note
This series consists of documents that are permanently restricted and unavailable for public use.