| Corey Shuman, Gold Rush Expeditions, the Bureau of Land Management and Underground 2014 |
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We've held off sharing details about the officer's visit and the story behind it until we received the results from a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request we filed with the BLM right after the event. We now have that information in hand and the full story can be told. If you want to skip our description and go right to the e-mail record we received from the BLM please scroll down. Corey Shuman is the owner of Gold Rush Expeditions (GRE) and the National Bureau of Mines. His business is to stake mining claims and then sell them on his web site or eBay. Pretty much all the claims he sells have existing workings and many have structures. He's a very controversial figure. He has butted heads with the BLM, SITLA and other agencies on numerous occasions. He is also particularly hated by members of the National Speleological Society over his claiming and attempted sale of Crystal Ball Cave. For some reason, Corey decided to make a series of false accusations about The Underground Explorers and Underground 2014 to officials at the BLM Barstow Field Office. He first contacted the BLM on Wednesday, October 29th, just one week before Underground 2014. At that time he stated that he recently became aware of the event. That's strange since he'd been signed up on Facebook as attending for months. He also stated that he contacted the organizers which is false since no one from the Underground Explorers has ever spoken to Corey or exchanged e-mails with him. In his first two e-mails he accused us of trespassing on private land and of being an untrained group with the "Audacity of guiding people into mines". He also assured the BLM that our event would "Go south". Unsurprisingly, the BLM already knew about Underground 2014 and the Underground Explorers. They also knew about Corey's troubles with the BLM in Utah and other states. The Desert District Abandoned Mine Lands Program Lead said it best when he called Corey's complaints "the pot calling the kettle black". The BLM e-mailed Corey back a few days later and told him that the event was on private land. This is where everything starts to get bizarre and ominous. Corey then wrote the BLM back and made a series of extraordinary and false claims. He accused us of trespassing on private property to hold Underground 2014. At the same time, he continued to claim that we were on BLM land (which is interesting since he just said we were trespassing on private land). He also claimed that "if this event is anything like previous events, there will be alcohol and illegal substances present. Also, in past events this group has vandalized buildings, destroy and stolen artifacts, and set fire to abandoned structures." Yes, you read that correctly. Corey told the BLM that our events were known for illegal substance abuse, arson, vandalism and destruction of property (plus trespassing of course). You can pick your jaw up off the floor now (just like we had to). Obviously, Corey's claims are patently false and anyone who has followed the Underground Explorers on-line, explored with us or attended one of our open trips or events knows this. His accusations are even more shocking when you consider that Underground 2014 was co-hosted by the Mojave Underground and many of it's members and founders were attending. Those include people Corey calls friends and many that actually do work for him and GRE. In his final e-mail Corey also threatened the BLM that he would disclose the names of BLM officials who know of the event and did nothing to stop it "When something goes south here, and I virtually guarantee it will with this group" . He also stated that he was going to contact the Sheriff and the news media. The topper was his indignant and self-righteous statement that "This blatant disregard for and BLM authority is disgusting, and for a business like my own, who strives to operate within all the required laws, it's offensive.". This truly is the pot calling the kettle black when one considers that GRE has been the subject of numerous investigations and that their previous operation taking people to visit and tour abandoned mines (hence the name Gold Rush Expeditions) was shut down by the BLM due to them not obtaining the proper permits. Several news organizations have reported about troubles between GRE and state and federal agencies... KSL: Investigators probe allegations of claim-jumping Ventura Star: Utah investigators probe gold mining business that's coming to Ventura County KSL: Crystal Ball Cave up for auction on eBay As we already know, it all worked out fine in the end. The BLM dispatched a Law Enforcement Ranger to check on the event and he found no issues. What he did find was a "Squared away group" that was holding a non-commercial event on private land. He also found that we had permission from the owners of all the Shoshone Mines (in fact, one of the owners attended the event and camped with us) to camp and explore on their property. He also found that we'd worked with local officials including the owners of the town of Shoshone and local business owners and that all were fully supportive of the Underground Explorers and Underground 2014. All of the e-mails are reproduced below for your viewing pleasure. We're looking forward to a great Underground 2015 this year and seeing some of our new friends at the BLM in Tecopa.
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From: Corey Shuman <cshuman@goldrushexpeditions.com> |
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From: Corey Shuman <cshuman@goldrushexpeditions.com> |
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White, Sterling <xxxxxx@blm.gov> |
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From: Patrovsky, Joan (xxxxxx@blm.gov) |
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From: Corey Shuman <cshuman@goldrushexpeditions.com> |
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From: <xxxxxx@blm.gov> |
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We're looking forward to a great Underground 2015 and hope to see you all there!
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