bike,
Nope. Registration fee/license fee....pure semantics. Same ole, same ole.
Nope. I stand by what I said. What you are talking about is apples vs oranges. One has nothing to do with the other.
True, states do issue mining permits....in fact if memory serves me correctly, PHGI received one from the State of Utah, but is their mine not on Federal lands? Most states require both Federal and State mining permits.
In the conference call, it was my impression that the talk was about the Federal ones.
Ok, gotta go. Have fun!