Contact:  Doran Sanchez (909) 697-5220 or Jan Bedrosian (916) 978-4616

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Imperial County have jointly published the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (FEIS/EIR) on the proposed Imperial Project, an open-pit, heap leach gold mining operation in Imperial County.

The project, proposed by Glamis Imperial Corporation, is located on BLM-administered public lands in eastern Imperial County approximately 45 miles northeast of El Centro, Calif. and 20 miles northwest of Yuma, Ariz. 

The FEIS/EIR analyzes four alternatives: the west pit alternative, the east pit alternative, the complete pit backfill alternative, and the no action alternative. 

The document identifies the no action alternative, i.e., denial of the company's proposed plan of operations,  as BLM's preferred alternative based on the finding that the company's proposed action, even with the application of additional mitigation measures, would result in significant adverse impacts to Native American archeological and cultural resources considered sacred to the nearby Quechan Indian Tribe and other sensitive resources.

BLM Desert District Manager Tim Salt said BLM expects to issue a decision on the project soon after public comments are analyzed and considered.  He pointed out that although the agency preferred alternative is no action, BLM will carefully consider all four alternatives as required by the National Environmental Policy Act  before rendering a final decision.

Notice of availability of the FEIS will be published in the Federal Register Nov. 17, 2000.  Public comments will be accepted on the FEIS at the BLM's El Centro Office at 1661 S. 4th Street, El Centro, CA 92243, until close of business on Dec. 18, 2000.

The proposed project, to be located on 1,571 acres of unpatented mining claims held by Glamis Imperial, would include the mine and process area, including open pits, waste rock stockpiles, topsoil stockpiles, heap leach pads, administrative and maintenance facilities, a precious metal recovery plant, haul roads, an electrical substation, distribution lines and other associated facilities.   Up to 150 million tons of ore would be mined and leached, and 300 million tons of waste rock mined and deposited on stockpiles.