Ely District Office
| Contacts: | Chris Hanefeld | , (775) 289-1842 | , chris_hanefeld@nv.blm.gov |
BLM Prepares EA for Winrock/Casino Mine Plan Amendment
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Egan Field Office is preparing an environmental assessment to amend the mine plan for the Winrock/Casino Mine, located alongside Ruby Marsh Road about 10 miles south of the Ruby Marshes. The amendment would provide for an additional 13.9 acres of disturbance within existing mine boundaries through mineral exploration.
The Winrock/Casino Mine was permitted in 1991 and reclaimed in 1993. Reclamation monitoring continues, though mine owner Barrick Gold, Inc. has since relocated most of the reclaimed leach pad to be used as base material for the Mooney Basin Mine, located south of the Winrock/Casino Mine.
The cost of reclaiming the additional disturbed areas will be added to existing bond requirements. Site-specific clearances for archaeological resources, noxious weeds and wildlife will be provided by the mine owner as specific locations are developed. Exploration could take up to five years.
For more information, contact Lynn Bjorklund, BLM Ely District environmental protection specialist, at (775) 289-1893 or at Lynn_Bjorklund@nv.blm.gov.
The BLM manages more land - over 245 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Ely District Office 702 N. Industrial Way, HC 33 Box 33500, Ely, NV 89301