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Pan Mine Project The Ely District, Egan Field Office has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for a Midway Gold, U.S., Incorporated-proposed open-pit gold mine about 50 miles west of Ely, in White Pine County, Nev. The Pan Mine Project would be located on BLM-administered lands and consist of two primary open pits, four satellite pits, one heap leach pad and two rock disposal areas. The total surface disturbance would be approximately 3,204 acres. The projected mining period is 13 years, with associated construction, closure, reclamation and post-closure monitoring periods extending the project life to approximately 25 years. The DEIS describes four alternatives: the Proposed Action, the Waste Rock Disposal Site Design Alternative, the Southwest Power Line Alternative, and the No Action Alternative. The Waste Rock Disposal Site Design Alternative would result in a decrease of 79 acres of disturbance compared to the Proposed Action. It would also involve a more conventional waste rock disposal design and move waste rock away from more important greater sage-grouse habitat. The Southwest Power Line Alternative was developed to addresses concerns of potential impacts to greater sage-grouse from the Proposed Action power line. It is slightly further away and is less visible from two active greater sage-grouse leks. A 45-day public comment period for the project concluded on May 6, 2013. The BLM conducted public comment meetings in Ely and Eureka, Nev. All comments received will be incorporated and addressed in the Final EIS. The Notice of Availability for the Final EIS and Record of Decision will be published in the Federal Register upon completion. For more information, contact Miles Kreidler, BLM Project Manager, at (775) 289-1893 or mkreidler@blm.gov.
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Links of Interest Press Release: BLM Seeks Public's Comments on Proposed Pan Mine Project west of Ely (03-22-13) Press Release: BLM Seeks Public Input on Proposed Pan Mine Project (04-16-12)
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