Project Description
North Operations Area EIS
Barrick Gold Corporation 

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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ely District published a notice in the Federal Register on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, announcing the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the North Operations Area for review and comment. 

The BLM will accept written comments on the FEIS for 30 days following the publication of the Environmental Protection Agency Notice of Availability in the Federal Register which published concurrently with BLM’s notice on Friday, Nov. 13.
 
The Proposed Action would result in combining the Bald Mountain Mine and Mooney Basin Plan of Operations boundaries to become the North Operations Area Project. The Proposed Action would result in an increase of disturbances from 4,160 acres to 8,080 acres. Existing facilities, including pits, rock disposal areas, heap leach pads, processing facilities, and interpit areas are proposed to be expanded. New facilities under the Proposed Action would include one new pit, four new rock disposal areas, haul roads, topsoil stockpiles, and a remote truck shop facility.

Alternatives that were analyzed in this DEIS include the Proposed Action, No Action Alternative, Backfill Alternative, and the Mooney Basin Heap Leach Pad Alternative. The preferred alternative identified in the Final EIS is the Backfill Alternative.  The final decision will be documented in a Record of Decision after consideration of any final comments.

Copies of the FEIS are available from the BLM Ely District Office, or from the Ely District Website.  Please contact:

Lynn Bjorklund
Ely District Office
775-289-1800
Lynn_Bjorklund@nv.blm.gov