BLM Issues Decision on Environmental Impact Statement for McEwen Mining Gold Bar Project, Eureka County
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BATTLE MOUNTAIN, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management, Mount Lewis Field Office (MLFO) has completed its analysis of McEwen Mining Inc.’s proposal for the Gold Bar Project (Project). The Project will be located approximately 30 miles northwest of Eureka in the Southern Roberts Mountains in Eureka County, Nevada and is expected to create 120 new jobs.
The Record of Decision (ROD) was signed on November 7, 2017 and allows operations to begin at the Gold Bar site. The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), made available for public review on October 7, 2017, included four alternatives that examined the mine’s range of potential impacts to natural resources in the area, such as water resources, air quality, vegetation, wildlife, livestock grazing, recreation and cultural resources. The BLM’s preferred alternative is the Proposed Action, which includes a number of environmental protection measures and is in line with BLM priorities, including working with our partners to promote multiple-use on public lands, promoting job creation and supporting working landscapes.
Total Project disturbance will be approximately 1,129 acres of surface disturbance with approximately 946 acres on public land administered by the BLM MLFO and 183 acres on private land. The Project includes an open pit gold mine with four open pits; mine access roads; waste rock disposal areas; crushing, screening, and agglomeration facilities; a heap leach facility; an adsorption, desorption, and recovery plant; and ancillary facilities.
The EIS, ROD and other relevant documents are available on the BLM ePlanning webpage at https://go.usa.gov/xnjb8 and hardcopies of these documents are available for review at the MLFO at the above address during regular business hours, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
If you have any questions or require clarification on this EIS, please call Christine Gabriel, Planning and Environmental Coordinator at (775) 635-4000.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.