BLM Seeks Comments for Rain Mine Environmental Assessment
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ELKO, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management, Elko District, Tuscarora Field Office is in the process of preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate impacts of the Rain Mine Closure. Public scoping is now open and public comment will be accepted until February 11, 2017.
Newmont Mining Company has submitted an amendment to the Rain Mine Plan of Operations for Final Closure and Alternatives. The Rain Mine is located in Elko County approximately 18 air miles south west of Elko NV and 10 miles southeast of Carlin, NV. The Rain Mine ceased operations in 2004 and reclamation and closure of minor mine facilities has continued since then. Approximately 183 acres of public land and 755 acres of private lands were disturbed during mine operations.
The proposed Rain Mine final closure plan amendment includes the culmination of extensive analyses of numerous alternatives put forth to remediate the Acid Rock Drainage (ARD) from the North Waste Rock Disposal Facility (NWRDF). This proposal also covers final reclamation of the Heap Leach Pad (HLP) and the Tailing Storage Facility (TSF)
The NWRDF and HLP have been reclaimed, however depending on which alternative is chosen for final closure, some reworking of these reclaimed areas may be necessary.
The proposed action for reclamation of the NWRDF would entail building a pipeline from the NWRDF to the Emigrant Mine Water Treatment Plan (WTP) where acid drainage would be treated in and used at the Emigrant Mine. Additionally, the existing NWRDF would be re-worked and enhanced with targeted partial improvement on the cover surface which would include amending areas that have thin, bare or coarse vegetation cover, re-grading the surface to eliminate ponding and re-working drainage courses on the surface to increase run-off and reduce infiltration.
The Final Closure plan would begin immediately upon approval of the amendment and continue until the ARD seepage from the NWRDF is non-existent or meets NDEP standards. This area does not include any Wild Horse Herd Management Areas.
For more information regarding the proposed Rain Mine final closure plan amendment at: http://bit.ly/2iaqN9L.
Comments can be emailed to TuscFO_NEPA@blm.gov or submitted to BLM, Attn.; Tom Schmidt, 3900 E. Idaho St., Elko, NV 89801.
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.