The Bureau of Land Management Ely District, Egan Field Office announces the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Midway Gold US Inc.’s proposed Gold Rock Mine Project in White Pine County, located about 50 miles west of Ely. The public is invited to comment during a 45-day review period that concludes Monday, March 30.

The BLM has scheduled three public meetings in Nevada, from 5 to 7 p.m. Dates and locations are:

  • Tuesday, March 10, Great Basin Community College, Ely Center, 2115 Bobcat Drive, Ely
  • Wednesday, March 11, Eureka County Courthouse, 10 South Main Street, Eureka
  • Thursday, March 12, Best Western Plus Reno Airport Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, 1981 Terminal Way, Reno

The proposed Gold Rock Mine Project would be constructed and operated in the same geographic area as the reclaimed and closed Easy Junior Mine. The project area consists of a total of 18,745 acres of BLM public lands with the majority of the mine facilities located within a fenced mine area totaling 8,757 acres. A total of 3,946 acres of disturbance would be authorized. The majority of this area would be reclaimed, while a small portion would not.. The draft EIS analyzes Midway’s proposed action, six action alternatives, and the No Action Alternative. The action alternatives were developed to help reduce project-related impacts to greater sage-grouse and mule deer. The Draft EIS also identifies and analyzes a suite of mitigation measures designed minimize the impact of the proposed action and its alternatives.

The projected mining period is 10 years, with associated construction, closure, reclamation and post-closure monitoring periods extending the project life to approximately 48 years. Midway Gold US Inc. estimates that the project would create between 150-250 jobs.

The Draft EIS describes seven action alternatives and is posted on-line at: http://on.doi.gov/1zAxyW9.
For more information on the Gold Rock Mine Project or to obtain a printed copy of the Draft EIS, contact Dan Netcher, BLM Project Manager, at (775) 289-1872 or dnetcher@blm.gov.