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BLM schedules public meetings for Elk City gold mine proposal 4/7/2008 COTTONWOOD, ID – The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Cottonwood Field Office has initiated a public scoping period concerning a Plan of Operations (Plan) involving an open pit gold mine in the Elk City area. Elk City Mining, LLC (ECM) has submitted a Plan to reactivate their mining use, including cyanide heap leaching operations, on their mining claims in Buffalo Gulch. The claims are approximately 2.5 miles northwest of Elk City, Idaho. ECM is headquartered in Lewiston, Idaho. According to Stephanie Connolly, BLM Field Manager in Cottonwood, “Elk City Mining is proposing to develop their mining claims that were previously permitted in 1990. Due to the length of time between the original permit and their current proposal, we are asking the public to provide issues and concerns for us to consider when completing the environmental review and analysis.” Because ECM wants to advance to full-scale operations, Connolly continued, “Public scoping is needed to determine if there are new or different issues that are relevant today that were not addressed in the previous NEPA analysis.” Connolly has planned two open-house style public meetings where representatives from the BLM and ECM will provide a project overview and background information on ECM’s gold mine plan. BLM and ECM staff will also be available to answer questions about the project. “We’ve planned these meetings so we can share information about the project, allow the public to review the maps and allow time for interaction with the public,” stated Connolly. The meetings are scheduled as follows: April 9, 2008 6 to 9 p.m. at 416 USFS Drive, Elk City, Idaho April 10, 2008 6 to 9 p.m. at the Super 8 Motel, 801 W. South 1st Street, Grangeville, Idaho. A copy of the ECM’s Proposed Plan of Operations, the BLM Scoping Notice and the 1990 Environmental Assessment are available for review at the BLM Cottonwood Field Office. Issues and concerns about the Proposed Plan of Operations will be accepted by the BLM through April 25, 2008. Please send comments to Stephanie Connolly, BLM Cottonwood Field Manager at 1 Butte Drive, Cottonwood, Idaho 83522. For further information about the project, contact Scott Sanner, BLM Project Lead, at (208) 769-5032 or email scott_sanner@blm.gov. The Scoping Notice and 1990 Environmental Assessment will also be made available on the BLM website at www.blm.gov/id/st/en/fo/cottonwood.html. |
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