Barrick Cortez’s (BCI) new Deep South mine expansion is taking shape.
The Lander County Commission voted unanimously to write a letter of recommendation for the new site to the BLM at the Nov. 29 meeting.
The new Deep South Mine will be located in Lander and Eureka Counties in the Cortez Mining District located 30 miles southeast of Battle Mountain.
According to an Oct. 22 BLM News Release, the project “would consist of new and expanded facilities at the Cortez Hills Mine on BLM-administered lands” with 3,798 acres of increased “mining-related surface disturbance within the Amended Plan of Operations (APO).” Changes in the APO would consist of expansion of pits and waste rock facilities along with expansion of construction and water management facilities.
BCI currently employs around 1,250 people in northern Nevada. According to the BLM Mt. Lewis Field Office’s Public Affairs Specialist Kyle Hendrix, “This expansion would help to preserve those jobs and would also create new full time permanent positions.”
The proposed project is projected to extend the mine life of the current Cortez Gold Mine by 12 years until 2035.
The BLM , however, has identified a slew of “preliminary issues” such as water management, vegetation resources, wildlife, cultural resources, and Native American cultural concerns.
To address these issues, the BLM hosted public input meetings before releasing its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).
These public meeting sessions went over the mine expansion and allowed an opportunity for local concerns to be addressed. “Early public involvement is crucial to identify potential issues that may need to be addressed through the process,” said the Oct. 22 BLM News Release.
Meetings took place in Elko, Battle Mountain, and Crescent Valley in early November.
Comments and documents on the proposal can be viewed at the Mt. Lewis Field Office in Battle Mountain during regular business hours.
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Other Nov. 29 Lander County Commission decisions included:
• Unanimous approval of the use of the Austin Rodeo Grounds for the 2019 MVPA Transcontinental Motor Convoy for overnight use on Sept. 8-9, 2019.
• Approval for government tax departments that are not part of Lander County’s functions into non-profit charge of $200 per day to use the Battle Mountain Civic Center. Commissioners Sean Bakker, Art Clark III, Doug Mills, and Patsy Waits voted “ay” while Judie Allan voted “nay.”
•Approval of a special use permit application for Rural Remedies dba Doc’s Apothecary to operate a medical/recreational marijuana cultivation and production facility on APN 005-500-05, zoned industrial, located on Marshall Canyon Road in Austin, Nevada. Commissioners Art Clark III, Sean Bakker, and Doug Mills voted “ay,” while Commissioners Judie Allan and Patsy Waits voted “nay.”
•The discussion and possible action to approve/disapprove the ordinance 2018-06 amending Section 17.08.020(B) of Lander County Code to include an effective date for the application to existing uses was regarding the provision of parking spaces was tabled.
•Unanimous approval of the request of the District Attorney (Ted Herrera) to declare a critical labor shortage pursuant to NRS 286.523 for the position of Chief Deputy District Attorney for another two-year appointment.
• Approval to modify Lander County Code 8.45.030 and 8.46.030 to allow for a medical/recreational marijuana dispensary establishment in Lander County. Commissioners Sean Bakker, Art Clark III, and Doug Mills voted “ay,” while Commissioners Judie Allan and Patsy Waits voted “nay.”
•Unanimous approval to cancel the Commission meeting date of Jan. 2, 2019 and to thus switch it to Jan. 7, 2019 at 9 a.m. with the swearing-in ceremony to be at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 7.
• Unanimous approval of Resolution 2018-15 establishing a petty cash account for the Lander County Nurse in an amount not to exceed $100.
