BLM's Public Scoping Period for Relief Canyon Mine Expansn Pershing Gold Announces Start of BLM's Public Scoping Period for Relief Canyon Mine Expansion
Pershing Gold Corporation
LAKEWOOD, Colo., Aug. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Pershing Gold Corporation (PGLC) (7PG1.F) ("Pershing Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Winnemucca District, Humboldt River Field Office of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") has initiated a 30-day public scoping period to seek public comments on Pershing Gold's proposed Plan of Operations Modification related to an expansion of the Relief Canyon Mine. BLM issued a news release on August 14, 2015, (see: https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/info/newsroom/2015/august/winnemucca__blm_announces.html), which serves as the official commencement of the public scoping period.
"We are pleased that BLM has started the public comment period and the process to evaluate our Plan of Operations Modification for the Relief Canyon Mine Expansion," stated Stephen Alfers, Chairman, CEO, and President of Pershing Gold. "We look forward to working with BLM as they review our proposed expansion plan and conduct the required environmental review."
Pershing Gold's Plan of Operations Modification includes the following proposed activities:
- Expand the footprint of the existing pit area by approximately 68.3 acres (41.2 public, 27.1 private);
- Develop a new waste rock storage area (Waste Rock Area 5) on 95.7 acres of private land;
- Improve the closure design for the old heaps by covering them with approximately three feet of overburden and waste rock, which will serve as a hold and release type of evapotranspiration cover;
- Drill one or more new water supply wells as necessary to augment or replace the existing wells which will be impacted by mining activities;
- Install additional piezometers as necessary to augment the existing array or replace some piezometers which will be impacted by mining activities;
- Improve site communications by installing radio repeater hardware;
- Add wireless links to the production wells, crushing systems and process plant;
- Construct new growth media stockpiles, diversion ditches for storm water control, and reconfigure certain roads and fence lines necessary for the expanded facilities;
- Construct new exploration drill roads and sites;
- Construct an on-site analytical laboratory;
- Relocate and expand the on-site warehouse facilities;
- Develop a new on-site Class III landfill that will be integrated into Waste Rock Storage Area 5;
- Potentially process ores from other sites on the existing heap leach facilities (toll leaching); and
- Close and reclaim all project facilities at the completion of the operation.
BLM's news release invites the public to submit written comments on the Plan of Operations Modification within 30 days to Lorence Busker, BLM's Project Lead, at 5100 E. Winnemucca Boulevard, Winnemucca, NV 89445 or e-mail: wfoweb@blm.gov with Relief Canyon Mine Expansion (Busker) in the subject line.
As explained in BLM's news release, the agency has also distributed a "Dear Interested Public" letter and a map, both of which are also available on BLM's NEPA webpage at https://1.usa.gov/1NrpZHI. Additionally, a copy of the Relief Canyon Plan of Operations Modification can be reviewed at the Winnemucca District Office during regular business hours. Mr. Busker is available at (775) 623-1500 for more information.