RENO,Nev.—State regulators have ordered the closure of a northeast Nevadagold mine because it failed to meet a deadline to install equipmentrequired to reduce mercury emissions.

The Nevada Division ofEnvironmental Protection confirmed Monday that the Jerritt Canyon Minewas directed to cease operations by midnight May 30.

NDEP hadissued an order in March 2008 to Queenstake Resources USA of Elko—asubsidiary of the Canada-based Yukon-Nevada Gold Corp. It requiredinstallation of the new emission control systems by the end of thatyear at the mine 50 miles north of Elko.

State officials hadallowed operations to resume at the mine in March of this year based onassurances the new equipment would be in place by May 30, but now haverescinded that decision.


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