Published on June 20, 2017

 

SUPPORT THE STIBNITE GOLD PROJECT TODAY – WRITE TO THE U.S. FOREST

Valley County residents, and Idahoans from other parts of the state, can play a big part in permitting the Stibnite Gold Project (the Project). Public input is critical to the permitting process and it is something federal and state regulators will weigh heavily when evaluating our project.  Currently, you have the opportunity to comment on our project as part of scoping.

What is scoping?

Scoping is the formal process used by the U.S. Forest Service to take the plan we submitted, review the proposal and identify any significant alternatives before developing a final plan, known as a Proposed Action.

Without involvement from everyone, especially those closest to the Project, federal regulators could determine how to shape the final plan based on a small handful of people. Your voice really does matter.

What can you comment on during scoping?

The U.S. Forest Service wants to know what specific environmental, economic and social areas of the Project are important to you. The more specific and detailed you can be the better. Let the U.S. Forest Service know why you think it is important, as well as any specific aspects of the Project that you believe should be brought to their attention.

What is our plan?

You can learn more about our proposed Plan here. Below are some highlights to the Stibnite Gold Project:

• Midas Gold developed the Plan by first determining the ideal environmental restoration of the area and designed mining operations around achieving that goal.
• After 100 years of mining, most of which took place long before environmental regulations and awareness of sustainable practices, the area needs to be cleaned up. Modern mining brings the funding, equipment and workforce to leave the site better than it is today.
• Without redeveloping the site, there is little chance environmental restoration would ever occur.
• Fish, including salmon, have been blocked from migration by the Yellow Pine pit. The Stibnite Gold Project plan restores fish migration for the first time since 1938.
• Currently, the East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon River flows directly into an old mining pit. The project would reclaim the pit and restore the natural flow and gradient of the river for the first time since the 1930s.
• The largest source of sedimentation into the East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon River comes from Blowout Creek. The Stibnite Gold Project proposes to fix the erosion that has been occurring for decades, providing a permanent enhancement to water quality and habitat.
• Upgrading Burntlog Road to access the site was chosen as the best route to protect the rivers and water quality because it avoids traveling along waterways and, instead, only crosses the river in one location.
• Midas Gold Idaho designed the plan to significantly reduce its traffic on public roads by having 90 percent of the workforce commute via company buses from Cascade and creating a logistics facility off Warm Lake Road to consolidate loads.
• The Project will be a major producer of antimony, a material we primarily source from China. Antimony is considered a critical mineral for its use in national defense, aerospace and energy industries. Supply is limited and at-risk due to no domestic source of production and no strategic antimony stockpile.
• During construction and operations, the Project would directly employ 400-500 with annual payroll ranging from $34-42 million.
• The Project will create an estimated 80 indirect jobs for every 100 employees Midas Gold hires. The economic impact will provide widespread opportunities for community development.
• Approximately 76% of the area has been burned by wildfires, increasing erosion and runoff. Midas Gold plans to replant trees throughout the area, improving water quality.

 How do you comment?

Our 45-day scoping period officially started on June 5 and runs through July 20, 2017. If you want to make your voice heard, send in written comments on the Project. You can also attend a public meeting hosted by the U.S. Forest Service.

We encourage everyone to send in their comments by emailing [email protected] with subject line reading “Stibnite Gold EIS Scoping Comment” or by sending a letter to Payette National Forest / ATTN: Forest Supervisor Keith Lannom – Stibnite Gold EIS / 500 N. Mission St., McCall, ID 83638.

The U.S. Forest Service will host three public meetings on the Stibnite Gold Project:

• Tuesday, June 27, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Ashley Inn, 500 North Main Street, Cascade
• Wednesday, June 28, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the U.S. Forest Service Supervisors Office, 500 North Mission Street, McCall
• Thursday, June 29, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express at the Airport, 3050 South Shoshone Street, Boise

As a modern mining company, your feedback is incredibly important to us. We believe we can restore the historic Stibnite Mining District and leave it better than we found it. However, this requires community input and support. We hope you’ll take the time to make your voice heard during this first critical public comment period.