The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ely District in Nevada reported on Aug. 6 that it had prepared and published a final environmental impact statement (EIS) regarding a proposal to expand the Robinson mine in Ely.
It began an immediate availability period that, at press time, was set to expire on Sept. 7.
The property is located on private and public lands, and is held by KGHM Robinson Nevada Mining.
“The FEIS analyzes the proposal and alternatives to extend the mine life approximately four additional years beyond its currently anticipated permanent closure in 2024,” the BLM noted in the announcement.
“To accomplish this, the company is proposing renewed mining in the eastern portions of its privately-owned Liberty Pit and a BLM authorization to access and develop two specific areas of nearby BLM-administered land on which to dispose newly generated waste rock.”
It added that KGHM Robinson is also seeking access to the private and public lands that are adjacent to the existing Giroux Wash Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) to obtain soil material to use in increasing the height of the Giroux Wash main impoundment and the surrounding perimeter dams, and also to serve as growth media storage areas for future reclamation.
A draft environmental impact statement on the project was published on Dec. 4, 2020. A 45-day public comment period was held, along with a public meeting that convened online on Jan. 6, 2021. All comments have since been incorporated into the final EIS.Further information on the project can be found at https://go.usa.gov/xvYad.