BLM holding open houses on Hycroft Mine expansion environmental impact statement

BLM NEWS RELEASE

WINNEMUCCA — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Winnemucca District (WD), Black Rock Field Office, will hold three open houses from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., on May 10, at the Lovelock Community Center in Lovelock, on May 11, at the Gerlach Community Center in Gerlach, and on May 12, at the Winnemucca Convention Center in Winnemucca.  The purpose of the open houses is to share information about the current proposal, answer questions and allow publics to provide input.  A short introduction to the proposal will begin at 6:15 p.m.

Hycroft Resources and Development, Inc. proposes to expand the existing open pit gold mine operation and associated disturbance of 1,371 acres by an additional 2,041 acres to encompass a total of 3,412 acres on public land, and increase acres of disturbance on private land controlled by Hycroft to 1,812 acres.  The proposed project could extend the mine life 12 years and provide an additional 340 jobs.

Preliminary issues identified by the BLM include the potential for waste rock, heap leach or pit walls to produce acid rock drainage or heavy metals; potential visual impacts to the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon-Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area and the Black Rock Wilderness Area; and potential impacts to sage grouse habitat.

Individuals who need special assistance such as sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodations should contact Lisa Ross at 775-623-1541 no later than one week before the start of each meeting.

For further information, please contact Kathleen Rehberg, Project Lead, at 775-263-1500.