Elko Daily Free Press 6-23-10

BLM begins comment period on Arturo

ELKO - The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has opened a public comment period for preparation of a draft study on Barrick Gold of North America's proposed Arturo Project.

The agency announced three scoping meetings are scheduled on Barrick's plans for a new mine on the site of the reclaimed Dee Mine 45 miles northwest of Elko. Goldcorp Inc. is a partner in the venture.

The time for each meeting is 4-7 p.m. The first will be July 6 in Owyhee at the human development center. Owyhee is on Mountain Time.

The second meeting will be July 7 at the BLM office in Battle Mountain, and the final one will be July 8 at the Elko BLM office.

"We're looking forward to getting the public's comments, and we welcome anyone interested to stop by one of the meetings and give us any comments they have," said Steve Schoen, manager of permitting for Barrick Gold of North America.

Barrick and Goldcorp are planning a surface mine with an 11-year mine life, according to the BLM. The project would widen and deepen the current Dee Pit in Elko County.

"We're bringing life back to an old property," Schoen said.

Barrick is 60 percent owner of Arturo and the project operator. Goldcorp owns the remaining 40 percent. Glamis Gold, which later merged with Goldcorp, operated Dee and reclaimed the site.

Schoen said Barrick hopes to produce roughly 2 million ounces at Arturo and early estimates are the project would employ roughly 350 people.

Barrick's Arturo Project manager, Steve Brower, said earlier Barrick wasn't sure whether Arturo would create new jobs or jobs for current employees.

Plans call for construction of a heap leach pad for processing the lower grade oxide ore, and mill-grade ore will be trucked to the nearby Barrick Goldstrike Mine for processing.

The Arturo Project also would include two waste dumps, new roads, an office complex and shop.

The BLM estimates surface disturbance on public land would total 2,347 acres. Schoen said 715 of those acres will be on previously disturbed ground from past mining, and Barrick will work to keep new disturbance to a minimum.

Barrick currently operates the Storm underground mine at Dee, with JS Redpath Corp. as the contract miner. The portals are in walls of the Dee Pit.

Arturo won't require any dewatering because the area is already dewatered from pumping at Goldstrike and Newmont Mining Corp.'s North Operations Area, Schoen said.

There may be small pit lakes after mining ends at Arturo, however. Schoen said analysis continues regarding pit lakes.

The Tuscarora Field Office of the Elko BLM District will oversee the draft EIS and is accepting public comments until July 21. They may be mailed to John Daniel, Arturo Mine Project Coordinator, 3900 Idaho St., Elko, NV 89801 or faxed to 753-0255. The e-mail address for comments is arturo_eis@blm.gov.