Reno Gazette Journal 5-16-10

Mining projects approved for parts of national forest

Nine mineral exploration projects in Nevada can take place in roadless areas of the largest national forest outside Alaska, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack decided.

Vilsack said the activity in Nevada's Humboldt-

Toiyabe National Forest and five other projects in national forests in Colorado, Utah, Washington and Wyoming were allowed under a 2001 federal rule banning construction of new roads on national forest land.

He said his agency has no discretion to stop mineral exploration activity in the roadless areas because of the 1872 Mining Law, which takes precedence. The law regulates the mining of gold, silver and other hard-rock minerals on public land.

"While the decisions announced allow for mineral exploration in roadless areas, not only does USDA have limited authority to approve or disapprove these activities, but these actions are consistent with the 2001 'Roadless Rule,'" Vilsack said in a statement. He stressed that his agency remains committed to protecting roadless areas.

Marge Sill, wilderness chair of the Sierra Club's Toiyabe chapter in Nevada, criticized Vilsack's approval of the mining exploration projects.

"We already have given permission for mining claims in a lot of places on public lands, and I think that should be sufficient for mining companies," she said. "They should stay out of the roadless areas."

Tim Crowley, president of the Nevada Mining Association, praised Vilsack's action.

"We're glad the secretary approved those projects," he said. "It shows support for the need to continue exploring and finding new reserves of raw materials."

Most of the exploration activity in Nevada involves hard-rock minerals, Crowley said. Nevada ranks fourth in the world in gold production behind South Africa, Australia and China.

U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Christie Kalkowski said there are nearly 3.4 million acres of inventoried roadless areas on the Humboldt-Toiyabe, which is about half of its total area.