WINNEMUCCA — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Winnemucca District, Black Rock Field Office issued a Record of Decision (ROD) approving the Hycroft Mine Expansion Project located in Humboldt and Pershing counties, Nev. Hycroft Resources and Development, Inc., is expanding their existing open pit gold mine operation. The project will extend the mine life about 12 years and provide about 537 jobs.

“This project is important to the local economy and will bring jobs to the Winnemucca area,” said Gene Seidlitz, Winnemucca District Manager. “It is exciting to be able to help the local economy while ensuring that we have conducted a complete and thorough environmental analysis in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.”

According to Seidlitz, the analysis addressed the direct, indirect and cumulative impacts of the associated resources and mitigations measures that were brought forward to ensure the proposed action is environmentally sound. Some of the key concerns with the project included air and water quality, light affecting night skies and being within view of the southeast portion of the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon-Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area.

Mining in the area began in 1875 with the discovery of sulfur at the current Hycroft location. Subsequent mining on the property included silver, mercury and potash. Hycroft has been in operation since 1987.

A Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Hycroft Mine Expansion Project, Humboldt and Pershing Counties, was published in the Federal Register on July 6.

The Hycroft Mine Expansion Record of Decision and approved amendment to the Plan of Operations are posted on the Winnemucca District BLM website at: www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/wfo/blm_information/nepa0.html.

For more information, contact Kathleen Rehberg, project lead, at 263-1500.