Gold mine’s water issues cited by state
A proposed gold mine in Washington’s Okanogan Highlands would alter the water flows in surrounding creeks, and could affect neighbors with senior water rights, according to an assessment released Friday by the state Department of Ecology.
Mitigation may reduce some of Buckhorn Mine’s impacts, the document said. But water rights appears to be the next big fight in the effort to build the mine near Chesaw, Wash. Local environmentalists immediately seized on the water issue and released critical statements.
“The new proposal is similar to past proposals in that it would permanently alter water flows off Buckhorn Mountain and harm senior water rights owners,” said Dave Kliegman, director of the Okanogan Highlands Alliance.
Gold was discovered on the mountain in 1998. Locals have been deeply divided over the proposed mine ever since. Some want the jobs that Buckhorn Mountain would bring to one of the state’s most economically depressed areas. Others want the mountain left alone. Mine proponents say the latest proposal for an underground mine will have less impacts than earlier plans for open-pit mining.
Crown Resources Corp. of Denver owns the deposit. The company wants to remove more than 1 million ounces of gold from the mountain over a seven-year period. About 120 people would work at the mine, where annual wages would be in the $53,000 range. A mill in neighboring Ferry County would employ another 40 people.
The state’s supplemental draft environmental impact on the mine can be viewed at www.buckhornseis.com
Three public open houses have been scheduled to take public comment. They run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the following dates:
• Nov. 15 – Republic Elementary School, multipurpose room, 30306 E. Highway 20, Republic.
• Nov. 16 – Tonasket High School, 35 E. Highway 20, Tonasket.
• Nov. 17 – Paschal Sherman Indian School, 169 N. Omak Lake Road, Omak.
Written comments will be accepted until Dec. 14, and should be sent to Derek Sandison, at Washington Department of Ecology, 15 W. Yakima Ave., Suite 200, Yakima, WA 98902. E-mail comments may be made to BuckhornComments@ecy.wa.gov.