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Two state agencies say their concerns about wildlife, habitat, people and economics were not addressed in a draft report on the environmental impacts of reopening the Idaho-Maryland Mine.
Officials from the California Department of Fish and Game and the Department of Parks and Recreation both expressed concern that draining water out of old mine shafts could harm habitat and creatures in Wolf Creek within Grass Valley city limits.
They also fear the mine water could do harm along the south fork of Wolf Creek, which runs parallel to Bennett Street and Colfax Avenue and then runs into Wolf Creek in downtown Grass Valley.
The agency fears “possible mine effluent pollution from the de-watering activities into the South Fork Wolf Creek,” despite plans of the Idaho-Maryland Mining Corp. to put the mine water through two new treatment plants before sending it into the creek.
The treated water would meet state standards before being dumped into the waterway, mine president David Watkinson said.
“The quantity of flow will also be looked at” because of state concerns it could disrupt the creek bed and corridor there, Watkinson said Friday. The “normal comments” for the state agencies will be addressed whether they occur in a reissued draft or the final Environmental Impact Report, he said.
“We want to make sure it’s a good project for the community, so we’ll continue to answer these questions as we go through the process,” Watkinson said.
The state agencies have asked for a revision of the draft environmental report for the proposed reopening of the historic mine. The California Parks Department owns land adjacent to the South Fork along Bennett Road just outside the city limits.
The city’s staff will make a recommendation to the Planning Commission on whether to accept the draft report as soon as comments have been gone through, Mayor Lisa Swarthout said. City officials have estimated that could happen this spring.
Fish and Game asked for more information on cumulative impacts to species and an alternative design to reduce the water discharge into the creeks.
The Parks Department wants the entire report to be reissued to the public, a process that would slow down the mine’s timeline of opening for production in three to four years.
“Our analysis of the draft EIR concludes that significant impacts to the resources of Empire Mine State Historic Park, and to the health and safety of the park’s visitors, employees and residents, may result,” the Parks Department said in written comments to the city about the draft EIR.
The Parks Department also expressed concern about the project possibly decreasing visitation to the Empire Mine State Historic Park due to perceived noise, air quality and wildfire threats.
The park has about 100,000 visitors per year, the department said, and losing the money they generate could negatively impact Nevada County economics.
The cry to reissue the report has been made already by county environmental groups, including the Sierra Fund and Claim-GV.
“We’re pretty sure they’re going to have to recirculate,” Claim-GV representative Bob Bogart said Friday. “Fish and Game and Parks and Rec say the draft report leaves out a lot, and they (the mine owners) have to do it right.”
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call 477-4237.
Officials from the California Department of Fish and Game and the Department of Parks and Recreation both expressed concern that draining water out of old mine shafts could harm habitat and creatures in Wolf Creek within Grass Valley city limits.
They also fear the mine water could do harm along the south fork of Wolf Creek, which runs parallel to Bennett Street and Colfax Avenue and then runs into Wolf Creek in downtown Grass Valley.
The agency fears “possible mine effluent pollution from the de-watering activities into the South Fork Wolf Creek,” despite plans of the Idaho-Maryland Mining Corp. to put the mine water through two new treatment plants before sending it into the creek.
The treated water would meet state standards before being dumped into the waterway, mine president David Watkinson said.
“The quantity of flow will also be looked at” because of state concerns it could disrupt the creek bed and corridor there, Watkinson said Friday. The “normal comments” for the state agencies will be addressed whether they occur in a reissued draft or the final Environmental Impact Report, he said.
“We want to make sure it’s a good project for the community, so we’ll continue to answer these questions as we go through the process,” Watkinson said.
The state agencies have asked for a revision of the draft environmental report for the proposed reopening of the historic mine. The California Parks Department owns land adjacent to the South Fork along Bennett Road just outside the city limits.
The city’s staff will make a recommendation to the Planning Commission on whether to accept the draft report as soon as comments have been gone through, Mayor Lisa Swarthout said. City officials have estimated that could happen this spring.
Fish and Game asked for more information on cumulative impacts to species and an alternative design to reduce the water discharge into the creeks.
The Parks Department wants the entire report to be reissued to the public, a process that would slow down the mine’s timeline of opening for production in three to four years.
“Our analysis of the draft EIR concludes that significant impacts to the resources of Empire Mine State Historic Park, and to the health and safety of the park’s visitors, employees and residents, may result,” the Parks Department said in written comments to the city about the draft EIR.
The Parks Department also expressed concern about the project possibly decreasing visitation to the Empire Mine State Historic Park due to perceived noise, air quality and wildfire threats.
The park has about 100,000 visitors per year, the department said, and losing the money they generate could negatively impact Nevada County economics.
The cry to reissue the report has been made already by county environmental groups, including the Sierra Fund and Claim-GV.
“We’re pretty sure they’re going to have to recirculate,” Claim-GV representative Bob Bogart said Friday. “Fish and Game and Parks and Rec say the draft report leaves out a lot, and they (the mine owners) have to do it right.”
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call 477-4237.
