Buffalo Gulch Mining Project

1989 Plan of Operations | 1990 Environmental Assessment

Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS - Scoping Period ends September 15, 2008  
Submit Comments Electronically to: ID_Buffalo_Gulch_Mine_Comments@blm.gov  

The BLM Cottonwood Field Office is currently reviewing a proposal from Elk City Mining, LLC (ECM) to advance the Buffalo Gulch Mining Project located on BLM land approximately 2.5 miles northwest of Elk City, Idaho County, Idaho.  ECM’s proposed operations outline open-pit mining and cyanide heap leaching of mined ore to recover gold values on unpatented mining claims in Section 17 (S1/2SE1/4) and Section 20 (NE1/4), Township 29 North, Range 8 East, Boise Meridian.

A Brief History of the Buffalo Gulch Mining Project:  In December of 1989, a Plan of Operations for the Buffalo Gulch Mine was submitted to the BLM by Idaho Gold Corporation.  An Environmental Assessment (EA) of the proposed operations was prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and approved by the BLM on August 30, 1990.  The EA addressed the environmental consequences of the mining project, considered feasible alternatives, and identified mitigation measures required to reduce impacts.  Portions of the Plan of Operations were revised “based upon consultation and review comments received from regulatory agencies”.  The final revisions to the Plan of Operations were received in August, 1990 and the Plan received BLM approval on September 5, 1990.  The Buffalo Gulch Mine, however, never went into production.

In December of 2007, ECM informed the BLM that they had gained “control of the Buffalo Gulch property” and they intend to develop the property under the Plan of Operations that was permitted in 1990.  Due to the length of time between the original permitting and the present proposal to advance to full scale operations (over 17 years), the BLM informed ECM that the project would require a new environmental analysis.  Therefore, the BLM is presently conducting public scoping to determine if there are new or different issues that are relevant today and that were not addressed in the previous NEPA analysis.

The previously approved Plan of Operations (1989) and the Environmental Assessment (1990) are available on a compact disk by calling Scott Sanner, BLM's project lead, at (208) 769-5032. 

Anyone wishing to comment on this proposal may submit comments as follows:  

Send Written Comments to: Stephanie Connolly, Field Manager; Cottonwood Field Office; 1 Butte Drive; Cottonwood, Idaho 83522. 

Submit Facsimile Comments to: Scott Sanner at 208-769-5050.  Please enter “Comments for Buffalo Gulch Mining Project” in the subject line.

Submit Electronic Comments to:  ID_Buffalo_Gulch_Mine_Comments@blm.gov

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time.  While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. 

If you have any questions please contact Scott Sanner, BLM's Project Lead, at 208-769-5032.