BLM seeks public comment for Castle Mountain Mine proposal
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Needles, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management is seeking comment on a proposed modification to the Plan of Operations for the Castle Mountain Mine located in San Bernardino County. The 30-day public comment period will end on May 20.
The mine, owned by Castle Mountain Venture, is an authorized 1,375-acre open pit gold mine that was approved in 1990 and then expanded in 1998. The mine has not produced gold since 2001.
Castle Mountain Mine’s proposed actions include restarting its operations within the previously approved footprint; updating the status of revegetation research; and modifying the reclamation strategy, mining methods, scheduling, and the groundwater-monitoring plan.
In reviewing this proposal, the BLM has drafted a Determination of NEPA Adequacy (DNA) to determine if the existing 1990 and 1998 Environmental Impact Statements’ that approved the mine adequately analyzed the expected impacts associated from restarting operation of the mine.
The proposal and DNA are available for review online through ePlanning, or by visiting the Needles Field Office, 1303 S. Hwy 95, Needles, CA 92363. The public can also mail comments to the same address as listed above with ATTN: Casey Loofbourrow, email comments to cloofbourrow@blm.gov, or fax 760-326-7099.
The public is reminded that personal addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and other personal identifying information included in submitted comments may be made publicly available at any time. The public may request the BLM withhold personal identifying information from public review; however, the BLM cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.