BLM seeks public comment on Gold Fever Mine financial guarantee release
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ELY, Nev. – The public is invited to comment on the pending final bond release of the Gold Fever Mine, case file NVN-093122, by the Bureau of Land Management Bristlecone Field Office. A Plan of Operations for exploration was initially submitted and approved by the BLM in 2015. All of the placer mine and facilities are located on federal lands administered by the BLM. Gold Fever is near Osceola, about 40 miles east of Ely, Nevada. The 30-day public comment period concludes Monday, Sept. 7, 2020.
A financial guarantee for $6,702 is currently in place with the BLM and is scheduled for full release. As part of the Federal Regulations for financial guarantee release, the public has 30 days to comment before the financial guarantee release procedures may begin. Unless provided substantive evidence that would cause us to reconsider, the Bristlecone Field Office expects to initiate release of the financial guarantee on or after September 7, 2020.
Frank Sharp acquired the mining claims in 2014 and has held all interests in the mining operations, including compliance with the provisions in 43 CFR 3809 during operations, closure, reclamation and abandonment of all the activities described in the Plan.
Reclamation and closure activities were concurrent with mining from 2014 to 2016. An inspection by the BLM in 2016 determined that earthwork reclamation of the site was complete, except for revegetation of the site, and a portion of the financial guarantee was decreased. In September 2017 and September 2018, seeding was completed with marginal success. In 2020, the BLM determined that the reseeded area from 2017 and 2018 is extremely dry and arid, with little to no water. The current financial guarantee in place for the site is inadequate for reseeding or further reclamation efforts; thus, the BLM determined that the Gold Fever Mine under 43 CFR 3809 may be closed and current financial guarantee residing with the BLM could be released.
Interested individuals should address all written comments to the BLM Ely District Office, 702 North Industrial Way, Ely, NV 89301, Attn: Stacy Holt. Submit comments electronically with the subject, “Gold Fever financial guarantee release” to slholt@blm.gov. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying 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.
For more information, contact Stacy Holt, BLM Ely District environmental protection specialist, at (775) 289-1800 or slholt@blm.gov.
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.