The U.S. Forest Service has issued a draft record of decision authorizing a significant expansion of operations at the Stibnite Gold Mine in Central Idaho’s Payette National Forest. If approved, this project could become one of the largest gold, silver and antimony mines in the United States. The draft decision initiates a 45-day public objection period, followed by a 45-day resolution period. The Forest Service aims to finalize its decision by the end of the year. Details for commenting and filing objections are available on the U.S. Forest Service website.
Located near the small town of Yellow Pine, about 45 miles from Cascade and 100 miles from Boise, the Stibnite Gold Mine lies just outside the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. This area is vital for various wildlife species, including salmon, bears, wolves, and eagles.
The proposed plan will impact approximately 3,200 acres, involving the creation and expansion of three open pit mines, an ore processing facility, a tailings storage site, employee housing, an access road, and other infrastructure. The project is planned in three phases: three years of construction, 15 years of mining and processing, and a total of 17 years of surface and underground exploration.
Perpetua Resources, formerly known as Midas Gold, is spearheading the project. The company aims to resume mining at Stibnite, focusing on gold extraction and the U.S. reserve of antimony, a mineral used in various technologies. According to Jon Cherry, President and CEO of Perpetua Resources, the project promises significant benefits for Idaho, the environment, and national security by reducing dependence on Chinese antimony and creating jobs.
However, environmental groups and the Nez Perce Tribe have expressed longstanding concerns. They argue that the mining activities could severely impact the Salmon River watershed, scar public lands, violate Native American treaties, and threaten water quality. Conservationists criticize the plan for extending the disturbed area and potentially rerouting the East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon River through concrete tunnels.
Historical mining at Stibnite, which began during the Thunder Mountain Gold Rush and peaked in the 1930s and 1940s, left a legacy of pollution. Abandoned mining equipment and contaminated rivers and creeks remain from operations that ceased in 1992. Perpetua Resources has committed to cleaning up some of the legacy waste, backfilling pits, and restoring wetlands as part of their proposal. Some cleanup efforts will occur during mining operations, while others will take place post-mining.
