Sutter Gold Mine: Operation Update

Monday, 11 December 2006 00:39

Sutter Gold Mine: Operation Update

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The Sutter Gold Mine Company (a subsidiary of U.S. Energy Corporation), in conjunction with numerous landowners, plans to reopen the underground gold mine approximately one mile north of the town of Sutter Creek, formerly the Lincoln Mine. Because of change in landownership at this facility previously approved waste discharge requirements must be revised and updated by the Regional Water Quality Control Board. This update will reflect activities completed since the Waste Discharge Requirements were first adopted some years ago. No changes in the proposed operations or construction of this facility have been proposed, however, when the planned construction occurs according to Regional Board documentation this underground gold mine and processing facility will generate both liquid and solid waste streams that pose a threat to water quality.

According to the Regional Water Board the underground mining operation planned by US Energy will remove highly mineralized ore veins along with the surrounding host rock. Following blasting procedures, documents state that the newly fragmented ore and host rock will be loaded into carts for transportation to two lined processing piles near the mill. The mill will be near the portal of the mine where the ore and host rock will then be crushed and the high-grade ore will be concentrated for metals separation at another facility. The remaining material will be separated based on size for two different disposal procedures. The finer mine waste materials will be slurried and conveyed through a pile line to a seven-acre tailings pond for discharge.

The waste material greater than sand size will be encapsulated in a 5% concrete slurry and placed in the underground workings as a Highly mineralized ore and some surrounding wall rock from underground workings will be removed and processed at a mill near the portal.

A public hearing concerning this matter will be held during the Regional Board meeting which is scheduled for: DATE: 25 and 26 January 2007 TIME: 8:30 a.m. PLACE: 11020 Sun Center Drive, #200 Rancho Cordova, California 95670-6114. Persons wishing to comment on this noticed hearing item shall submit testimony, evidence, if any, and/or comments in writing to the Regional Board no later than 27 December 2006. For more information call Victor Izzo at (916) 464-4626. Interested parties may download the proposed Order and related documents from the Regional Board’s Internet website at http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/centralvalley/tentative/.