BLM Drops Draft EIS for Spring Valley Gold Mine in Nevada
Published Date: 2/18/2025
Notice
Summary
The Bureau of Land Management has released a draft report about the Spring Valley Gold Mine project in Pershing County, Nevada. This report looks at how the mine might affect the environment and invites the public to share their thoughts within 45 days after the official announcement. Local communities, nature, and businesses could all see changes, and the project could impact the area’s future for years to come.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Jobs: 130 construction, 250 operations
You could see job opportunities from the project: it would employ about 130 people during the initial two-year construction period and about 250 full-time employees during operations. The project would operate 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, and have a total life of 29 years (2 years construction, 11 years mining, 3 years ore processing, and 13 years reclamation).
Land use: 14,623-acre boundary, 6,232-acre disturbance
If you own or use land in the area, the proposed Plan boundary covers 14,623 acres and the Proposed Action would disturb 6,232 acres in total (4,123 acres on BLM-administered land and 2,109 acres on private land). Exploration activities of up to 50 acres could occur anywhere within that boundary, and two related Plans of Development would disturb an additional 164 acres (102 acres on BLM land and 62 acres on private land).
Road and powerline changes near the project
Local roads and power lines would be changed to support the project: Pershing County's Plan of Development would remove a portion of Spring Valley Road, realign it around the mine, and improve parts of the existing road. NV Energy's Plan of Development would realign portions of two 345-kilovolt transmission lines and construct a new 120-kilovolt transmission line; together the two PODs would disturb 164 acres.
Reclamation must follow BLM and Nevada rules
If the mine proceeds, reclamation of disturbed areas would be completed in accordance with BLM and Nevada Division of Environmental Protection regulations, and concurrent reclamation would occur where practicable and safe.
Tribal and cultural resource consideration
Tribal concerns will be given due consideration: the BLM will consider impacts on Indian trust assets, treaty rights, and potential impacts to cultural resources as part of the Draft EIS and coordination under the National Historic Preservation Act.
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Key Dates
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