TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Gold-miner Barrick Gold has received a record of decision (RoD) approving the environmental-impact statement for its Cortez Hills project, in Nevada, the group announced on Wednesday.

The RoD is effective November 12, and is a “vitally important achievement”, Barrick North America president Greg Lang said in a statement.

“The Cortez Hills project creates new economic development and job opportunities in rural Nevada at a time when other industry projects in Nevada are being shelved and jobs are being lost."

Barrick expects to start producing gold at the $500-million mine in 2010, and estimates an average output of 1-million ounces a year for the first five full years of operation.

The group said on Wednesday that the certain environmental activists had threatened litigation against the approval of the Cortez Hills EIS, but added that the company will “vigorously and expeditiously” oppose any challenge.

Barrick, the world's biggest gold producer, ousted Newmont Mining from the top spot in 2006, when it bought smaller rival Placer Dome.

The group has 27 operating mines and is planning or building new ones in Tanzania, the Dominican Republic, Argentina, the US and Chile, as it seeks to boost flagging output levels.

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