The date for the final record of decision (RoD) for the Stibnite gold project, in central Idaho, has been pushed out by two months to May 2020, explorer and developer Midas Gold reported on Monday, citing an updated schedule from the United States Forest Service (USFS).
The USFS, in cooperation with six other federal, state and local agencies responsible for the permitting of the project, expects to issue a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for public comment in May next year, followed by a final EIS and draft RoD in February 2020.
The extended schedule is to accommodate the review and analysis of additional information requested by the agencies, Midas stated. To date, the company has received 107 requests for additional information, of which it has provided feedback on 103. The rest of the requests will be responded to this month.
Separately, the Forest Service has approved Midas developing the biological assessment, pursuant to its previous designation as the non-federal representative under the Endangered Species Act regulations. The Forest Service still must independently review and approve the biological agreement prior to beginning consultation.
Section 7 consultation is the formal process by which the federal agencies ensure that listed species, and the habitat upon which they depend, are conserved.
“One of our core objectives for the redevelopment and restoration of the Stibnite gold project is to restore fish passage and habitat in the headwaters of the East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon river for the first time since the 1930s, particularly endangered Chinook salmon and bull trout,” said Midas president and CEO Stephen Quin.
“As the project proponent, we are developing the best available scientific information on the project’s conservation objectives and actions to not only safeguard, but enhance, populations and habitat of listed species and restore their historic spawning grounds within the project site. We will continue to provide the highest quality and up-to-date scientific information to the Forest Service and other agencies for their review and approval so that they can advance the appropriate project review under the Endangered Species Act.”
In 2014, a prefeasibility study demonstrated potential for a large-scale, long-life, low-cost openpit gold mine. Midas filed plan of restoration and operations in September 2016, which has launched the formal permitting process for mine development. Stibnite has the potential to produce more than 300 000 oz/y of gold at competitive operating costs, and with added exploration upside.
Midas touts Stibnite as “one of North America’s premier development stories” and in May, Barrick increased its position in Midas to 19.9% to gain access to the Stibnite gold project.