Activists block Crown Jewel mine

Environmental activists intent on preventing development of the Crown Jewel gold mine in northwestern Washington state have filed an action in U.S.

District Court against the U.S. Forest Service.

The action is intended to appeal the Forest Service’s record of decision and the final environmental impact statement (EIS), and seeks “injunctive relief restraining the Forest Service from approving or authorizing any action related to the project.”

Situated 25 miles east of Oroville, Crown Jewel is a joint venture in which Battle Mountain Gold (BMG-N) is earning a 54% interest from Crown Resources (CRO-T).

In May, the Forest Service issued a record of decision and the final EIS in favor of development. The action denied four appeals filed in March by local and state environmental groups, and a local native group.

These same groups, spearheaded by the Okanagan Highlands Alliance, launched the legal action challenging the Forest Service.

Karl Elers, chairman of Battle Mountain, says the appeal raises the same claims, such as water usage and quality, and wildlife issues that were denied by the Forest Service.

Ian Bayer, the company’s president, says the impact and duration of these appeals are “difficult to predict.”

Undaunted, Battle Mountain has reached a scheduling agreement with state permitting agencies.