Crown Jewel challenge rejected — Ruling cites congressional approval of $160m mine

Partners Crown Resources and Battle Mountain Gold have cleared the latest in a long line of hurdles toward the development of the Crown Jewel gold mine in Washington state.

The latest victory stems from a ruling against a petition filed by a local environmental group before the Department of the Interior’s Board of Land Appeal (IBLA). The challenge by Okanogan Highlands Alliance was directed at the companies’ plan of operations and sought a stay in development of the project on the basis that the proposed US$160-million mine violates U.S. mining law.

At the heart of the appeal was a regulation in the 1872 Mining Law stating that mill site claims cannot outnumber lode claims. A strict interpretation of that regulation by the interior and agriculture departments held up development of the project earlier this year, but the rejection of the companies’ plan of operations on that basis was overturned in May by a congressional committee.

In its ruling, the IBLA refers to the congressional act, stating “unequivocal statutory language clearly expresses Congress’s intent that the Crown Jewel project be approved.”

The mine is scheduled to begin operating in 2001.