Draft EIS submitted for Crown Jewel mine

The long-awaited environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Crown Jewel gold mine in Washington state has finally been received.

The 1,000-page document, prepared over a period of three years, is the culmination of efforts by the U.S. Forest Service and the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Ownership of the joint-venture project is split 54-46 by Battle Mountain Gold (NYSE) and Crown Resources (TSE), respectively. The deposit contains 9.1 million tons of ore grading 0.182 oz. gold per ton.

The EIS addresses the environmental concerns posed by the proposed operation and highlights several mine development alternatives. Publication of the document will be followed by a 60-day period during which time citizens are asked to submit comments expressing their concerns. Information meetings will be held this summer in several Washington communities.

The joint venture was also notified that the Secretary of Interior, Bruce Babbitt, has signed the “first-half final certificate mineral patent application” covering 196 acres of lode claims at the project site. The patent application will be returned to the Washington state office of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for a mineral examination, which is the final step in the process before patents are granted.

Battle Mountain and Crown spent more than US$25 million on exploration and engineering, as part of the patent process.

Completion of the final EIS is projected for March, 1996. Barring any delays, Battle Mountain anticipates startup will occur in 1997.