Gold Mine’s Opening in Boise Forest Put Off

By The Idaho Statesman, Boise

Oct. 8–Changes in the mining plans of Atlanta Gold Co. (“Gold mine officials commit to clean up arsenic near Atlanta,” July 7) has delayed the projected opening of a gold mine in the Boise National Forest until at least 2007.

The U.S. Forest Service is conducting an environmental review of Atlanta Gold’s plans to spend $41 million to mine as much as 100,000 ounces of gold annually for 51/2 years. The firm plans to build two open pits where mines have operated on and off since 1864. It would leach the gold from the ore by seeping cyanide solution through crushed ore on a lined pad.

Critics worry about the cyanide process and its potential to add pollution to the Boise River, a growing source of drinking water for Boise residents. Atlanta Gold had said previously it planned to begin production at its mine near Atlanta in 2006.

But changes it has made in the mining plans have delayed environmental review, said Terry Hardy, the U.S. Forest Service’s project manager.

“This has been going a little slower than we hoped, but it’s moving,” said Bruce Thorndycraft, Atlanta Gold general manager.

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