The residents of Nevada County are putting up a fight to stop the return of the Gold Rush. They argue that any attempts to restore old gold mines would come at the cost to the environment and their lives. Their resentment is directed towards Rise Gold Corp, a Canadian company seeking an 80-year permit to operate the mine seven days a week.
Currently, the company owns 4 square miles of subsurface mineral rights that extend beneath homes and businesses. It is such factors that make the locals fight all efforts to restore the mines. Under the umbrella is MineWatch, a group that opposes the Grass Valley project.
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Rise Grass Valley has been seeking a permit to reopen the mines over the past five years without success. The people of Nevada County have rejected the company. They argue that restarting the mines would damage their groundwater or lead to the depletion of the resource.
Ben Mossman, Rise Gold Corp.’s chief executive, said the project will create over 300 new jobs, but won’t be building housing.
“If you could put this mine back in production as it was when it closed, it would be one of the top gold mines in the world. This is a major mine,” said Mossman.
Recently, a draft environmental report showed that the mine could significantly affect wells on about 30 properties. The report also outlines other negative environmental impacts that the mine would have. With such issues coming out, it has become paramount for the locals to stand up and fight against the proposal.
Via Washington Post
