Gold mine pollution hearing scheduled

[NVMojo]

CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Environmental Commission plans to hold a hearing on Wednesday regarding claims by a mining industry watchdog group that a state agency failed to prevent pollution from a closed gold mine in Elko County from reaching the Humboldt River.

The commission will hear an appeal filed by Great Basin Mine Watch that challenges the state Environmental Protection Division's oversight of the old Big Springs Mine, owned by the AngloGold Ashanti corporation.

The open pit mine, which hasn't operated for 10 years, is one of many holdings of AngloGold Ashanti, a global company with assets in key gold producing regions in 10 countries.

The state division issued a permit in July that authorized permanent closure of the mine about 60 miles north of Elko, but Great Basin Mine Watch said the division failed to deal with continuing discharges of polluted water from the mine that runs into the north fork of the Humboldt.

"It's been a decade now that they have been illegally polluting into the Humboldt River," said Elyssa Rosen, senior policy adviser for Great Basin Mine Watch. She added the pollutants include elevated levels of salt, selenium, arsenic and manganese, which are all toxic to aquatic life in high concentrations.

more...
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Mar-28-Tue-2006/news/6576621.html