| The American gold mining industry has invested hundreds of millions of
dollars in environmental protection and conservation projects. It has
established or enhanced thousands of acres of wetlands and wildlife
habitat, seeded thousands of acres of native grasses, planted tens of
thousands of native trees and shrubs, and saved, protected and provided
habitat for wildlife ranging from bald eagles and mountain lions to the
desert tortoise, Artic grayling and Western big-eared bats. The rare desert tortoise of Southern California, also
on the threatened list, was saved at the Mesquite Mine, where the
company established a protection program, trained employees in
protection procedures, and provided 800 acres for use as an enhanced
tortoise management area. |
Mining companies’ environmental efforts have resulted in the clean-up
of rivers and streams and enhancement of wetlands. |
The rare desert tortoise is protected under the reclamation initiatives
of the gold mining industry. |
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Protecting Wildlife
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The dramatic Cooper’s Hawk is one of many birds of prey protected in
mining areas.
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Peregrine falcons, once threatened with extinction,
are now flourishing at the Kendall Mine in central Montana, where a
permanent habitat and public viewing area is being developed.
Many mining companies support the work of Hawkwatch International,
which monitors and protects hawks, eagles and other birds of prey
throughout the western regions of North America.
The habitat of the storied Lahonton cut-throat trout of west
central Nevada, once a major food source for the area’s indigenous peoples,
has been protected and enhanced by mining companies working closely with the
U.S. Forest Service. |
| The desert bighorn sheep of California’s Panamint mountain
range are being studied in a cooperative research project between the local mine
officials and federal and state agencies. Thousands of migratory birds now benefit from a network of
man-made islands in Nevada’s 25,000-acre Humboldt Sink wetlands as a result of
a partnership between the Rochester Mine, wildlife protection groups, and local
officials. |
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Protecting Wetlands
In the Vat Creek wetlands of Idaho, more than 100 acres of
wetlands were improved through revegetation and by raising the groundwater
table. In the Tunnels wetlands of Nevada, a new 20-acre wetlands
area was created at an old sand and gravel site, a freshwater marsh was
significantly improved, and nearly 2,500 coyote and yellow willow trees
were planted to create a new habitat for waterfowl, migrating birds,
deer, fox and other wildlife. At Idaho’s Beartrack Mine, company engineers worked with
the state’s Department of Fish and Game to restore and create habitat
for trout breeding and implemented state-of-the-art techniques for
water-level management. At the Getchell underground mine in Nevada, new water
conservation technology produced enough excess water to create and sustain a new
wetlands habitat more than two miles long.
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This red fox is one of many wildlife species benefiting from wetlands
created and enhanced by mining companies."
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Trout populations thrive in improved habitats and
protected streams, creeks and lakes.
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Reclaiming the Land
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The 400-acre site of the Ruston/Tacoma smelter in Washington,
operating since the early 1900s, will become part of the largest contiguous
urban park in America.
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The McLaughlin Mine
will become a wildlife preserve and field research station for the University of
California.
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Utah’s Mercury Mine will become a wildlife habitat and
recreational area.
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Many rare native grasses, shrubs and trees have been saved, carefully
transplanted, and sometimes grown from seed by gold mining companies for
use in land reclamation. |
Gold mining companies employ biologists and environmental engineers to
monitor and nurture plant growth during reclamation of the site.
|
| The 50-acre Alto gold mine, located on a 9,000-acre cattle
ranch in central California, produced 8,500 ounces of gold, creating skilled
jobs and providing income to the local economy. Now fully reclaimed, cattle
graze where the mine once operated. The underground Cannon Mine operating in an urban
environment in Wenatchee, Washington, was "plugged," regraded
and replanted. The mine buildings were converted into offices and an
equipment maintenance facility for the local school district. |
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And Around the World
The American gold industry is proud of its reclamation
achievements throughout the country – and increasingly, throughout the
world.
In northern Chile, Homestake Mining Company discovered
isolated colonies of Andean chinchillas, long thought to be extinct in the area,
and arranged for their protection through a special study project with the
Chilean National Forestry Corporation.
Barrick Gold Corporation discovered several colonies of
endangered Tricahue parrots on the planned route of a road to its Pascua Mine
project in the Chilean Andes. Barrick rerouted the road at crucial points and
developed a protection plan for the parrots and their scarce food source, the
carob bush.
Since 1977, Placer Dome Inc. has helped minimize the effect
of mining on Misima Island, Papua New Guinea. The company works with local
leaders to contribute positively to this remote district of 12,000 inhabitants,
forming level areas from the mine’s soil for use by village farmers.
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After 14 varieties of cactus were found on its exploration site near La
Paz, Mexico, Echo Bay Mines employed local residents in a massive
relocation and transplant effort.
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Sunrise over Queensland, Australia, where Battle Mountain’s Red Dome
Mine received a special commendation from the Queensland Government for
its outstanding reclamation program.
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from The Gold Institute’s "Gold Mining and the
Environment" brochure
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Mineral Information Institute -
www.mii.org
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