The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is currently calling for public feedback on a new gold mine proposal, alongside a processing facility in Malheur County, Oregon. This proposed project comes under the banner of the Department of the Interior's streamlined National Environmental Policy Act procedures, simplifying the review and public communication processes. In the past, drafts and final environmental analyses were published in the Federal Register but moving forward project updates will be directly available on designated websites.
"This Administration is committed to leveraging every available authority to expedite domestic mineral development," Acting BLM Director Bill Groffy stated. Highlighting the agency's role in driving economic growth and employment at the local level, Groffy emphasized the importance of the project. Positioned approximately 22 miles south of Vale, the Grassy Mountain gold mine is to sprawl across both public and private lands. Over a timeline that includes 10 years of construction and processing, followed by four years of reclamation and two decades for monitoring, Paramount Gold Nevada looks to establish an underground mine with a mill and various facilities over 469 acres of BLM-managed land.
The public will have the chance to attend a meeting discussing the project at the Vale District Office on August 19, from 5 to 7 p.m. MT. Larisa Bogardus, a contact person at the BLM, provided details for a virtual attendance option, which interested parties can inquire about through the email [email protected].
For those looking to review additional details or provide comments on the project, the BLM National NEPA Register offers a draft environmental impact statement. The public comment period concludes on September 8, 2025. Individuals may submit their thoughts via the 'Participate Now' feature on the Register, directly deliver them to the office in Vale, or send them through email to [email protected]. A direct link to the NEPA Register where the draft statement and participation instructions reside is here.
