Bald Mountain Mine-Juniper Project Eagle Permit NEPA Documents

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received an application from KG Mining (Bald Mountain) Inc. requesting eagle take coverage under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.The application requested authorization for removal of alternate eagle nests (nests not currently in use), incidental disturbance take of golden eagles, and the loss of two eagle breeding territories in the vicinity of Bald Mountain Mine. The Bald Mountain Mine is owned and operated by KG Mining (Bald Mountain) Inc. and is a large-scale, open-pit gold mine located primarily on public lands administered by the Bureau of Management Bristlecone Field Office. The mine is in northwestern White Pine County, Nevada, approximately 60 miles southeast of the city of Elko, Nevada and 60 miles northwest of Ely, Nevada. Project operations and activities are expected to disturb golden eagles in the vicinity preventing them from breeding and producing offspring.

The Bureau of Land Management, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) analyzing project and eagle take authorization impacts for the mine and its proposed Juniper Project expansion.As the lead agency developing the EIS, the Bureau of Land Management analyzed environmental impacts associated with the proposed project.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as a cooperating agency on the EIS, analyzed the environmental impacts of KG Mining (Bald Mountain) Inc.’s request for authorization for nest removals and incidental eagle take.The Draft and Final EIS, and additional information regarding this project, are available online at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2011567/570

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service signed a Record of Decision for the Final EIS.The Record of Decision documents our decision on KG Mining (Bald Mountain) Inc.’s application for eagle take coverage. As described in our Record of Decision, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to issue a 30-year permit to KG Mining (Bald Mountain) Inc. for golden eagle nest removal, incidental disturbance take, and the loss of two eagle breeding territories in the vicinity of the mine. We anticipate issuing the permit in August 2024. 

For more information, please contact:

Contact: Tom Dietsch, Migratory Bird Biologist
Email: fw8_eaglepermits@fws.gov
Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
         Migratory Bird Program, Pacific Southwest Region
         2800 Cottage Way, W-2605
         Sacramento, CA 95825