Goldrush Mine Eagle Permit NEPA Documents

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) received an application from Nevada Gold Mines LLC requesting eagle take coverage under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.  The application requested authorization for incidental disturbance take of eagles at the Goldrush Mine Project. The project is an underground mine that will require approximately 1,626 acres of new surface disturbance for the construction and operation of surface support activities and features. These surface operations and activities may disturb golden eagle pairs in the vicinity of the project and prevent them from breeding and producing offspring.

The proposed mine is anticipated to have an operational life of 24 years and is located approximately 30 miles south of Beowawe, Nevada, in both Lander and Eureka counties, Nevada, on public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management. 

The Service prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA), pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. To assess impacts of the Applicant’s request for a long-term (24 year) incidental eagle take permit, the Service fully analyzed two potential courses of action in the EA, the Proposed Action and Alternative 1: No-Action. Following the public posting period the Service considered a third Alternative, the Modified Action. The proposed action and modified action required implementation of measures to avoid and minimize adverse effects to eagles to the maximum extent practicable and compensatory mitigation to fully offset eagle take. Details of the minimization measures and compensatory mitigation can be found in the EA document. The analysis detailed in the EA resulted in selection of the modified action and a Finding of No Significant Impact.  The FONSI and EA documents are provided here.