Marigold Mine Eagle Permit NEPA Documents

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received an application from Marigold Mining Company requesting eagle take coverage under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act over a 13-year period. The application requested authorization for incidental disturbance take of eagles in the vicinity of the Marigold Mine for mining activities within its Plan of Operations and for removal of one of five known nests within a single territory from previously mined substrate to be removed during mining operations. The mine is an ongoing operation, with historical mining going back to 1927, and with authorized mining expected to continue for at least the next 13 years. The Marigold Mine is located in Humboldt County, Nevada, approximately 35 miles southeast of Winnemucca. The surface mining operations and associated activities of this mine may disturb territory-holding golden eagle pairs in the vicinity of operations, which may prevent them from breeding or producing offspring.

We prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA), pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, to assess impacts of the proposed action of issuance of the requested eagle take permit to the applicant, as well as alternatives to the proposed action. The proposed action of issuing a permit 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 provided here. The analysis detailed in the EA resulted in selection of the proposed action and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The FONSI and final EA documents are provided here.