Robertson Mine Exploration Eagle Permit NEPA Documents

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received an application from Nevada Gold Mines LLC requesting eagle take coverage under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act for the Robertson Exploration Project.  The application requested authorization for reoccurring disturbance to and loss of annual productivity from one golden eagle breeding pair over four years.  NGM acquired the project in 2017 and has been authorized by the BLM Battle Mountain District Office to conduct exploration drilling within the Robertson Exploration Project Plan of Operations boundary. The project is currently a mid-stage exploration project.  The project is located on the east slope of the Shoshone Range in Lander County, Nevada, approximately 58 miles southeast of Battle Mountain, 70 miles southwest of Elko, and 37 miles south of Interstate 80.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA), pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, to assess impacts of the proposed action of issuance of the requested short-term (four-year) incidental 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. The analysis detailed in the EA resulted in selection of the proposed action and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).  Please find the FONSI and EA below.