Russ Steele
We have a group in Nevada County that is against all mining in the County. Their latest target is the Blue Lead Mine.
CLAIM Citizens Looking At Impacts of Mining has branched out. We are now following developments at two proposed local mine projects. These are the Emgold - Idaho Maryland Mine in Grass Valley and the Blue Lead Mine on Red Dog Road in Nevada County.Tonight CLAIM-GV is celebrating a Planning Commission decision today. The meeting results are on Yubanet.
NEVADA CITY, Calif, May 27, 2010 - After over four hours of arguments from Blue Lead representatives, exhaustive staff reports and input from the public, the planning commission voted unanimously to deny vested right to mine. The 76.9-acre property, located at 18272 Red Dog Road in Nevada City, was acquired by Blue Lead Mine LLC in March 2007.
After an incomplete use permit application, the company filed their request for vested right to mine. Any vested mine does not need to apply for a mining permit to the county and no California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) document for the mining operation itself is required.
The applicant now has the option to appeal to the BOS, or to complete their use permit application.
The CLAIMer are patting themselves on the back tonight, having eliminated a few more jobs and much need tax revenue for the County coffers, all so they can sustain their stasis agenda.
Nevada County continues to lose jobs and sales tax revenue. Jobs details here. Nevada County has a rich mining history that gave birth to the creative entrepreneurship spirit in the County. A spirit that has given the County an edge in creating innovative business clusters that others foothill counties envy.
The County needs the jobs and tax revenue that gold mining will create. Let’s hope the BOS see the job and tax benefits and override the Planning Commission. They have a responsibility of thinking about the benefits of gold mining to all the citizens of the County, not just the stasis needs of CLAIM-GV representatives.