Perpetua Resources’ Stibnite mine gets greenlight in draft decision

The proposed open-pit gold mine in remote central Idaho near the tiny enclave of Yellow Pine has been approved by the U.S. Forest Service. 

The Payette National Forest will release a draft record of decision and final environmental impact statement Friday that paves the way for Perpetua Resources to reopen and expand the long-dormant gold and antimony mine along the East Fork of the South Fork Salmon River east of McCall and adjacent to the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area.  

The Nez Perce Tribe and several environmental groups are bitterly opposed to the mine. The tribe argues that renewed mining in the area threatens to further degrade water quality and fish habitat there and jeopardize the existence of spring chinook salmon. The tribe has treaty fishing rights in the South Fork of the Salmon River and spends $3 millions there every year in an effort to recover chinook, steelhead and bull trout. All three species are protected as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. 

The company has pledged to use a portion of mining profits to clean up ongoing pollution there. Mining at Stibnite dates back to at least the 1930s, and the site was active during World War II, before modern environmental standards were adopted. Other mining companies left behind a legacy of toxic pollution and damage which includes an open pit that the East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon River flows into. Chinook salmon, steelhead and bull trout are not able pass above the pit to access spawning grounds. 

The company plans to reopen two existing pits at the mine and add a third in its effort to extract 4.8 million ounces of gold and 148 million pounds of antimony — a mineral used in munitions and batteries.

"We believe that the Stibnite Gold Project is a win-win-win," Jon Cherry, president and CEO of Perpetua Resources, said in a news release. "It's a win for Idaho, it's a win for the environment, and it's a win for America's national security. Our independence from Chinese control over antimony is right here in our backyard, and Perpetua Resources is honored to provide a critical part of the solution to the United States' strategic need for antimony, while also delivering an economically robust gold mine that will create new jobs in Idaho. It's time for the Stibnite Gold Project to help secure our future."

Deputy Forest Supervisor said in a news release that his agency has spent seven years analyzing the potential impacts of the project and met stakeholders, including the tribe.

“Projects of this scale and type present unique challenges, and that is particularly true as it relates to tribal interests, whether those interests be treaty-related or connected to cultural use and identity. Only through meaningful consultation can the Forest Service seek to understand these concerns and be responsive to them, and I am grateful for the tribal input we’ve received.”

He said the agency made several changes and adopted mitigation measures in an effort to “minimize the environmental effects from the mining operations.”

The news release did not give examples of those changes and a spokesperson listed on the news release did not immediately respond to questions about them. 

Following the release of the documents, which will be available at bit.ly/4gd4774, those who have previously submitted comments on them will have 45 days to lodge formal objections. 

Barker may be contacted at ebarker@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2273. Follow him on Twitter @ezebarker.