Proposed Idaho Maryland Mine Project Page

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STATUS REPORT - IDAHO-MARYLAND MINE PROJECT
Updated: January 25, 2010

Current Status:

Since mid-2009, the City has not completed any major tasks related to the processing of the Idaho-Maryland Mine project. The reasons for limited activity are twofold. First, the applicant has been reviewing options to modify the project in response to some of the comments received on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Secondly, the applicant is trying to secure additional financing to continue processing the applications.

Previous Significant Activities:

The City released the Draft EIR for a public review period extending from October 30, 2008 to January 20, 2009. At the conclusion of the public review period, the City received 198 letters on the adequacy of the Draft EIR. All public comments received on the Draft EIR are available for review in the Planning Department at the Grass Valley City Hall, 125 E. Main Street. Additionally, the City has scanned all written comments and placed them on a CD, which is available at no charge.

The City and its consultant team evaluated all of the comments received on the adequacy of the Draft EIR. Additionally, the City and its consultant team met with representatives from various State and local agencies to further discuss and review their specific comments. The goal of these meetings was to ensure the City properly addressed the relevant issues raised by each agency. The City needed to better understand which issues were critical and clearly under the purview of those agencies. These meetings provided the City and its consultant team with clear direction on how to address the specific concerns raised in their letters.

Next Steps:

The City cannot act on the applications for this project (i.e. say yes or no) until the City certifies the EIR as being adequate and meeting the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Once the applicant submits a revised project and provides the necessary funds to process the applications and environmental analysis, the City expects to begin work on a revised Draft EIR. The City will provide an update on this page as soon as the applicant provides these two items.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Comments and/or questions may be directed to:

Tom Last, Planning Director
City of Grass Valley
125 East Main Street
Grass Valley, CA 95945
toml@cityofgrassvalley.com

(530) 274-4711
(530) 274-4399 fax

ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS
The following environmental documents have been prepared and released for public review for this project; a Master Environmental Assessment (MEA), a Notice of Preparation (NOP) and a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR). Each of the three documents are listed below for your reference.

I. Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR), October 2008
Public review period extended from 10/30/2008 to 1/20/09

Cover and Table of Contents (0.4MB)
Executive Summary (0.2MB)
Chapter 1 Introduction (0.1MB)
Chapter 2 Project Description (23.5MB)
Chapter 3 Alternatives and Cumulative Projects (0.4MB)
Chapter 4 Environmental Setting, Impacts and Mitigation Measures (16.7MB)
Chapter 5 Comparison of Alternatives (0.2MB)
Chapter 6 California Environmental Quality Act Statutory Sections (0.2MB)
(Growth Inducement, Secondary Effects of Growth, Significant Irreversible Changes, and Cumulative Impacts)
Chapter 7 Report Preparers (0.1MB)
Chapter 8 Mitigation Monitoring, Reporting, and Compliance Program (0.3MB)
Appendix A - Scoping Report (10.4MB)
Appendix B - Air Quality (1.5MB)
Appendix C - Biological Resources (17.6MB)
Appendix D - Cultural Resources (0.3MB)
Appendix E - Geologic Evaluation (0.3MB)
Appendix F - Hydrology-Water Quality (3.5MB)
Appendix G - Blasting Impacts Assessments (0.8MB)
Appendix H - Economic-Fiscal Analysis (0.3MB)
Appendix I - Traffic Study (3.6MB)
Appendix IA- Complete Traffic Study (1.9MB)

Errata to Draft EIR- (0.8MB)
(This includes minor changes to the Draft EIR which do not effect the analysis or conclusions)

2. Notice of Preparation (NOP) and Initial Study, September 2007

Document Cover (0.076MB)
Table of Contents (0.021MB)
Notice of Preparation (0.026MB)
Chapter 1 - Introduction and Environmental Review Process (0.036MB)
Chapter 2 - Environmental Checklist Form and Determination (0.240MB)
Chapter 3 - Project Description (1.939MB)
Chapter 4 - Environmental Checklist and Discussion (0.487 MB)
Chapter 5 - Report Preparers (0.226MB)

View / Download entire NOP / Initial Study document (2.552MB)

3. Master Environmental Assessment (MEA), June 2006

Report Cover (0.03MB)
Title Page (0.02MB)
Table of Contents (0.05MB)
Chapter 1: Introduction (0.07MB)
Chapter 2: Summary (0.11MB)
Chapter 3: Project Description (0.16MB)
Chapter 4: Environmental Checklist and Discussion
   4.1: Aesthetics (0.11MB)
   4.2: Agricultural Resources (0.10MB)
   4.3: Air Quality (0.17MB)
   4.4: Biological Resources (0.16MB)
   4.5: Cultural Resources (0.12MB)
   4.6: Geology, Soils, Seismicity and Mineral Resources (0.15MB)
   4.7: Hazards and Hazardous Materials (0.11MB)
   4.8: Hydrology and Water Quality (0.16MB)
   4.9: Land Use and Planning (0.14MB)
   4.10: Noise (0.14MB)
   4.11: Population and Housing (0.11MB)
   4.12: Public Services (0.11MB)
   4.13: Recreation (0.10MB)
   4.14: Transportation and Traffic (0.13MB)
   4.15: Utilities and Service Systems (0.13MB)
Chapter 5: Report Preparers (0.06MB)
Appendices (0.05MB)

LIST OF FIGURES
   2-1: Idaho-Maryland Site Environmental Constraints Map (0.96MB)
   2-2: New Brunswick Site Environmental Constraints Map (0.93MB)
   2-3: Round Hole Site Environmental Constraints Map (0.98MB)
   3-1: Project Location (0.14MB)
   3-2: Idaho-Maryland Mine Site Plan (0.31MB)
   3-3: Idaho-Maryland Mine Grading Plan (0.62MB)
   3-4: Idaho-Maryland Mine Site Surface Features (1.73MB)
   3-5: Round Hole Site Plan (0.28MB)
   3-6: New Brunswick Site Plan (0.46MB)
   3-7: Sodium Cyanide Closed Processing Circuit (0.05MB)
   3-8: Idaho-Maryland Site Reclamation Plan (0.37MB)
   3-9: Round Hole Reclamation Plan (0.17MB)
   3-10: New Brunswick Site Reclamation Plan (0.30MB)
   4.1-1: Photo-Rendering of the Idaho-Maryland Site (0.18MB)
   4.1-2: Photo-Rendering of the Round Hole Site (0.19MB)
   4.1-3: Photo-Rendering of the New Brunswick Site (0.17MB)
   4.4-1: City of Grass Valley 2020 General Plan: Wetlands (0.04MB)
   4.9-1: Nevada County Existing General Plan Land Use Designations (0.24MB)
   4.9-2: Nevada County Existing Zoning Designations (1.14MB)
   4.9-3: City of Grass Valley Annexation Plan Planned Annexations (0.14MB)
   4.9-4: City of Grass Valley Existing General Plan Land Use Designations (0.39MB)
   4.9-5: City of Grass Valley Existing Zoning Designations (1.19MB)
   4.9-6: Proposed Annexations (0.46MB)
   4.9-7: Proposed City of Grass Valley General Plan Land Use Designations (0.63MB)
   4.9-8: Proposed City of Grass Valley Zoning Designation for the ID-MD Site (0.63MB)

APPLICATIONS (Filed with the City for the Idaho-Maryland Mine Project)

RELATED INFORMATION / PUBLIC DOCUMENTS

Public Meeting Minutes / Transcripts
Transcript of Proceedings - Planning Commission Meeting November 18, 2008 (112 MB)
Transcript of Proceedings - Public Hearing Meeting January 6, 2009 (282 KB)
Transcript of Proceedings - Planning Commission Meeting January 20, 2009 (325 KB)

Selected Staff Reports / Powerpoint Presentations / Agendas
Memorandum for City Council Meeting of May 24, 2005 : Selection of Consultant to Prepare Business Viability Study for Idaho-Maryland Mine and Reimbursement Agreement (0.03MB)

Memorandum for City Council Meeting of July 26, 2005: Consider Business Viability Study, Application Review Procedure and Consultant Team for the Idaho-Maryland Mine Project (0.04MB)

Memorandum for City Council Meeting of November 8, 2005: Consider agreement with Environmental Science Associates consultants to prepare a Master Environmental Assessment (MEA) / Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Idaho-Maryland Mine Project (0.02MB)

Staff Report for November 12, 2008, Joint Study Session (.32MB)

Power Point Presentation - Joint Study Session November 12, 2008 (3.41MB)
Power Point Presentation- January 6, 2009, Public Hearing for DEIR comments (1.56 MB)
View February 14, 2008 presentation by the City on the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA) relative to the proposed Idaho-Maryland Mine (1.283MB)

Agenda for Joint Study Session - Grass Valley City Council and Grass Valley Planning Commission (Review of the Draft EIR for Idaho Maryland Mine)

Related Documents / Notices / Studies
Idaho-Maryland Mine Project Notice of Completion and Environmental Document Transmittal
Public Comment Form for the Idaho Maryland Mine Project Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR)
Notice Of Public Information Workshops Scheduled For The Proposed Idaho-Maryland Mine Project
Idaho Maryland Mine Project Hydrogeologic Assessment (13.MB)
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) City and County
Economic Viability Study for the Proposed Idaho-Maryland Mine Project, July 15, 2005 (0.16MB)

Summary of Public Workshops (Held prior to release of Draft EIR)
The first in a series of Public Information Workshops was conducted by the City on Wednesday, January 25, 2006, click here to view the notice. Click here to view the Public Comment Card from the January, 25, 2006 meeting.

Public Information Workshop on Geology and Groundwater occured on Wednesday, December 12, 2007, at 6:00 p.m. at the L.O.V.E. Building in Condon Park, 666 Minnie Street (0.0056MB)

View/download December 12, 2007 presentation by consultant. NOTE: This document is large (3.82MB) and is not suitable for dial-up access.

View Powerpoint® Presentation From Public Workshop Of January 23, 2008 On Water Quality, Public Service And Hazardous Materials

March 12, 2008 Workshop On The Idaho-Maryland Mine Project

View notice regarding the following three Public Workshops scheduled for January, February and March 2008:
January 23 topics include Water Quality, Public Services & Hazardous Materials;
February 13 topics include Reclamation Plans & posting of Financial Assurances; and,
March 12 topics include Traffic, Project Alternatives & Cumulative Impacts.

Documents may be viewed at the following location:
Grass Valley City Hall, 125 East Main Street, Grass Valley, 274-4330

Documents may be purchased at the following location:
City Hall can provide you a CD containing the applications, cost is $15/disc. Please contact the City of Grass Valley Planning Division by phone at 274-4330, or by email to request a copy.

RESOURCE LINKS

Idaho-Maryland Mining Corporation
Emgold
179 Clydesdale Court
Grass Valley, CA 95945
Phone (530) 271-0679
Email: info@idaho-maryland.com

State of California Mining and Geology Board
801 K Street, Suite 2015
Sacramento, CA 95814
phone (916) 322-1082
Email: smgb@consrv.ca.gov