Stopping the Open Pit Mine

Timeline

1990

April

Battle Mountain Gold (BMG) submits five page Categorical Exclusion for exploration on Buckhorn Mountain
1992

January

BMG Submits Initial Plan of Operations for Crown Jewel Joint Venture

March

Scoping begins for Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

March

Okanogan Highlands Alliance is formed

December

Conservation groups form Washington Coalition for Responsible Mining
1993

January

BMG applies for mineral patents

February

Campaign begins for new mining regulations

March

Full page ads in statewide newspapers begin efforts for cyanide leach moratorium
1994

March

Legislature passes Metals Mining & Milling Act

November

65 protests recorded for BMG Water Rights, including Tribes and Canadians
1995

March

County Commissioners pressure agencies to approve mine

June

Draft EIS issued

September

Tribes vote “NO” to mining on Reservation
1996

March

BMG merges with Hemlo Gold of Canada

August

US Taxpayers pay BMG $65 million not to mine New World Project near Yellowstone
1997

January

Final EIS released

March

OHA and others appeal EIS

May

Okanogan County approves Conditional use permit

May

EIS Appeals denied, lawsuit filed in Federal District Court.

June

Water quality hearing in Oroville, Washington

September

Dam safety and stormwater permits approved by Ecology

October

Air quality hearing in Oroville, Washington

November

BMG water rights approved, OHA appeals to Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB)
1998

January

Air quality permit issued by Ecology

January

BMG general manager for Crown Jewel, Brant Hinze, moves to Bolivia

May

OHA sues Okanogan County over solid waste permits

May

PCHB hears OHA and Tribes appeal of BMG water rights

September

BMG reduces staff
1999

January

Federal judge rules against OHA and upholds EIS

January

Ecology issues addendum to EIS

February

Superior Court denies OHA’s challenge of County exemption from solid waste permit. Read more…

February

Ecology issues Water Quality Certification to BMG, OHA appeals

March

Federal agencies deny Plan of Operations and revoke Record of Decision for mine – Millsite Decision

May

Gorton Rider exempts BMG from millsite provision of 1872 mining law. Read more…

June

BMG receives Corps 404 filing Wetlands Permit permit

June

Plan of operations approved by Forest Service and BLM

June

OHA and Tribes appeal Plan of Operations to IBLA

September

PCHB hears OHA and Tribes appeal of BMG’s water quality certification

September

IBLA denies OHA’s appeal of Plan of Operations
2000

February

BMG writes off value of Crown Jewel project

March

BMG appeals PCHB decision to Superior Court, Ecology does not appeal

June

BMG acquired by Newmont Mining
2001

February

Superior Court upholds PCHB decision

July

BMG abandons efforts to mine on Buckhorn
2002

March

Crown Resources declares Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Back to All Timelines

Contact OHA

PO Box 163
Tonasket, WA
98855

info@okanoganhighlands.org

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