The Nevada County Board of Supervisors yesterday approved the re-opening of the Blue Lead Gold Mine, much to the dismay of area neighbors. The Mine is located on 74 acres on the eastern side of Greenhorn Creek north of Red Dog Road. Neighbors were concerned about the impacts of mining operations like excessive noise and the drain on groundwater to area wells .
Property owner Randy Fuller filed the appeal against the opening of the mine but says he does not stand alone.
Fuller says that in 2013, his well, which was pumping 100 gallons a minute, went dry. It was the same time that ponds on the Blue Lead Mine property had been filled. He asked the supervisors to consider the neighbors.
Over the past year the county hired experts to complete studies on the noise impact and to study the groundwater in the area. Charles Watson, the project geologist for Blue Lead, says the supervisors’ vote affirms their actions.
Before giving final approval, supervisors added two stipulations: That the generator used at the mine site be shielded for noise, and that selected neighboring wells be monitored for water content quarterly for the first year of mining operation, and annually for the next 10 years.
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