Liberty Gold says permitting on track for Black Pine Mountain; company outlines hiring timeline and public meetings

Elisabeth Campbell, Community Relations Coordinator for Liberty Gold, told the Snowville Town Council on March 11 that the company is progressing through state and federal permitting to reopen the Black Pine Mountain mine and expects major federal decisions by the end of 2027.

"We're going to continue to permit through the end of 2027. At that time, hopefully, at the end of 2027, we will get what's called our record of decision, and that's when the federal government gives us the okay to begin construction," Campbell said.

Campbell said the project would use open-pit (run-of-mine) methods similar to earlier work on the site and that the company plans to operate a closed-loop cyanide-extraction system. "It's called sodium cyanide," she said when asked about the chemical used in the leach process. She emphasized the company plans to manage and monitor any chemicals and water on site.

The company gave a timeline for labor needs: it expects to hire 100–150 workers for the construction phase and to recruit roughly 300–350 full-time employees in the year before the mine reaches steady production. Campbell said hiring would emphasize nearby communities, naming Tremonton, Burley and Malad as likely recruitment hubs. "We'll be looking to communities like Snowville," she said, noting the company prefers local hires when possible.

Campbell said Liberty Gold is conducting environmental studies required for permitting — air, water, wildlife and vegetation surveys — and that reclamation plans are part of the application. On reclamation she said the Forest Service sets the standards and that some pits may be backfilled while other features will be managed under the agency's requirements.

The company is also buying adjacent parcels needed for operations and materials. Campbell said parcels purchased include areas with clay suitable for heap-leach liners and noted the firm is discussing land exchanges with federal managers to consolidate habitat protections elsewhere.

Campbell said the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management will run public scoping meetings as part of the permitting process; she said the agencies plan one in-person session in Malta (Raft River High School) and one virtual session in mid-April. "We don't actually have the dates yet. We're not in charge of those meetings — those will be run by the government agencies," she said, and urged residents to participate and register concerns.

Residents asked about dust, vibration and water risks. LuAnn Johnson said she had read accounts of mining impacts and raised concerns about water and cattle; Campbell replied the company will monitor ground and surface water and that the processing circuit is designed as a closed-loop system. Local residents and company staff also discussed possible road and interchange upgrades to improve access to the mine.

Campbell encouraged residents with questions to contact the company and said she will share the agency-run scoping dates once they are set. "If anybody has any questions or concerns, please share my information," she said.

Next steps: federal agencies will publish formal scoping notices; Liberty Gold and the agencies will hold the announced meetings in mid-April, after which the public comment record will inform environmental review and the federal Record of Decision timeline.