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Liberty Gold presents 17-year Black Pine plan; company says project would employ about 300
Summary
At the July 7 Burley City Council meeting, Elisabeth Campbell of Liberty Gold described exploration at the Black Pine site in Cassia County, saying the operation would be a closed-loop chemical extraction with an estimated 17-year life and roughly 300 full-time jobs; council discussion focused on water use and community engagement.
Elisabeth Campbell of Liberty Gold told the Burley City Council on July 7 that the company’s Black Pine exploration occurs on previously mined public lands in Cassia County and that the site is a brownfield formerly operated by Pegasus Gold until 1997. Campbell said exploration began in 2017 and that maps showing the project area were shared with the council.
Campbell described the extraction method as a chemical process operated in a closed loop and said silver is also present on the site. She told the council the company estimates the mine life at about 17 years and expects to employ approximately 300 full‑time personnel; she also said the operation would run 24 hours a day, year‑round. Council discussion following the presentation focused on the extraction process and water usage, but no formal action was taken.
Councilmember Janet Hansen and other members noted Liberty Gold’s community engagement and scholarship plans, and Campbell answered questions about public access to the lands and the project’s historical use. The presentation packet included maps and a summary of the site’s history; Campbell stated that the lands remain open to the public during exploration.
Why it matters: If Liberty Gold advances the project, it would introduce a long‑term industrial operation and on‑site employment in Cassia County. Councilmembers asked about water demands and environmental safeguards, subjects that would typically require further detail and coordination with state and federal regulators before any local approvals or permits.
The council took no vote or formal direction on the presentation; the item was informational. For more detail, the council packet and the company’s presentation materials were listed in the meeting documents.
