An environmental group has sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, alleging the agency unlawfully missed a 12-month deadline to decide on federal protections for two rare species found only in spring-fed wetlands near Beatty. The Amargosa toad and the Oasis Valley speckled dace live in a slice of Nye County that is primed for gold mine development, creating a clash between economic aspirations and concern for the water that keeps the species alive.
The Center for Biological Diversity filed the complaint, arguing that groundwater pumping for nearby gold mines is pushing the animals toward extinction. "Anthropogenic stressors, including loss of habitat from groundwater pumping for nearby gold mines, are pushing these animals toward extinction," the complaint states. The Fish and Wildlife Service acknowledged last year that protections may be warranted but has not made a final determination.
AngloGold Ashanti, a multinational mining company, is close to obtaining final approval from the Bureau of Land Management for its North Bullfrog Mine. The company has modified its operation plan to reduce water consumption by two-thirds in response to community concerns. A spokesman said the agency's finding that listing may be warranted did not consider the reduced water footprint of the 6,300-acre project.
The company is also eyeing another deposit through its Arthur exploration project, which the Center for Biological Diversity wrote could contain 10 times the gold-bearing deposits of the North Bullfrog Mine. In total, AngloGold Ashanti says it has identified at least 6.1 million ounces of gold in the area, and the lawsuit notes six other gold mines have been proposed nearby.
A University of Nevada, Reno analysis found the North Bullfrog Mine would create hundreds of jobs at its peak while contributing $1.4 million in county taxes and $5.6 million in state taxes annually. The Interior Department declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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