public hearings in Eureka and Crescent Valley in January, Rose said. General Moly plans a long-life molybdenum mine that would employ 400 workers once it goes into production. The mine would be 21 miles north of the town of Eureka. Those hearings drew large crowds. A number of speakers were in favor of the project, but there was opposition as well. Businessman Scott Raines said at the Eureka hearing the project will have a “very positive impact” on Eureka. “This mine will have minimal impacts in comparison to many other projects. Ya, there will be a hole in the ground, but there will be sufficient mitigation,” he testified. “I feel General Moly will be a very positive influence,” local businesswoman Maribeth Robinson testified, adding that the creation of jobs at this time is important. “It’s well past time for Eureka County Commissioners to stop hindering the project and work with General Moly. It’s time for us to get behind this project and realize the benefits.” Eureka County Commissioners still have concerns about the project’s impacts. “We continue to support the Mt. Hope Project as any other mine done right,” Eureka County Natural Resources Man-
Adella Harding/Mining Quarterly
Bob Burnham, left, a Eureka County farmer and school board member, talks with Bob Pennington, chief operating officer of General Moly, at the Eureka Opera House following a hearing on the proposed Mt. Hope Project. ager Jake Tibbitts testified. He said, however, there are places where the draft environmental impact statement conflicts with the county’s
policies, especially because of the large scale of the project, and the county doesn’t believe the mitigation of impacts in the EIS is enough.
“We need the issues properly fleshed out and mitigated up front,” Tibbitts said. The county also is worried about the socio-economic impact from Mt. Hope to the historic town of Eureka, which has roughly 600 residents, Eureka County Commission Chairman Leonard Fiorenzi said after the hearing. Fiorenzi said he expects only about 30 percent of the Mt. Hope employees to live in Eureka, “but 30 percent of employees will be a huge impact to Eureka.” “The BLM was impressed with the turnout for these two meetings,” Jon Sherve, assistant field manager for minerals for the Battle Mountain office, said in a statement. The BLM reported roughly 120 people signed in for the Eureka meeting and 75 were at the Crescent Valley meeting. General Moly Chief Executive Officer Bruce Hansen stated he was pleased with the turnout at both open houses and hearings. “I was very proud to hear community leaders from Eureka stand up in support of the Mt. Hope project. Their support is a testament to the hard work of our team in Nevada and our commitment to mining done right within the Eureka See MT. HOPE, 91
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