Mercury emissions prompt mine closure
RENO -- State environmental regulators have ordered a northeast Nevada gold mine to shut down because it failed to meet a deadline to install equipment to reduce mercury emissions.
The Jerritt Canyon Mine, about 50 miles north of Elko, was directed to cease operations by midnight last Saturday, the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection confirmed Monday.
The Environmental Protection Division had issued an order in March 2008 requiring Queenstake Resources USA of Elko -- a subsidiary of the Canada-based Yukon-Nevada Gold Corp. -- to install new emission control systems by the end of that year.
The initial order had followed a yearlong investigation into mercury emissions.
Queenstake voluntarily stopped mining and processing ore in August 2008, and cited financial reasons.
State regulators issued a new order in March of this year that allowed the company to restart processing if it complied with most of the state's environmental requirements and pledged to install the mercury control system by Saturday.
Company officials notified the state that they would not meet the deadline because of a delay in fabricating ductwork.
Environmental Protection Division spokeswoman Jill Lufrano said the mine cannot reopen until the emission controls are installed.
Lufrano has said the new system will reduce mercury air emissions to 175 pounds per year from the 1,700 pounds reported in 2007.
