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Show Mining Proposal Near Prospector Draws Concerns .'...---" . - - , V. . ' - .. - - - --.' . .'- J:, -, . 4 ' v - -: - . ' . . "; ' r ' - . Y y'J " , '. ' - " . I ' V' ij ; . - . ; J -. .qy. J&.Z .. .v ., ' A Placer mining operation proposed for a site 200 yards east of Prospector Park has residents in that subdivision up in arms this week and has sent contemporary waves of "gold fever" throughout (he community. LaVar Engle representing Western International Corp. advised members of the Summit County Planning Commission on May 19 of his plans to shortly begin mining operations on four contiguous claims alongside Silver Creek. The property abuts the recently acquired five acre municipal park site to the west, then extends east along the stream bed for 1500 feet. The 21 acre site is controlled by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and, according to BLM area Manager Jack Peterson, has been legally filed on in accordance with the Mining Act of 1872. The Mining Act of 1872 grants the right to exclusively extract valuable minerals from public lands to anyone who files a claim with the county recorder and can prove "reasonable" expectat- ' ions that the claimed land contains some form of mineral wealth. There are two types of claims: a "lode" claim which entitles the owner to follow an outcrop of ore to its terminal point beneath the surface; and a "placer" claim which only permits the extraction of surface materials over a given area. Western International's claims are "placer" claims which give the firm exclusive right to extract valuable minerals from mine tailings deposited long ago along Silver Creek. The BLM has already authorized the claims and in doing so has given up most of its authority over the land and subsequent mining operation. Summit County zoning ordinances list mining as a permitted use on the site which precludes intervention at that level with the actual mining of the land. Western International, however, plans to mill or refine the tailings on the site, an operation requiring a conditional use permit from the County. According to Doyle Rose a spokesman for Western International, Silver Creek will be re-routed to the south of the site to enable a more effective mining operation. The tailings will be removed by bulldozers or earth moving equipment and deposited in a central location where minerals will be recovered by a hydraulic or "placer" process. If the conditional permit was denied by the County for the milling operation. Western International maintains they will just ship the tailings to an alternate location. The conditional use application is scheduled for continued discussion before the County Planning Commission June 9. County Planner Stan Strebel told the Record that he is not primarily concerned about re-routing the stream or the immediate "strip mining" effect on the land. Rather his primary concern is that the site is restored to its natural state after the operation has been completed. Strebel said he has been given City Co'uncilmen and Prospector Park homeowner home-owner Tom Shellenbcrger is insisting the BLM conduct the more comprehensive "study" on the site adjoining his neighborhood. Shellenberger is mobilizing his neighbors to oppose the project at the County hearing June 9. "We've had enough noise and dust in our area and to have more for the next three or four years is more than we want to deal with" he said, "My children play in that area, fish in the stream and we've been promised a park. Now the City Council is considering mining the tailings on the park before making any improvements." Reports that the City is considering mining the tailings on the five acre park site cannot be substantiated. Of paramount issue right now is the estimated value of the long forgotten tailings. Tailings are the by-products of past mining operations and reportedly are high in gold, silver, lead, zinc and other mineral content. Attempts to recover minerals from the tailings were not substantially made in the past because of primitive technology and depressed metal prices. Now given high mineral prices and advanced technology re-milling old tailings proposes an extremely profitable opporutnity. The BLM has apparently examined the mineral content of the Silver Creek tailings and although they are hampered from releasing actual assay report, admit the prospects are "very, very" encouraging. Tailings are found in some quanity along Silver Creek from the head of Main Street. They are abundant as the stream meanders along Pacific Avenue or "easy Street" and literally cover the Prospector area. Tailings are present along the creek from Prospector east to Silver Creek where other mining operations have been proposed. Reports have circulated about Park City this week of values rivaling any historical tale from the Klondike California gold fields. The property on which the proposed mining operation will take place is reported to be worth "millions", the entire Prospector areas, "billions" and an individual residential lot in Prospector Park is reported by rumor to contain $350,000 in minerals. If wild rumor and speculation proves fact, the impact could be fantastic. Burbidge of the BLM says that technology and high metal prices is creating a wide spread interest in tailings across the state. "Since Park City has large deposits of tailings it will become a focal point of attention. It's just beginning and people have to realize that" she concludes. Western International would like to begin mining their claims as soon as possible. assurances by Western International that the site will be restored. Since the claims adjoin the new city park. Park City made an earlier request to have the BLM lands included eventually with the park site. Apparently Western International had tentative plans to residentially develop the property after mining the tailings. It now appears after negotiations with the City the group has shown as interest in deeding the property to the City as parkland once the project is completed in between two and four years. City Manager Arlene Loble says she is interested in seeing mining undertaken with minimal impact to the environment but admits the City is also interested in the additional 21 acres of parkland. "If the environmental impact can be controlled and minimized, the long range outcome could be possitive for Park City, " she said. Prior to approving the claim, the BLM conducted an environmental "assessment'' of the site and determined there would be no adverse impact on the area. Martha Burbidge a BLM spokesperson admitted an environmental "assessment" is not as complete as an environmental "impact study" but added the "assessment touched upon all bases covered in a study". She continued that "impact studies" are warranted only if a "major" environmental impact is imminent in a project or if public opposition or economic adversity is "extreme". Burbidge confessed many Park City residents have expressed concerns to the BLM regarding the project but concluded a major environmental impact study was vey "unlikely" for the area. Impact studies" she said, "are very extensive, expensive and can take several years to prepare." |