Plan to Reopen One of California’s Largest Gold Mines Hits Snag

A plan to reopen one of California’s largest gold mines hit a snag this month after Nevada County supervisors denied a petition by owners for the right to mine at the property. The board of supervisors of the small northern California county, located on the border of Nevada, voted unanimously Dec. 14 to deny a request by a company called Rise Grass Valley for “vested rights” at the Idaho-Maryland Mine. The “vested rights” permit would have allowed the local company, which purchased the site in 2017, to begin mining operations without having to undergo a lengthy conditional use permit process that requires an environmental review by the government. However, “vested rights” permit applicants are still required to put together an environmental impact report, for which the company has submitted 1,000 pages....