ONTARIO – The Malheur County Planning Commission last month approved two applications for a Nevada mining firm, keeping on track plans for a proposed gold and silver mine southwest of Vale.
In its April 25 decision, the commission approved a conditional use permit and special conditions to accommodate sage grouse habitat on county-controlled land at the Grassy Mountain site.
The commission decision allows mining activity on a 62-acre parcel of land that is zoned range use.
The sage grouse permit clears the way for large scale development inside the area catalogued as a low-density for the bird.
State law calls for certain counties in Oregon – such as Malheur – to consider impacts to sage grouse when deliberating a major development.
Paramount Gold Nevada Corp. plans to build the mine on three claims at . . .
