Public comment requested for the Draft Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis: Gold Hill Mining District
SILVER CITY, NM, June 12, 2024 Gila National Forest officials are requesting public comments and input on the DraftEngineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) Report for the abandoned mines included in the Gold Hill Mining District, located on the Silver City Ranger District, near Lordsburg, NewMexico. The comment period begins June 17, 2024, and will conclude after30 days. All written comments must be submitted by close of business on July 17, 2024.
A draft EE/CA was prepared to identify and evaluate cleanup alternatives to reduce the potential threat to human health and theenvironment from heavy metals contamination. Nine (9) sites were evaluated and investigated in this report; this report showed past mining operations left over 5,300 cubic yards of waste rock and tailings containing elevated levels of heavy metals.
The recommended action is Alternative 3, Excavation, On-Site Repository. Mine waste material would be excavated and transferred to one of three constructed repositories. Waste will be capped with an engineered clean soil cover. Open mine features would be closed to prevent human entry. This alternative decreases the potential for human and ecological exposure to elevated concentrations of heavy metals and removes physical safety hazards.
The Gold Hill Mining District is approximately 10 square miles in size and is located on the Gila National Forest in Grant and Hidalgo County, eleven (11) miles northeast of Lordsburg, New Mexico.
The draft EE/CA is available for review at the Gila National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/gila/landmanagement/projects/?cid=fseprd1179986 .
The Administrative Record is available at the Southwestern Regional Office at 333 Broadway Blvd SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102. Please send your written comments and input to: Hailey Stock, Southwestern Regional Office, 333 Broadway Blvd SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102; or via email to
