Forest Service selects preferred alternative for Powder River Mining operations

BAKER CITY – (Release from the U.S. Forest Service) The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest has published a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and draft Record of Decision for new plans of operation for small-scale mining operations in the Powder River watershed in northeast Oregon. 

The Final EIS and draft Record of Decision(s) authorizes the approval of 22 mining plans of operation while adding Forest Service requirements to them to ensure the protection of water quality and quantity, fisheries, and other resources. 

The preferred alternative allows for exploration activities to begin as described in each plan of operation. However, production-level mining will be contingent on an evaluation by the Forest Service of placer/lode mining claims to determine if valuable minerals, within the meaning of the General Mining Law, have been found on the land in question. Subsequent ROD(s) will be issued for each production plan based on the results of the evaluation. 

The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest has worked to involve the community since the project was announced in 2018. When the project was announced in March 2018 with a Notice of Intent to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement, scoping letters were sent, and public comments were received and analyzed. After the Draft EIS was released in June 2022, project letters were sent to State, Tribal, and Federal offices as well as to members of the public and further comments were received and analyzed. Feedback from multiple environmental groups, community-oriented councils, and government agencies was also received. Local officials like County Commissioners, as well as representatives from Tribal communities, also actively participated.  

For updates, links to project documents, and information about submitting comments and objections, visit the Forest’s website at www.fs.usda.gov/main/wallowa-whitman/news-events. For more information, please visit the project webpage at www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=45945.

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