NEVADA CITY, Calif. July 28, 2010 - The owners of the Blue Lead Mine withdrew their appeal to the Nevada County BOS regarding the vested right to mine on their property. The appeal was to be heard on August 10.
In a letter to the BOS dated July 27, applicant Bob White wrote:
After meetings with County Counsel and the Planning Director, Blue Lead Gold Mining, LLC wishes to notify the Nevada County Board of Supervisors that it will not pursue the pending appeal, and will instead continue working cooperatively with County Planning Staff to accomplish Blue Lead's goals for its property. As such, please accept this letter as Blue Lead's notice to the Board of Supervisors that it is officially withdrawing its appeal, and will instead continue pursuing the permitting process with the County.
Blue Lead believes that continuing with the permitting process will allow Blue Lead to clear up what appear to be misunderstandings as to the Project itself, as well as address any remaining concerns the County or the public may have. We are confident that it will become increasingly clear how beneficial our small project will be for the County.
On May 27, the Planning Commission denied Blue Lead Mine LLC vested rights on their 79-acre property in the Red Dog area. The commission's findings stated there was insufficient evidence to approve vested rights.
Any vested mine does not need to apply for a mining permit to the county and no California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) document for the mining operation itself is required. Another exemption concerns grading permits for roads, landing pads, staging areas, etc. Culverts and diversion ponds are also exempt from any oversight under the vested right to mine.
On June 7, Blue Lead filed a formal appeal with the Nevada County BOS to have the decision overturned.
