DEQ taking comment on gold exploration near Yellowstone

The state Department of Environmental Quality has released a draft environmental assessment of a Canadian company’s proposal to search for precious metals in a mining district north of Yellowstone National Park.

The DEQ is taking public comment through Dec. 12 on Lucky Minerals’ request for an exploration license.

Lucky Minerals wants to obtain core samples from up to 46 drill holes on private land in the Absaroka Mountains in Park County, about 12 miles southeast of Emigrant. The total project disturbance area would be just under 5 acres. The company wants to gauge the area’s copper, gold, silver and molybdenum deposits.

The assessment discloses potential impacts from exploration on the land, recreation, soils, vegetation, aesthetics, wildlife and geothermal resources.

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Online: http://deq.mt.gov/Public/ea