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Timeline

OHA's challenge of mine proposal

1990	April	BMG submits 5 page Categorical Exclusion for exploration on Buckhorn Mountain
1992	January	BMG Submits Initial Plan of Operations for Crown Jewel Joint Venture
	March	Scoping begins for Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
	March	Okanogan Highlands Alliance is formed
	December	Conservation groups form Washington Coalition for Responsible Mining
1993	January	BMG applies for mineral patents
	February	Campaign begins for new mining regulations
	March	Full page ads in state wide newspapers begin efforts for cyanide leach moratorium
1994	March	Legislature passes Metals Mining & Milling Act
	November	65 protest recorded for BMG Water Rights, including Tribes and Canadians
1995	March	County Commissioners pressure agencies to approve mine
	June	Draft EIS Issued
	September	Tribes vote “NO” to mining on Reservation
1996	March	BMG merges with Hemlo Gold of Canada
	August	US Taxpayers pay BMG $65 million not to mine New World Project near Yellowstone
1997	January	Final EIS released
	March	OHA and others appeal EIS
	May	EIS Appeals denied, lawsuit filed in Federal District Court
	May	Okanogan County approves Conditional use permit,
	June	Water quality hearing, Oroville, WA
	September	Dam safety and stormwater permits approved by Ecology
	October	Air quality hearing in Oroville, WA
	November	BMG water rights approved, OHA appeals to PCHB
1998	January	Air quality permit issued by Ecology
	January	BMG general manager for Crown Jewel, Brant Hinze, moves to Bolivia
	May	OHA sues Okanogan County over solid waste permits
	May	PCHB hears OHA and Tribes appeal of BMG water rights
	September	BMG reduces staff
1999	January	Ecology issues addendum to EIS
	January	Federal judge rules against OHA and upholds EIS
	February	Ecology issues Water Quality Certification to BMG, OHA appeals
	February	Superior Court denies OHA’s challenge of County exemption from solid waste permit
	March	Federal agencies deny Plan of Operations and revoke Record of Decision for mine - Millsite Decision
	May	Gorton Rider exempts BMG from millsite provision of 1872 mining law
	June	Plan of operations approved by Forest Service and BLM
	June	BMG receives Corps 404 filing Wetlands Permit permit
	August	OHA and Tribes appeal Plan of Operations to IBLA
	September	PCHB hears OHA and Tribes appeal of BMG’s water quality certification
	September	IBLA denies OHA’s appeal of Plan of Operations
2000	January	PCHB revokes BMG’s water rights and water quality certification
	February	BMG writes off value of Crown Jewel project
	March	BMG appeals PCHB decision to Superior Court, Ecology does not appeal
	June	BMG acquired by Newmont Mining
2001	February	Superior Court upholds PCHB decision
	July	BMG abandons efforts to mine on Buckhorn
2002	March	Crown Resources declares Chapter 11 bankruptcy
	May	Kinross purchases Echo Bay including the Republic mill, tailings and mines
	July	Newmont Mining reclaims BMG exploration damage
	August	Crown submits plans for an underground mine with mill and tailings in Beaver Canyon
2004	February	Kinross announces intent to purchase Crown Beaver Canyon mill & tailings changed to expanding Republic tailings dump
2005	November	Ecology published draft Supplemental EIS
	December	EPA and Washington Fish & Wildlife find DSEIS lacking
2006	September	Ecology publishes final SEIS
	October	Colville Tribal Council reconfirms its vehement opposition to mine
2007	January	USDA Forest Service approves road access on Marias Creek
	March	OHA appeals road access
	August	Ecology approves tailings expansion - OHA appeals
	September	Ecology issues NPDES Waste Discharge permit - OHA appeals
	September	Federal Judge denies OHA's motion for preliminary injunction
	October	Ecology issues Water Quality Certification and water rights OHA appeals
	November	Ecology issues final water rights
	December	OHA appeals, hearing process begins
2008	April	OHA and Crown agree to a negotiated settlement

Okanogan Highlands Alliance

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Timeline