A minor exploration drill program and geophysical survey will be conducted near the Buckhorn Mountain mine site on lands administered by the Forest Service, according to an announcement from the U.S. Forest Service.
     Drilling is expected in the summer and fall of 2008 and the spring of 2009.
     The work is part of Crown/Kinross Mining Corp.’s ongoing operations in the Buckhorn Mountain area, according to the Forest Service.
     The project is not a proposed change in the approved and permitted Buckhorn access project or the mine. The legal description is Township 40 North, Range 30 East, Sections 22-27, W.M.
     The drill program will entail about 14 drill pads/sites (18 drill holes) and about .7 mile of temporary road construction. It involves a total of some 3.4 acres of disturbance.
     Six of the drill sites are on or directly adjacent to existing roads in previously disturbed areas, according to the announcement.
     Eight drill sites would be accessed either from newly constructed temporary drill roads or by the re-opening of previously reclaimed drill roads, forest officials said.
     The drill holes will be plugged after completion of drilling, and the constructed temporary roads will be obliterated, the announcement continued.
     Drilling and reclamation will take about four months.
     A soil survey also would be conducted on the west side of Buckhorn Mountain.
     Comments are sought on the proposal until July 13.
     “I would appreciate any comments, concerns, and suggestions you may have,” said Mark S. Morris, district ranger.
     Electronic scoping comments may be mailed to comments-pacificnorthwest-okanogan-tonasket@fs.fed.us.
     More information is available from Morris or team leader Phil Christy, 486-5137.