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Buckhorn Mountain EIS Project

August 2013. Buckhorn Mountain EIS Project. Buckhorn Mountain Exploration Project. Echo Bay Exploration is seeking federal and state authorization for exploration near the Buckhorn mine.

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Buckhorn Mountain EIS Project

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  1. August 2013 Buckhorn Mountain EIS Project

  2. Buckhorn Mountain Exploration Project • Echo Bay Exploration is seeking federal and state authorization for exploration near the Buckhorn mine. • In accordance with NEPA and SEPA requirements, the company provided a plan of operation to agencies and the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process was initiated. • The EIS process provides for a science-based evaluation of the potential impacts of the proposed program and for public review. • Studies include analysis of air quality, water resources, soils, wildlife, botany, timber resources, climatology, aesthetics, public safety and cultural resources. • Approximately $3 million to prepare the EIS, and • Invest over $5 million in environmental studies required by the EIS process

  3. Who is preparing the Buckhorn Exploration EIS? • NEPA Lead Agency: • US Forest Service (USFS) • Assisted by third-party contractor: URS Corporation • Cooperating Agencies: • Bureau of Land Management (BLM) • Washington State Department of Natural Resources (WDNR)

  4. Federal Coordination with Multiple Agencies/Entities State Local US Forest Service Bureau of Land Management US Fish & Wildlife Corp of Engineers US EPA State Historical Preservation Office Department of Ecology Department of Natural Resources Department of Fish and Wildlife Okanogan County Community and Special Interest Groups

  5. Why does this process seem to take so long? • Extremely comprehensive • Multiple entities involved • Changes in team members • Average time for EIS process is highly dependent on many factors • Between January 1998, and December 2006, 53 federal executive branch entities made available to the public 2,236 final environmental impact statements (EISs).The time to prepare an EIS ranged from 51 days to 6,708 days (18.4 years). The average time for all federal entities was 3.4 years. (Journal of the National Association of Environmental Professionals) • Recent large mining EISs Average: 4 to 5 years from scoping to ROD(TetraTech) Pogo Mine EIS and supporting information, AK

  6. Major Resource Studies Undertaken • Air Quality • Water Quality & Quantity • Hydrology • Water Rights/Source Options • Aquatic Resources • Wetlands • Wildlife • Geochemical Assessments • Cultural Resources • Visual Resources • Traffic Use • Noise • Socioeconomic • Landslides & Slope Stability • Erosion • Vegetation • Land Management • Recreation • Common Stand Exams • Soils • Grazing • Geologic and Paleontological • Old Growth • Great Grey Owl Surveys • Northern Goshawk Surveys • Endangered Species Surveys • Stream Flow & Sediment Surveys • Drilling Best Practices

  7. EIS is Only One Part of the Entire Process(it is not “permitting” but is done in conjunction with permitting efforts) Local Process Federal Process State Process EIS Process Notice of Intent Plan of Operations Approval DNR Reclamation Permit County Comprehensive Planning WA State 401 Certification Scoping National Historic Preservation Act Critical Areas Ordinance DOE Clean Water Act Authorizations (NPDES, Wetlands/Shorelands, Water Rights) Mitigation Plans/Properties Draft EIS Endangered Species Act Final EIS Army Corps of Engineers CWA 404 Permit Land Use/Special Use Permits State Historic Preservation Act Mitigation Plans Local consistency, permits State permit, certification, approval Federal permit, certification, approval Record of Decision (ROD)

  8. Where is the Buckhorn Exploration Project at in the EIS Process? DEIS Public Comments Exploration Drilling Public Scoping Final EIS and Record of Decision Draft EIS Preparation Possible Future Permitting for Mining Activities

  9. Looking Forward… • Baseline coverage for entire project area is complete • Baseline reports are in review process by agencies • Work toward maintaining current schedule as proposed by USFS • Anticipate Record of Decision in May 2015 • Continue working collaboratively with agencies and Office of Regulatory Assistance (ORA)

  10. Contact: Mark Ioli Vice President & General Manager Kettle River—Buckhorn (509) 775-3157 ext. 134 mark.ioli@kinross.com Deana Zakar Community & Gov’t Relations Kettle River—Buckhorn (509) 775-3157 ext. 125 deana.zakar@kinross.com Gina Myers Environmental Manager Kettle River—Buckhorn (509) 775-3157 ext. 175 gina.myers@kinross.com

  11. Thank you! Our Values Putting people first Outstanding corporate citizenship High performance culture Rigorous financialdiscipline

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