Horse Thief Exploration

Why is this project a concern?

The Boise National Forest is seeking comments for Stallion Gold's Horse Heaven Exploration Project in the Johnson Creek watershed. Stallion Gold, a Canadian junior mining company with no experience operating a mining project, plans to conduct an extensive drilling on unpatented mining claims adjacent to Johnson Creek, a major tributary in the South Fork of the Salmon River watershed. This project is the first step towards developing another Stibnite Gold Project sized mine. Stallion Gold is quick to point out to its investors that the mining claims are adjacent to the Stibnite Gold Project.

The Boise National Forest needs to hear your voice that the South Fork of the Salmon River watershed is not the place to begin an unnecessary 21st century gold rush. Stallion Gold's proposed drilling would begin when the sites are snow free and extend to October 1. Drilling would be conducted in 10 day shifts, 24 hours a day, closing Forest Road 456 during operations. The Boise National Forest plans authorize this project under a categorical exclusion, which means that there will be limited analysis of any environmental impacts.

Let the Boise National Forest know that a categorical exclusion is inappropriate because there are extraordinary circumstances existing that require an Environmental Assessment under NEPA. These circumstances include:

• Increase in industrial traffic and fuel hauling along Johnson Creek, which hosts Endangered Species Act-listed Chinook Salmon, Steelhead, and Bull Trout;

• Potential impacts to wildlife, including wolverine, Northern Idaho ground squirrel, and wolves, from 24/7 drilling operations.

• Potential impact to the Nez Perce Tribe's treaty-reserved hunting and gathering rights due to access restrictions to traditional hunting and gathering areas.

• Potential impacts to groundwater from drilling activities, which will occur upgrandient and adjacent to Johnson Creek.

Make your voice heard. Read about the drilling proposal below and submit comments by clicking the link by August 12, 2022.

Air Quality

SSFS and Partners Challenge Perpetua’s Air Quality permit

With help from our technical experts and partner organizations we have continued to expose the flaws in Perpetua’s proposed plan to control toxic air emissions from the Stibnite Gold Project. Early on, Perpetua got the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality to designate the proposed mine as a “Minor Source” of air pollution, thereby making the mine subject to more lenient air quality rules. We have consistently challenged this in the permitting comment process. Perpetua continues their pattern of relying on a combination of shoddy scientific analysis and heavy political lobbying to move their project through the legally required regulatory processes. Had we not been able to provide substantive public comment to the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality regarding this air permit, Perpetua would already have approval to spew massive amounts of arsenic, mercury, other toxic compounds and fugitive dust into the air we breathe. Recently we have managed to convince the Environmental Protection Agency to scrutinize the State permitting process closely as the battle continues. The saga grinds on as, with your support, we make every effort to protect our air