Elko Daily Free Press from Elko, Nevada • 9

Saturday, September 17, 1994 ELKO DAILY FREE PRESS, Elko, Nevada 9 Business Kobinsop wins BLM approval for Project out' The document includes impact mitigation measures Magma agreed to take for White Pine County, the school district and Ely, including agreeing to hire as many local workers as possible and requiring the prime construction contractor to provide adequate worker housing. Magma, however, plans to help build new permanent housing in Ely, Goodrich said. The company also agreed to $931,000 in aid for the city, White Pine County or the school district to ease impacts from the project In addition, Magma has posted a $254,464 bond for the first phase of construction and project operations. The second phase will require an additional $9,470,920 bond to "ensure successful reclamation," the BLM says. The decision to allow the Robinson Project may be appealed by Oct 11 to the Interior Board of Land Appeals by filing with the state BLM office at 850 Harvard Way, P.O.

Box 12000, Reno, 89520000a Questions can be directed to Netcher at 2894865. Sixteen of the 35 comment letters the BLM received on the draft EIS were in support of the project because of the economic boost it would give Ely. The BLM also received comment letters from Glenn Miller of the Nevada Sierra Club and Phil Hocker of the Washington-based Mineral Poliy Center. Both praised the BLM for the full EIS, but they still had questions about water quality, reclamation enforcement and heap decommission. The final document states that the BLM expects no negative impacts to threatened or endangered species, cultural resources, ground water, air quality or recreation.

Mitigation and monitoring requirements are detailed. And the record of decision signed by state Acting BLM Director Ronald B. Wenker calls for Nevada Magma to follow the mining alternatives selected by the BLM, including building a straight-across dam at Gir-oux Wash for tailings, Netcher said. The BLM also says the company should dispose of tailings in the Liberty Pit later, once that pit is mined nally won approval from the Ely BLM for the project following an environmental assessment but Baca ordered a full EIS in June 1993. The Sierra Club and Mineral Policy Center said an EIS was needed because the environmental assessment didnt sufficiently address environmental concerns, including possible ground water contamination.

The "biggest thing between the environmental assessment and the EIS is that the EIS has more technical data. The conclusions are very similar but the science to back them up is stronger," Ely EIS Team Leader Daniel Netcher said. The EIS reports that all mining and most waste rock disposal would be on private land, but public land is needed for portions of the waste dumps, copper and gold heap leach facilities, a mill tailings disposal area, well and pipeline corridors and a new high voltage transmission line. Magma plans to restart copper mining activities by expanding the five existing open pits, building new concentrating, ore-crushing and leaching facilities, gold-leaching activities and dewatering an average of 3,500 gallons per minute. The project is in an area where mining dates back to 1868, including large-scale copper mining off and on since 1908.

Kennecott Copper Corp. mined until 1978 and gold mining at the site began in 1985. Magma acquired full ownership of the property in 1991 and continued mining for gold until August of 1992 when the company began laying off workers after the gold deposit was mined out The peak workforce was 180 but only 16 workers remain today to recover gold from the stockpiles. "We are still leaching for gold but are looking into closure," Goodrich said, explaining that the company was running out of ore to leach until the new mining begins. Originally, workers had expected to move right into the Robinson Project after the gold mining ended, but the order to do a full EIS delayed the project by roughly a year and a half, Magma Nevada Operations Manager Dan Turk said last spring.

Ely residents staged protests of the delay. to get concrete in the ground before the hard freeze." The project involves 3,216 acres of private land and nearly 2,140 acres of BLM-managed land. Much of the Magma operations will be on private land already disturbed by earlier mining activity, according to the EIS. Magma plans to produce an aver1 age of 690 tons of copper concentrate, 50 tons of cathode copper and two tons of molybdenum concentrate per day, the EIS states. In addition, Magma plans to produce more than 92,000 ounces of gold per year through the flotation process, extracting this gold from concentrate shipped to Magma's smelter in San Manuel, Ariz.

The company also expects to leach 14,000 ounces of gold per year at the Robinson site. The BLM record of decision estimates mine life at 16.S years and the peak workforce at 550. The construction workforce would be a maximum of 514 workers, according to the EIS. The BLM decision accompanies the final EIS of the project Robinson Mining Limited Partnership, owned by Magma Nevada, origi I Gaming news roundup 7L-J' 1 5 mm 1 ju i Vl ml iLi i ft I7i' Flos Hairstyling is now open at 438 1 UP Fifth st, Florence Morrison and Denise Stoddard, are cOfOwners of to work as an instructor at Northern Nevada Beauty Academy. She also said she can speak fluent Spanish to help her Spanish-speaking customers.

Stodcjard ((ompjeted her schooling earlier this year at Fran Brown College of Beauty in Utah. Shop hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. The phone number is 753-5510.

the shop, offering hairstyling, haircuts for men, women and children, permanents, hair coloring, Hacienda offers LAS VEGAS (AP) Sahara Gaming Corp. is receiving offers for its Hacienda Hotel and would entertain an offer if one is made at the right price, a company official has confirmed. There's no secret that property (Hacienda) has become very attractive to investors who want to get a foothold in Las Vegas," said Steve Szapor, chief financial officer. "Obviously, at the right price thing is for sale. There are no offers.

There are people kicking the tires," Szapor said. Paul Lowden, chairman and chief executive officer, denied that either the Hacienda or the Sahara Hotel was being marketed actively. There have been reports the company might sell one or both properties to satisfy debt requirements and improve cash flow. That would allow Sahara Gaming to keep the Pioneer Hotel in Laughlin and the Santa Fe Hotel in Las Vegas, its strongest casinos. Joint venture CORYDON, Ind.

(AP) Riverboat Development Inc. and Caesars World Inc. have announced plans to jointly apply for a gaming license in Harrison County, Ind. Riverboat Development and a subsidiary of Caesars World have formed Harco Entertainment LLC, a company that if approved by the Indiana Gaming Commission, plans to develop a riverboat and entertainment complex on a 250-acre site in Bridgeport The site would be along the Ohio River 13 miles from Louisville, Ky. and would include a riverboat casino, entertainment and other facilities yet to be announced.

Workers laid off GREENVILLE, Miss. (AP) The Cotton Club Casino in Greenville, has laid off some employees, but officials are not saying how many. "We're trying to inn a business, and we're making changes as we go along," casino spokeswoman Judy Flowers said. She said the casino, which opened in December, is reacting to "volatile" trends in the gaming industry. Some of the positions were cut because they just turned out to be unseeded, she said.

"We're still feeling our way through this market" she said. The casino cut some positions ear a Magma Nevada Mining Co. has received long-awaited approval from the Bureau of Land Management to begin work on the Robinson Project west of Ely, which would revive copper mining in the historic Robinson Mining District The company had planned to start work on the copper mine more than a year ago, but former BLM Director Jim Baca overrode Ely district project approval and ordered a full environmental impact statement Magma "will hit the ground running" once the 30day appeal period ends, said Environmental Manager Gary Goodrich. "We're pretty optimistic." The company expects to begin copper production in January 1996, he said. Meanwhile, Magma Nevada, a subsidiary of Magma Copper Co.

of Tucson, has already started ground work at the mine site on private land. "We're doing some limited dirt work to get ready," Goodrich said, adding that the company already has state permits for the work. "We want America West flight attendants vote for union TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) America West Airlines flight attendants voted Thursday to join a union, disregarding company executives' request that they remain independent while a new salary structure is worked out Of the 1,740 flight attendants in Phoenix, Las Vegas and Columbus, Ohio, 1,028 voted to be a part of the Association of Flight Attendants, AFL-CIO, the union said. The AFA had been trying to unionize America West for five years.

"We would have preferred if the flight attendants would have chosen to retain representation for themselves," said America West spokesman Mike Mitchell. "However, the company respects their right to be represented in the collective bargaining process and we'll work from there." America West promised to reveal a new pay structure by Jan. 1 that Chairman, William Franke said would bring salaries up to snuff. Employees were hired at low wages while being required to buy America West stock on the theory that as the company prospered, the stock would offset the small salary. But when the carrier filed for federal bankruptcy protection from creditors in 1991, wages were frozen and the value of the stock dropped to virtually nothing.

LEENDERT G. Krol has been named vice president for exploration-for Newmont Gold Co. Krol, 54, had been director of foreign exploration for Newmont since May 1992 and had recently been given additional responsibilities as area manager for the company's expanding South American operations. He joined Newmont at its Carlin mines in 1988 and was promoted to director of metallurgical services in 1990. Previously a consultant for several chemical and mining companies, he was also employed as a senior geologist with Anaconda Minerals, Anglo American Corp.

of South Africa and De Beers Consolidated Mines. Krol succeeds Aubrey Paverd, 55, who retired after 21 years service with Newmont In his new roll, Krol will have responsibility for Newmont's worldwide exploration efforts outside of Southeast Asia, where John AS. Dow continues as vice president and regional director responsible for development of Newmont's Indonesian and Southeast Asian interest TWO NEVADA mining operations received 1994 Nevada Reclamation Excellence Awards at the Nevada Mining Association's Annual Convention last weekend at Harveys, South Lake Ta-hoe. The award-winning gold mines were Western States Minerals' Wil-lard Mine near Lovelock and West-era Mining Hog Ranch Mine in northern Washoe County. The Wil-lard and Hog Ranch mines were selected because their management and employees went beyond state and federal regulatory requirements and achieved outstanding results, according to the Nevada Division of Minerals.

In both cases, innovative methods were applied to improve the land after mining. Gcv. Bob Miller, who was the keynote speaker at the convention banquet said that "these Nevada mining operations, Willard and Hog Ranch, are outstanding examples of the high environmental standards our modern mining industry meets today." The Nevada Reclamation Excellence Awards have been presented annually for the last five years In recognition of outstanding reclamation at Nevada mines and mineral explora "1 I 1 I II manicures, pedicures, ear piercing and facial waxing. Morrison, who has 29 years of experience in the business, said she had a shop in Elko for 13 years before moving to Reno for a year and a half lier this summer, rehiring some of the employees later. New Orleans casino NEW ORLEANS (AP) DDespite sharply increased costs triggered by delays and rising interest rates, the world's largest casino planned for New Orleans remains financially feasible, according to a report given to state regulators.

An earlier report by the accounting firm of Peat Marwick said the casino project proposed by Harrah's Jazz Co. could make it financially. However, its analysis was based on a projected cost of about $700 million. Since then, the cost has jumped by about $90 million. The project has been plagued by repeated delays, such as rebidding recommended by the state attorney general, and disputes between the city and the state over casino payments to city government At the same time, interest rates have jumped and bond markets have turned cool to gambling issues.

Some commission members have questioned how much longer the project could be delayed before it be came impossible to justify. The latest report was prepared by Wilmore Whitmore, a former banker and president of the casino regulatory agency. In addition to the $90 million in additional costs, the report noted that Harrah's is now counting on $145 million more in public financing than originally projected and $85.6 million less in bank debt That will drive up interest costs by about $435 million because bank debt is less costly, the analysis said. Video poker EUGENE, Ore. (AP) The City Council in Eugene, Ore, has instituted a 10 percent tax on the money local retailers make on video poker, the first such municipal tax ever in Oregon.

The tax, which would be used to help pay for community policing, is expected to raise $270,000 annually. The council approved the tax without a public hearing, in part to make sure it's on the books before the Nov. 8 general election. A statewide measure on the November ballot if approved, would require cities to get voters' permission before imposing any new tax or fee increase. The Oregon Restaurant Association said the industry group would challenge the council's action in court 1 ZY Business Briefs day, and a 46,200 ton per month flotation mill, which is undergoing expansion to 77,000 tons per month capacity.

Coeur is currently remapping the mine, and is carrying out extensive geologic sampling. The mine has not been operational since 1988. The mill is currently contracted to process off-site ore. Coeur can acquire its 51 percent interest in the mineral property by paying Minera Cerro Dominador $4 million over a four-year period and investing $3.5 million in exploration. The company can elect to exercise this option at any prior time.

Upon exercise of the mineral option, Coeur also then has the right to purchase 51 percent of the crushing and milling facility at the mine for an additional $8 million, the company said. Coeur d'Alene Mines has already started mine construction at another Chilean property, the 100 percent-owned Fachinal gold silver mine, scheduled to begin production by late 1995. DANIEL Stefiik of Elko, an insurance agent for Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, recently attended a school for career trainees at the Fanner's regional office in Phoenix. Regional Manager Paul Roester said those attended the school must meet a high set of standards. The school provided advanced training in automobile, fire and life insurance, policy service and basic claims handling.

Stefiik owns and operates Stefiik Insurance Agency at 462 10th St (formerly John Biegler Insurance). Farmers Insurance is one the nation's largest insurance organizations. isting "in stack" monitoring equipment to meet the new requirements, the company said. All three power stations have equipment to monitor visible emissions. WELLS CHAMBER of Commerce reported that the chamber staff personally spoke with 350 summer visitors to the community.

By the end of August they provided information to 342 walk-ins, answered 186 phone calls and responded to 46 requests for written information about the city, said Tommi Reynolds, secretary and treasurer of the chamber. "We'd never kept records before on visitations," she said. "We were kind of surprised by how many contacts there were." The office located in the old library next to the city office, was staffed on a part-time basis this summer by high school student Ryan Smith and volunteers Bonnie Stark and Bert and Mont Lewis. Now that summer is ending, the office is not open on a regular basis but brochures are available outside the office, and the city staff can answer questions next door, Reynolds said. In addition to the contact with visitors, the chamber also helped sponsor the Wells Fun Run Car Show and was involved in the Great American Race and the She's a Screamer motorcycle race.

Reynolds said the chamber provides liability insurance for other local events as well. Anyone interested in the insurance can contact the chamber at 752 3540 and leave a message. COUER d'Alene Mines Corp. announced that its Chilean subsidiary has signed an agreement under which it has the right to acquire up to a 51 percent operating interest in a fully-developed Chilean gold mine and mill operation with a current estimated gold resource of 234,000 ounces. The agreement was signed between CDE Chilean Mining Corp.

and Minera Cerro Dominador of Chile. Located approximately 800 miles north of Santiago, the Faride property includes the fully developed, underground Faride Mine, built to produce 650 tons of ore per tion projects. The winners are selected by a team of representatives from the state and federal agencies that oversee mining activities. AMERICAN Barrick Resources Corp. announced that its board of directors declared a semi-annual dividend of five cents per common share, payable Dec.

15 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 30. Toronto-based Barrick, parent company of Barrick Goldstrike Mines Inc. north of Carlin, trades shares under the ticker symbol ABX on the New York stock exchange. Shares are also traded on the Toronto, Montreal, London and Paris exchanges and under the ticker symbol ABR on the Swiss stock exchanges.

SIERRA Pacific Power Co. is installing new emissions monitoring equipment at its two natural gas and oil-fired power stations to comply with new federal Clean Air Act rules. Continuous monitoring of stack emissions is required by the 1990 Amendment to the Clean Air Act A goal of this environmental legislation is to reduce annual sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions by approximately 50 percent of 1980 levels by the year 2000, the company said. The computerized systems for monitoring air emissions at the two Fort Churchill and three Tracy Station generating units will be online by Dec 31, according to Jerry Canning, vice president of wholesale electric service for Sierra Pacific. Tracy is located 17 miles east of Reno; the Fort Churchill power plant is near Yerington.

The systems which will result from this $2 million investment will measure concentrations of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, as well as other gases. Present state regulations affecting permitting require that samples of gases from Die Tracy and Fort Churchill power planta be analyzed every five years. Sierra Pacific said few modifications should be required to reduce emissions at and Fort Churchill because natural gas, a clean fuel, is burned at these power plants most of the time, Canning said. Sierra Pacific's coal fired Valmy Power Plant near Battle Mountain, a newer facility, has upgraded the ex Nevada Small Business Development Center Elko Subcenter-Serving All of Northeast Nevada The Small Business Development Center is a service of Northern Nevada Community College. We exist to serve your small business needs by providing the following: Fret, ConJUentUd Business Counseling: We will work with you on everything from finance to marketing to customer service.

We will do our best to provide the information you need. Workshops and CLuses: We sponsor seminars on a variety of business topics. If there is a seminar you'd like to see, let us know. Tracy Echeverria, Management Consultant Serving Your Small Business Needs For more information, call 753-2245 Join Us G- ELKO UNITED METHODIST FELLOWSHIP 425 Railroad St (Lcoiard Comerl Worship 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 10:45 a.m.

Rev. Nancy Danson 753 5220.