Local group aims to prevent exploratory drilling and proposed mining operation in Clark County
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IDAHO FALLS – A group opposed to a Canada-based company’s exploratory drilling project near Kilgore in Clark County is raising awareness in hopes of stopping it.
The Clean Kilgore Coalition, which consists of eight organizations throughout eastern Idaho, held an informational meeting at Idaho Brewing Company in Idaho Falls on Dec. 5.
In 2022, Excellon Idaho Gold Inc., which is owned by Toronto-based Excellon Resources Inc., began the Kilgore Gold Exploration Project. It involves drilling into rocks 20 miles northeast of Dubois at Mine Ridge and Prospect Ridge to search for evidence of gold, silver and other precious minerals.
Excellon acquired the Kilgore drilling project in 2020 upon discovery of a long history of gold prospecting in the area dating back to the 1800s.
If the company determines there is a large amount of gold and other precious metals, the goal is to eventually begin a mining operation.
EastIdahoNews.com reached out to the company’s CEO, Shawn Howarth, for an update on this project. He has not responded.
During last week’s meeting, Tom Hallberg with the Greater Yellowstone Coalition — which is a member of the Clean Kilgore Coalition — said the project covers roughly 12,000 acres and allows for 140 drill sites in the area.
We spoke with Phil Bandy, the project’s former senior project manager, in 2022. At the time, he said that getting to the point of actually opening a mine is a lengthy process. The four-month-long drilling would take place annually over the next three to five years to help researchers identify the precise location of the mineral and how far down it is. If it’s deemed “economically feasible,” Bandy said opening a mine would be at least 10 years out.
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Much of the land where the drilling is happening is owned by the U.S. Forest Service, and an environmental impact assessment would have to be completed before mining could begin. Public feedback is required, and it typically takes up to five years.
Concerns about exploratory drilling
Locals cited numerous environmental concerns with the project during last week’s meeting, one of which is the potential use of cyanide in the drilling process. Cyanide is a chemical compound of carbon and nitrogen that is often used to extract gold or silver from mineral deposits. It can be highly toxic to animals and plants if used in significant quantities.
While EastIdahoNews.com was unable to verify the use of cyanide directly from a company spokesman, Emilie Ritter with the Greater Yellowstone Coalition sent us a 2019 news release from Otis Gold Corporation, which merged with Excellon in 2020. In the news release, the company announces the completion of its preliminary economic assessment, which “supports the potential for a low capital intensity, low operating cost, open-pit, heap-leach operation.”
The use of cyanide in the mining industry is regulated, according to the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration.
Other concerns about drilling in Clark County include its potentially detrimental impact on wildlife and open space, recreation and rural character.
“Clark County is the least populated county in Idaho, but it is quite large and it reminds you of what Idaho used to be,” Josh Johnson, a geologist and director with the Idaho Conservation League, told last week’s crowd. “This is a place that hasn’t had big development (and having a mine could change that).”
Clark County Commissioner Nick Hillman owns property at the base of one of the mountains where drilling is taking place. He spoke out against the project at last week’s public meeting.
“The ranch in that valley belongs to us, and we’ve run cattle in that country for (more than) 100 years,” Hillman said. “It’s an absolute crime to tear a beautiful mountain down. It’s important for wildlife and hunting, sheep and cattle grazing, fishing. One of the things that makes Clark County attractive is (its natural beauty). We hate to see that destroyed.”
Hillman said they’ve looked into outlawing cyanide leaching in Clark County, only to learn that it “probably wouldn’t hold up in court.”
He’s supportive of any legislative action or grassroots efforts to prevent this project from happening.
“We will … do whatever we can to make it unattractive for those Canadian gold miners to come in and tear Idaho up,” Hillman said to applause.
Despite numerous complaints and lawsuits filed against the U.S. Forest Service, exploratory drilling is moving forward. In 2022, Bandy said the Forest Service determined the drilling would have “no significant impact” on wildlife or the habitat.
He also touted the financial benefits to Idaho and Clark County if there was a mining operation.
“If this project were to move forward and a mine was developed, there’s a lot of opportunity … for people moving in and purchasing goods and services. People with the expertise and knowledge could be hired on (to help with engineering and administrative tasks),” Bandy said in 2022.
Additional construction, including roads and drill pads, will be necessary as the project moves forward, according to the company’s website. About 10 miles of new roads have been approved, but those involved in the project want to use pre-existing roads as much as possible.
An influx of people and the addition of new infrastructure and development is exactly what locals want to prevent. During a recent meeting with Clark County Commissioners, Hillman said a geologist told them it “would not be advantageous to pursue this as a way to make money for the county.”
No specific action was taken during the meeting, but those opposed to the project are trying to spread the word in hopes of getting an initiative on the ballot to prevent future drilling or a mining operation from happening.
To learn more, visit the Clean Kilgore Coalition’s website. You can also learn more about the drilling project here.