Did 2 Nevada gold mines underreport mercury?

RENO, Nev. — Environmentalists are accusing two northern Nevada gold mines, including one owned by Utah's Kennecott Mining Co., of underreporting mercury emissions to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Nevada-based Great Basin Mine Watch, the Idaho Conservation League and Earthworks threatened legal action against the Florida Canyon Mining Co.'s operation near Imlay and Kennecott's Denton-Rawhide Mine near Fallon. Mercury is a common byproduct of gold mining and processing, and winds carry the Nevada emissions to Utah and Idaho. Nevada mining activities represent a very large potential source of mercury emissions that affect Utah, according to the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.

Contrary to recent data reported to the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection, the mines reported little or no mercury emissions over the last eight years to the federal EPA, said John Hadder, staff scientist with Great Basin Mine Watch.

In 2006, the Florida Canyon mine sent 440 pounds of mercury into the air and the Rawhide mine reported 350 pounds of emissions, according to the NDEP.

"We now know that hundreds of pounds of mercury are needlessly going into our air from mines that have minimal controls in place," Hadder said. "This new information is a wake-up call. We want the state and industry to agree to get controls in place right away."

An employee at the Florida Canyon mine referred questions to mine manager Martin Price, who was not immediately available for comment.

The Rawhide mine is owned by Utah-based Kennecott, a subsidiary of the international conglomerate Rio Tinto.

Rio Tinto spokesman Louie Cononelos said he could not comment until hearing back from Rawhide officials.

Mark Amodei, president of the Nevada Mining Association, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

The three environmental groups gave the two mines a 60-day notice of their intent to sue over alleged failure to report mercury emissions as required under federal law.

"If the mines do nothing on this and ignore the notice, we might take them to court to force them to comply with the law," Hadder said. "We want them to report mercury emissions to the best of their ability."

Mercury is released into the atmosphere during roasting and other refining procedures used to extract gold from ore. A neurotoxin, the substance is of particular danger to children and developing fetuses.