Minerals and Mining Program
Wharf Resources (USA), Inc. - Mine Permits
Wharf Resources (USA), Inc. is a gold mining company that plans to expand its current large scale heap leach gold mine in Lawrence County near Lead, South Dakota. The existing mining operation is currently covered under Large Scale Mine Permit Numbers 356, 434, 435, and 464. The proposed expansion area includes areas south and east of the current Wharf Mine permit boundary, including a portion of the reclaimed Golden Reward Mine which was affected under Large Scale Mine Permit No. 450. The mine permit was transferred to Wharf on November 18, 2010.
In September 2010, Wharf submitted a Request for Determination of Special, Exceptional, Critical, or Unique Lands and Notice of Intent to Mine, which is the first step in the mine permit process. The department has determined the Terry Cemetery is eligible for inclusion on the Preliminary List of Special, Exceptional, Critical, or Unique Lands. Three petitions from the public have also been submitted to place the Terry Cemetery on the preliminary list. Under ARSD 74:29:10:13, a hearing before the Board of Minerals and Environment regarding the three nominating petitions was held on March 17, 2011. The board determined the Terry Cemetery should be placed on the preliminary list.
On February 18, 2011, Wharf submitted its large scale mine permit application. On July 18, 2011, the department determined the mine permit application was complete and filed. The Notice of Filing was published on July 22 and 29, 2011. After the Notice of Filing was published, the department received four petitions to intervene and become parties to the proceedings. The department's recommendation for conditional approval of Wharf's mine permit application was issued on October 17, 2011. Petitions to contest the department's recommendation and become party to the proceedings pursuant to ARSD 74:29:01:18 were required to be filed with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources no later than October 24, 2011. No additional petitions were received.
A contested case hearing on the permit application was held before the Board of Minerals and Environment on November 16, 17, and 18, 2011. The board unanimously approved the permit application. After approval of the hearing findings of fact and the acceptance of the reclamation and postclosure bonds by the board, Large Scale Mine Permit No. 476 was issued to Wharf on January 19, 2012.
To help disseminate information on these environmental permits, DENR will post the following permit applications submitted by Wharf Resources on this page and will provide updates on the status of DENR reviews of the applications. Please click on the type of permit application you are interested in:
Mine Permits
Special, Exceptional, Critical or Unique Land Determination
Mine Permit Application
