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NEPA Number: DOI-BLM-NV-B010-2026-0021-DNA
Project Name: Cortez Pit Expansion Project

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Project Information

NEPA Number

DOI-BLM-NV-B010-2026-0021-DNA
Project Name

Cortez Pit Expansion Project
Project Type

DNA
NEPA Status

In Progress - Public Review and Comment Period
Lead Office

Mount Lewis Field Office
Last Updated

7/16/2026 5:00:00 PM

Project Description

NGM proposes modifications to existing operations at the Nevada Gold Mines LLC (NGM) Cortez Gold Mine, which is located in Eureka and Lander counties in southern Crescent Valley, Nevada.
The Proposed Action will modify or create the following activities in the Cortez Complex:
•	Create the East and West Airport waste rock facilities (“WRF”) and reclassifying authorized disturbance previously classified as the Airport borrow pit to WRF disturbance;
•	Expand the footprint and deepening the Cortez Pit and reclassifying portions of the Cortez WRF, the F-Canyon Pit, the Mill One process area, haul road, and ancillary disturbance;
•	Reduce the footprint of the Cortez WRF;
•	Create the Cortez Pits WRF East and reclassifying authorized disturbance previously classified as the Cortez heap leach and ancillary disturbance to WRF disturbance;
•	Add dewatering wells and pipeline;
•	Move authorized monitoring wells; and
•	Reclassify ancillary disturbance, a segment of the F-Canyon and Gold Acres haul roads, process area, and power line/water line corridor disturbance. 

The proposed Project will result in approximately two acres of new disturbance and 580 acres of reclassified disturbance inside of the Plan boundary. No change to the Cortez Mine Plan boundary is proposed. Dewatering will be required for the Proposed Action but will not exceed the currently permitted limits of 36,100 gallons per minute. The Proposed Action have no effect on the greater Cortez mine life or reclamation schedule. Due to ramping down of other mining activities in Cortez, workforce and equipment will be shifted to the area of the Proposed Action upon approval.

Operations under the Proposed Action would begin in September 2026, or upon approval, and would continue for 3 years. This is within the Cortez District Mine Life of 2032, and the existing reclamation plan would remain unchanged. Cortez Pit mining would continue concurrently with other authorized mining. The Cortez Mine Bond would be updated to account for the approved actions.

What's New

07/20/2026: Nevada Gold Mines has submitted a Plan of Operations to the BLM for the Cortez Pit Expansion Project. The BLM is making the Plan of Operations available and will accept public comments for 30 days. Comments submitted should pertain to the Plan of Operations requirements as described under 43 CFR 3809.401 - 3809.424.

Comments will be accepted from 07/20/2026 thru 08/19/2026.

Project Location

City	State/Territory	Zip Code	County(ies)
Crescent Valley	Nevada	89821	Eureka

Application Information

Applicant

Nevada Gold Mines LLC
Case File Number

NVNV106163597
Program

Mining
Sub-Program

Hard Rock (Gold, Silver, Copper, Uranium, etc.)

Project Dates

Start Date

7/6/2026

Project Office Information

Lead Office

Mount Lewis Field Office
Offices

Mount Lewis FO

Contacts

Contact 1 Name

Eugene Gilseth
Contact 1 Email

[email protected]
Contact 1 Phone

(541) 471-6638