Baker County may allow mining of dredge tailings

BAKER CITY, Ore. (AP) – Baker County is considering proposals from companies interested in mining for gold in dredge tailings on county-owned land.

The Baker City Herald reports (http://bit.ly/1VViKiu ) that several mining companies have previously contacted Baker County about the 1,900 acres of tailings east of Sumpter. Their interest was spurred by record-high gold prices in 2011.

Gold prices have dropped since then, and the county received no responses to a solicitation sent in 2013.

County Commission Chairman Bill Harvey says the situation interested parties have again contacted Baker County about the dredge tailings, although he would not name them.

Commissioners asked the county official who oversaw the 2013 effort to gather more information and present it at a future meeting.

Some commissioners have raised concerns over the environmental effects of such mining.

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Information from: Baker City Herald, http://www.bakercityherald.com/