2017-06-21_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - M1981185

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Big time After Kimmel, these gorillas go global 6F Ball control k V_�Vq I Ignacio boys reach their next destination: Durango High School 1C When winter melts away, what's a ski area to do? 6 $1.00 0 Serving Southwest Colorado Since 1881 durangoherald.com ® February 27, 2011 They re b Wildcat M L o ack 9 Plan seeks minerals for solar panels, green energy By Heather Scofield Herald Staff Writer Wildcat Mining Corp., which has had a long and troubled relation- ship with regulators, is under new management and has a new plan for its La Plata Can- yon mines, this time possibly capitalizing on the country's demand for green energy. But some residents near the mines who have been vocal oppo- nents of Wildcat Mining remain skeptical. "It's insane," said Scott Col- lignon, a property owner near the mines. "These guys have run wild for four years, and now we're going to do it all again." With new management and investors at the helm, Wildcat Mining this month submitted a new land -use permit application to La Plata County planners. The company hopes to reopen the historic May Day Idaho Mine Complex near Hesperus. New permit applications also were submitted to the state's Divi- sion'of Reclamation Mining and Safety. The company's plan this time around is to extract not only gold and silver, but also possi- bly tellurium, a key component in solar panels, and other "rare earth" minerals used in cars, electronics and renewable en- ergy technology. It also is investigating mining calcium carbonate, which has ag- JERRY WBRIDE/Herald In a symbolic gesture, George Robinson, new project manager of the May Day Idaho Mine Complex, tears off a sign at the entrance to the mines. The mining complex Is under new management, and the sign had a former employee's name on It. ricultural and soil uses. "We think the entire rock has potential uses for man," said George Robinson, the company's new project manager. He realizes Wildcat Mining has to confront some hard feelings re- lated to previous dealings. "Until now, the community has not been given straight talk," he said. "That's why we have a total change in management." See Wildcat, 6A 41 Wildcat Mining 1 16D \ La Plata River Hesperu N Source: La Plata County HERALD Gary Gibbons, an employee with the May Day Idaho Mine Complex, holds ore that possibly contains gold, silver and tellurium. WILDCAT MINING CORP. IN LA PLATA COUNTY: A TIMELINE Mike Clements purchases the State regulators pullAn inspection finds r • Wlldcat Mining is fined F—• The company appeals permit • Wlidcat Mining, under new Idaho mine and leases the May Day the Idaho mine permit F• multiple violations. $15,400 for violations and I denial and is told to apply management, requests a mine under an existing permit. for failure to post bond. must put up $150,000 bond. for a different kind of permit county land -use permit. 2006 2007 2008 l February 2009 1 September 2009 November 2009 February 2010 Sww Herald an;hw �• Wildcat Mining is The state fines the Wlddcat Mining withdraws granted a permit to company for building a an application to mine and reopen the Idaho mine. road without a permit. mill at the Idaho mine. Uoloraclo7s boomer sur es populatiollig 65 -and -older group growing fast June 2010 July 2010 I August 2010 February 2011 —• The state denies L• Regulators end efforts to seize a a permit request. bond for violations, give the comparry more time to file for new permit Colorado protesters back Wis.