Tungsten Mine Project

The Tungsten Mine Project is complex in that it required consultation with many agencies and entities as well as several groups (three as of November 2008) who have filed for licenses on the site.  The are the ruins of a mine on the surface and a large empty mine that collects glacial water.  A decommissioned plug is in the mine from a previous attempt to put in hydropower.  Our proposal is to work independently of this plug.  How this will work will be through consultation with the FERC and all responsible agencies and land owners. 

At this site will be all documents that relate to this project.  Please find all related documents from all parties here.

Competing Hydropower Applications at Pine Creek Mine

Following surrender of a license for small hydropower on the mine property in the 1980s (for economic reasons, based on the Tungsten processing activity at the time), the first preliminary permit for priority of hydropower development (P-12026) was obtained by Kelly Sackheim on behalf of the new owners of the Tungsten Mine in 2002. A successor preliminary permit (P-12532) was obtained in 2005 upon the expiration of P-12026 by Pine Creek Mine, LLC. This expired on Feb.. 28, 2008.  The first business day after this was March 3rd, 2008. 

KC llc. (KC) Involvement

KC filed for a preliminary permit to develop power at the mine as first in line on 3/3/08.  Immediately thereafter Pine Creek mine also filed for a similar permit. 

KC's PP application received strong opposition to the KC. PP filing by an attorney representing the Pine Creek mine owner.  Since work in this area would require cooperation of this mine owner, and this was clearly not forthcoming, KC withdrew the Preliminary Permit application for the work at or in the mine.

In November, 2008, the Bishop Paiute Indian tribe has filed a new Preliminary Permit application with the FERC.

KC stands ready to do develop this green power project in cooperation with all or any parties should interests change, but for now KC is focusing on the downstream project on Morgan Creek.  The Morgan Creek Project has no overlap with any project in or around the mine.

Comments received related to Developments at or in the Pine Creek Mine

• General comments comparing projects were received received from the Pine Creek Pack Station.
• KC intervened in that their PP Application overlapped the Morgan Creek PP Application.
• USDA / Forest Service filed comments
• Jeff Francis, downstream local person filed comments.  These have been responded to by Mr. Hicks, representing the mine.