County Takes Over Mine After Confrontation

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Tuesday, Nov. 26, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

District Attorney Steve Evenson said he decided under the county's police powers to take control of the mine because of environmental concerns. Cyanide is being used in a leaching operation to obtain gold.

Evenson said the mine has to keep operating. He expressed concern about leaving the cyanide untended, and the possiblity it could seep into ground water.

Fourteen residents work at the mine on the north edge of Goldfield, 180 miles north of Las Vegas.

The Esmeralda County Sheriff's Department prevented problems Friday evening when security guards hired by mine owner Michael Savage arrived in Goldfield to shut down the mine.

Savage earlier Friday had filed for bankruptcy and dissolved an operating agreement with American Resources Corp., the company that has operated the mine for several years.