Environment and Natural Resources
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 4, 2002
For more information: Bob Townsend, 773-4201

DENR Announces Golden Reward to Close and Reclaim Mine

Steve Pirner, Secretary of the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), announced today that Golden Reward Mine officials have agreed to begin mine closure and perform final reclamation. The Golden Reward Mine is an open pit, heap leach gold mine that sits at the base of Terry Peak near Lead. 

The mine is owned by Golden Reward Mining Company, which is owned by Wharf Resources. The mine produced gold from 1988 to 1996, but has not produced any for the past five years.

"While the company was hoping for a turn-around in the price of gold that might allow resumption of mining, Golden Reward Mine officials have decided it is time to close the mine and get on with final reclamation," said Pirner. "This is a mining company that is making the tough decisions, and now wants to move ahead full speed to reclaim the disturbed property."

The South Dakota Board of Minerals and Environment approved a state mine permit for the Golden Reward Mine in 1988. The permit contains a detailed reclamation plan for restoring the property to the beneficial use of wildlife habitat. DENR will provide regulatory oversite to ensure Golden Reward complies with the reclamation plan. 

"Golden Reward has already reclaimed 184 of the 397 acres disturbed by the mine," said John Begeman, who is Vice-President, Western Operations for Goldcorp, Wharf’s parent company. "We are anxious to begin final reclamation which includes backfilling part of the remaining open pit mine, reconstructing the upper Fantail Creek drainage that runs through the western mine area, and completing topsoiling and revegetation work."

Golden Reward plans to have the majority of the backfilling and regrading work completed during the spring and summer of 2002.

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