Grassy Mountain Gold Project Proposed for Malheur County, Oregon - Public Engagement Underway
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is now available for public comment
Grassy Mountain Gold is an underground gold and silver mine in development in Malheur County, Oregon. It is being advanced by Paramount Gold Nevada Corp. and is designed to balance responsible resource development with the protection of local lands, water, and communities. For more information, visit our Project Overview page.
About the Federal Review Process
DEIS Published for Public Comment
We are pleased to share that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has published the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Grassy Mountain Gold Project. This marks a significant milestone in our permitting process and reflects years of detailed environmental studies, agency collaboration, and stakeholder engagement.
- The DEIS will be published on August 8, 2025.
- The public comment period will be open from August 8 to approximately mid-September, 2025.
We invite community members, stakeholders, and all interested parties to review the DEIS and share your feedback.
- Access the DEIS Document Download the DEIS on the BLM ePlanning Site
- Submit Your Public Comments
- Track progress on the BLM FAST-41 Dashboard
- Read more about the DEIS process and find out how to submit a comment. Please go to the Environmental Review (DEIS) page .
Overview of the NEPA Process
What is NEPA?
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to evaluate the potential environmental, social, and economic impacts of major projects before making decisions. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a detailed, public-facing document that presents this analysis and considers reasonable alternatives.
An EIS is required under NEPA to ensure that decisions about projects involving Federal land or permits are informed by science, public input, and a thorough assessment of potential impacts. It is a key part of promoting transparency and accountability in the decision-making process.
In 2024, the U.S. government updated the rules under NEPA to make environmental reviews clearer, more consistent, and faster. This new NEPA handbook, released in 2025 by the Department of the Interior, helps Federal agencies apply those changes. It provides updated guidance on how to:
- Involve the public and Tribes more meaningfully
- Integrate climate change and environmental justice into reviews
- Coordinate across agencies to avoid delays
- Use new tools and approaches (like programmatic reviews or tiering)
Grassy Mountain Gold is following the most current Federal guidance.
What is FAST-41?
What is FAST-41 and Why Does it Apply to Grassy Mountain Gold?
FAST-41 refers to Title 41 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, a federal law designed to improve the transparency, coordination, and timeliness of the environmental review and permitting process for certain major infrastructure projects.
Grassy Mountain Gold is one of the few mining projects in the U.S. designated as a FAST-41 with Transparency Project.
The project qualifies under FAST-41 because:
- It requires federal environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (i.e., an Environmental Impact Statement)
- It involves significant investment and potential economic development
- It is subject to multiple federal approvals, including from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and inter-agency coordination (e.g., U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA))
Stay Informed
For any questions about the DEIS or public comment process, please visit our Environmental Review (DEIS), FAQ or Contact Us page.
Access DOI NEPA Handbook
You can review the new NEPA handbook on the DOI NEPA Handbook webpage.
You can track the status of the permitting process and future updates via the BLM’s – FAST-41 dashboard.
About the State Review Process
Grassy Mountain Gold is the first project to undergo Oregon’s Chemical Process Mining permitting program since its creation
State Oversight Led by DOGAMI
The Grassy Mountain Gold Project is being reviewed through the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI). It will address the (a) Implementation of a state consolidated permitting process for mining operations; (b) Coordination of federal and state permitting processes as they relate to the consolidated permitting process; and (c) Opportunities for public participation and comment throughout the state consolidated permitting process.
This program governs large-scale mining projects that use chemical extraction methods such as the carbon-in-leach process proposed for Grassy Mountain.
This is the first time in Oregon’s history that a gold mine has reached this stage under the CPM program.
What’s Next
Once the Environmental Evaluation is finalized, Paramount Gold Nevada will submit a Consolidated Permit Application to DOGAMI. This comprehensive application will include:
- A detailed mine plan and site layout
- Water and waste management strategies
- Plans for environmental protection, monitoring, and reclamation
- Emergency response and closure planning
This will trigger a formal public review process, including comment periods and hearings, before any final permits can be issued.
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