The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has asked the Houston based environmental consulting firm Cardno ENTRIX to perform an environmental impact study for the Haile gold mine located near Kershaw.
Toronto based Romarco Minerals is hoping to extract fine gold dust from the mine.
The Canadian company has estimated that there are 2 million ounces of gold at the Haile mine. They also feel that 83.7% of this microscopic gold may be easily recovered from the mine site in Lancaster County. If it goes through it will be the largest gold mine this side of the Mississippi River.
However gold mining can affect wetlands and streams nearby and that is why a full environment impact statement has been asked for by the Corps of Engineers.
The plan for mining the Haile gold submitted by Romarco Minerals includes digging up or filling 162 acres of wetlands close to seven miles along the streams. The federal agency has scheduled an Oct. 27 public meeting in Kershaw to get input on what should be considered in the environmental impact review.