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Legal Notice of Opportunity to Object-Polaris Exploration Project

The Bridgeport Ranger District has completed the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and the Draft Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact (DN/FONSI) for the Polaris Exploration Project submitted by Klondex Aurora Mine Inc. This project is a non-HFRA 10-year mineral exploration-only Plan of Operations project located approximately 18 miles west-southwest of Hawthorne, Nevada. The selected alternative in the draft DN would authorize the proposed action that consists of conducting exploration activities on up to 150 acres within the 7,542-acre Plan of Operations boundary. Exploration activities include construction of new and/ or reconstruction of previously reclaimed roads (up to 25 miles), construction of up to 250 drill pads, and reclamation of all proposed disturbances. Existing access roads will be utilized to the extent practicable to minimize new surface disturbance. Reclamation will consist of removal of all drilling equipment and materials, recontouring all new or reconstructed roads, drill pads, and sumps and scarifying disturbed areas followed by final seeding with an approved seed mix.

The Responsible Official is Aaron Coogan, District Ranger and Responsible Official. The Final EA and Draft DN/FONSI are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/humboldt-toiyabe/ projects/65353. For additional information, contact Alana Basso at alana.basso@usda.gov.

This action is subject to a pre-decisional administrative review process, as outlined in 36 CFR 218, Subparts A and B Code of Federal Regulations. A final decision will not be made until after the requirements of 36 CFR 218.12 have been met.

Eligibility to File Objections

Objections can be accepted only from individuals and entities who have submitted timely, specific written comments regarding a proposed project or activity subject to these regulations during any designated opportunity for public comment, per the regulations at 36 CFR 218.5(a). Additional eligibilities are established in 36 CFR 218.5(b) through (f). Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted timely, specific, written comments regarding the proposed project unless based on new information arising after designated opportunities for comment. A connection to previous comments must be demonstrated in the objection. Individual members of organizations must have submitted their own comments to meet the requirements of eligibility as an individual. Objections received on behalf of an organization are considered as those of the organization only. If an objection is submitted on behalf of a number of individuals or organizations, each individual or organization listed must meet the eligibility requirement of having previously submitted comments on the project (36 CFR 218.7). Names and addresses of objectors will become part of the public record. 

Contents of an Objection

Incorporation of documents by reference in the objection is permitted only as provided for at 36 CFR 218.8(b). Minimum content requirements of an objection as identified in 36 CFR 218.8(d) include:

-Objector's name and address with a telephone number if available; with signature or other verification of authorship supplied upon request;

-Identification of the lead objector when multiple names are listed, along with verification upon request;

-Name of project, name and title of the responsible official, national forest/ranger district where project is located, and

-Sufficient narrative description of those aspects of the proposed project objected to, specific issues related to the project, how environmental law, regulation, or policy would be violated, and suggested remedies which would resolve the objection.

-Statement demonstrating the connection between prior specific written comments on this project and the content of the objection unless the objection issue arose after the designated opportunities for comment.

Filing an Objection

Objections must be postmarked (if sent via postal mail), faxed, or submitted electronically within 45 days following publication of the legal notice. Mailed objections should be sent to Objection Reviewing Officer, USFS Intermountain Regional Office, 324 25th Street, Ogden, UT 84401. Objections may be faxed to 801-625-5365. Electronic objections must be submitted in a format such as an email message, pdf, plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or Word (.doc or .docx) to: objections-intermtn-regional-office@usda.gov. Hand delivery of written objections can be made during normal working hours to the Intermountain Regional Office, Hansen Federal Building, Room 4016, 324 25th Street, Ogden, UT 84401. It is the responsibility of objectors to ensure their objection is received in a timely manner (36 CFR 218.9).

The publication date in the Reno Gazette Journal, newspaper of record, is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection to this project. Those wishing to object to the draft DN/FONSI should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. Please include Polaris Exploration Project in the subject line. It is the responsibility of objectors to ensure their objection is received in a timely manner (36 CFR 218.9). Published in the Reno Gazette Journal (Paper of Record) on July 18, 2025.