Future use for Bullfrog mine site still unknown

BEATTY — What will ever become of the Barrick Bullfrog mine site outside of Beatty? That has been a question for a decade and a half.

Barrick Gold Corp. deeded the property to the Beatty Economic Development Corp. after the mine closed, and the BEDC has since sought to find a company that would make use of the property for some type of industry that would bring jobs to the community.

There were originally several substantial buildings on the site, but after years of vandalism and stripping of wiring by copper thieves, they were sold for scrap and demolished.

Barrick representatives met with residents and Beatty Town Advisory Board members July 7 to discuss the fate of the property.

Daniel Bornstein, director of closure strategy for the company, said that the mine is very close to regulatory closure, meaning that the company is close to fulfilling all that is required in terms of reclamation and environmental concerns.

One thing they will be doing is backfilling part of the pit on the site because groundwater has risen in the pit, creating a small pond.

Some residents thought that maybe they could enlarge the pond—maybe even stock it with fish—but that is counter to the reason for the backfilling.

Corporate Social Responsibility Director Tim Buchanan explained that the backfill is to prevent rapid evaporation of groundwater that could lower the water table in the area.

Besides regulatory closure, the company wants to help find a beneficial post-closure use for the property.

Bornstein said the company does not want that use to be “just us sitting on it, but something that is of benefit to the community, something that will be a lasting legacy.”

The property is large enough that there might be multiple users doing different things. One of those is possible further exploration for gold by another company, but the main focus is on light or heavy industrial use, perhaps for renewable energy, emphasizing they want it to be “something sustainable.”

“We are still trying to find out how to market the site to industrial companies,” said Bornstein, adding that “it would be a company that would not operate in a city.”

He said that “the best piece of flat land in the area belongs to Beatty Economic Development,” said Bornstein.

BEDC President Albert Verrilli said, “We are willing to partner with anything out there that is sustainable.”

Verrilli has spent years courting solar energy companies, and he said that industry is “changing dramatically” with some major companies not normally thought of as solar energy companies working at getting into the field.

Several residents, most notably David Spicer, said that the site might prove a valuable tourist attraction. He suggested viewing areas where people could look into the pit, and said it could be an opportunity to educate the public on modern mining.

The Tonopah Mining Museum was mentioned as an example. Bornstein said that Barrick had experience in this area, having developed mining history facilities on a couple of other sites.

Erika Gerling asked how covenant restrictions on the property might be a problem for some industries.

The company representatives said they knew they would get that question, and they had news of possible changes.

Bornstein said that his group is “looking at risk a little differently” than in the past. They realize that whoever might take over the property would be under state and federal environmental regulations, and if they created a problem, they would be responsible for cleaning it up.

“If we have the right match, we won’t want it to fall apart because of covenant restrictions we can change,” said Bornstein.

The representatives gave the strong impression that the BEDC will not be alone in searching for that “right match,” but will be actively working toward it. They agreed to return in six months or so to give the community an update.

While they were here they received thanks and a certificate of appreciation from the Beatty Senior Center, and thanks from the Beatty Volunteer Fire Department for their support. They distributed donation checks to those institutions.