The Bureau of Land Management has opened a public scoping process for the proposed DeLamar gold and silver mine, covering 6,708 public acres near Silver City in Owyhee County, Idaho. The comment period, triggered by a Federal Register notice, runs through June 29, 2026.
The project is being pursued by DeLamar Mining Company and would reopen a historic mining area in a remote stretch of southwestern Idaho. What shape it ultimately takes — and whether it moves forward at all — will depend in part on what the public and agencies say during this early review phase.
BLM launches scoping process for DeLamar mine proposal
The Federal Register notice formally opens a 30-day public comment window closing on June 29, 2026. This scoping phase is the earliest stage of the environmental review process, giving residents, agencies, and other interested parties a chance to flag issues before a full environmental impact statement is prepared.
The BLM has listed the DeLamar Project as a FAST-41 project — a designation intended to keep the federal review timeline visible to the public throughout the process.
Comments can be submitted through the BLM National NEPA Register using the “Participate Now” option, which the agency identifies as its preferred method. They may also be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to the BLM Owyhee Field Office, Attn: DeLamar Mine EIS, 101 S. Bruneau Hwy, Marsing, ID 83639. Direct questions go to BLM Project Manager Chris Lund at 208-896-5917.
Administration priorities and mineral production goals drive project
The FAST-41 designation reflects broader federal policy. The DeLamar Project was included under that framework in direct response to administration efforts aimed at expanding domestic mineral production — goals that include reducing U.S. dependence on foreign mineral sources, strengthening national security, and generating domestic employment.
The FAST-41 process is designed to streamline federal review timelines. It does not, however, eliminate required environmental analysis or public participation steps. The intent is efficiency without sacrificing the transparency that large-scale public land decisions require.
Proposed mine footprint and operational details
If approved, DeLamar Mining Company would reopen a site with an established mining history. The new proposal would add 813 acres of fresh surface disturbance on top of 1,420 acres already disturbed by previous operations — a combined footprint that shapes much of what the environmental review will need to examine.
Plans call for two open pits, three waste rock disposal facilities, two heap leach facilities, a water treatment plant, and improvements to existing access roads. The mine’s expected operational life is approximately 19 years. At peak activity, the project could employ up to 300 people, a figure that carries real economic weight in a rural region like Owyhee County.
Two public meetings scheduled in Oregon and Idaho
The BLM has scheduled two in-person meetings so community members can hear directly from agency staff and submit comments on the record.
The first takes place on June 9, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. MDT at the Jordan Valley Lions Club, 902 Bassett Street, Jordan Valley, Oregon. The second is set for June 11, 2026, same hours, at the Marsing American Legion, 126 N Old Bruneau Hwy, Marsing, Idaho. Both locations sit close to the project area and serve communities that could be directly affected by the mine’s development. Attendance is open to anyone who wants to learn more or provide input.
BLM’s role and public land management mandate
The BLM oversees roughly 245 million acres of public land, located primarily across 12 western states, including Alaska. It also administers 700 million acres of subsurface mineral estate nationwide — a figure that underscores just how central mineral management is to the agency’s core responsibilities.
The agency’s stated mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Balancing resource development against long-term land stewardship is a tension baked into that mandate, and it is precisely what environmental review processes like this one are designed to work through. The DeLamar proposal sits squarely inside that balancing act.
Public input during the scoping period helps the BLM identify which issues matter most to the people and communities closest to the land.
To summarize the key facts: the BLM is accepting public comments on the proposed DeLamar gold and silver mine through June 29, 2026. The project covers 6,708 public acres in Owyhee County and would involve 813 acres of new surface disturbance if approved. Two public meetings are scheduled — June 9 in Jordan Valley, Oregon, and June 11 in Marsing, Idaho — both running from 6 to 8 p.m. MDT. Comments can be submitted online through the BLM National NEPA Register, by email, or by mail to the BLM Owyhee Field Office in Marsing.
Carlos is an engineer with strong expertise in technical and industrial topics. He previously worked at international companies such as Siemens and speaks Spanish, German, English, and Italian.
