The Department of Energy is interested in receiving public comments relative to the gold mining study contemplated by HB2213.  That bill, signed into law on March 30, 2021, directs the Secretariats of Natural and Historic Resources, Health and Human Resources, and Commerce and Trade to establish a work group to study the mining and processing of gold in the Commonwealth.

The work group shall (i) evaluate the impacts of the mining and processing of gold on public health, safety, and welfare in the Commonwealth; (ii) evaluate whether existing air and water quality regulations are sufficient to protect air and water quality in the Commonwealth from the mining and processing of gold, including evaluation of the impacts of different leaching and tailings management techniques on downstream communities; (iii) evaluate whether existing bonding, reclamation, closure, and long-term monitoring of sites for such mining or processing are sufficient; and (iv) report its findings no later than December 1, 2022.

For more information regarding the study, please click here.