Idaho
U.S. Forest Service approves Stibnite Gold Mine in Central Idaho • Idaho Capital Sun
The U.S. Forest Service has issued a final record of decision approving the Stibnite Gold Mine Project in Central Idaho’s Payette National Forest, green-lighting what could become one of the largest gold mines in the United States.
A company called Perpetua Resources – formerly known as Midas Gold – seeks to resume mining gold, silver and the chemical element antimony at the Stibnite Gold Mine. Mining at the site dates back to 1899 and the Thunder Mountain Gold Rush. Metals mined at Stibnite contributed to the World War II effort.
But by 1992 mining had ceased and Stibnite’s open pit mine was abandoned, polluting the East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon River with arsenic and sediment, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported.
Perpetua Resources says Stibnite is still loaded with gold and an element called antimony. The company has promised to clean up some of the historic mine waste, reprocess and safely store historic mine tailings and restore some waterways and fish habitat.
In a statement released Monday, Perpetua Resources welcomed approval of the mine. The company highlighted the jobs it will create and promoted the mining of antimony, a chemical element found in minerals that Perpetua Resources said can be used to make ammunition and liquid metal batteries.
Perpetua Resources officials said approving Stibnite Gold Mine unlocks one of the largest domestic supplies of antimony, which the company said China is restricting exports of.
“We are thrilled to receive our final record of decision from the Forest Service,” Jon Cherry, president and CEO of Perpetua Resources, said in a written statement. “This approval elevates the Stibnite Gold Project to an elite class of projects in America that have cleared NEPA (the National Environmental Policy Act). The Stibnite Gold Project can deliver decisive wins for our communities, the environment, the economy and our national security.”
Perpetua Resources officials said the permitting process has taken eight years.
Conservationists, Nez Perce Tribe say mine will do more harm to Idaho public lands, endangered salmon
Conservation groups, including the Idaho Conservation League, and the Nez Perce Tribe opposed Stibnite’s approval, saying resuming mining will disturb a much larger area of forest than the previous operation and could threaten habitat of endangered salmon.
Stibnite Gold Mine is located in Valley County near the tiny town of Yellow Pine, just outside the boundary of the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. The Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness is the largest contiguous wilderness area in the lower 48. The rugged wilderness area is home to prominent mountains, whitewater rivers, deep canyons and a diverse species of plants and animals including wolves, bears, beavers, endangered wolverines, and endangered salmon.
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Opponents said Stibnite and Perpetua Resources are not doing enough to protect salmon and the environment.
“The Stibnite Gold Project is the equivalent of high-risk, open heart surgery for the East Fork South Fork Salmon River, and the watershed will be worse off as a result, not better,” John Robison, Idaho Conservation League’s public lands and wildlife director, said in a written statement. “We are deeply disappointed that the Forest Service dismissed our suggestions to correct significant flaws in the project. Even the Forest Service’s own analysis states that doing nothing is better for the environment than building the Stibnite Gold Project.”
In September, the U.S. Forest Service issued a draft approval to resume mining at Stibnite, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported.
Idaho’s Republican congressional delegation supports Stibnite Gold Mine approval
All four members of Idaho’s congressional delegation – U.S. Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, and U.S. Reps. Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher – issued a written statement applauding the mine’s approval. In their statement, the Republican congressman highlighted mining for antimony.
“For too long, we have let China hold the cards when it comes to critical mineral production. This Record of Decision is a vital first step in advancing the production of American antimony and strengthening our national defense,” Crapo, Fulcher, Risch and Simpson said in a joint written statement issued Monday. “Still, we must significantly reform the permitting processes to effectively compete with China and fully leverage the resources in our backyard.”
Officials with the Idaho Conservation League said antimony is an important resource, but said gold is really the focus of the Stibnite Gold Mine and would generate 94% of the project’s profits.
“Let’s be clear — this is a taxpayer financed gold mine,” Robison said. “Perpetua never offered and the Forest Service never analyzed a targeted antimony mining proposal that would entail much less surface disturbance, mine waste and overall impact. What’s more, having a small percent of antimony in a gold project should not give anyone a pass for a project that could end up doing immeasurable harm.”
In a news release issued Monday, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality announced it is releasing an Idaho Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems, or IPEDS, preliminary draft permit to Perpetua Resources. Following the review, officials with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality said they will post the draft permit along with any revisions to the department’s website for public review.
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BOISE, Idaho — Idaho lawmakers have introduced legislation that would phase out state funding for the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs while keeping the commission in place.
The proposal, introduced by Rep. Jeff Ehlers, would gradually eliminate general fund support for the commission by July 1, 2028. The commission would continue to operate but would need to rely on private funding.
Rep. Ehlers told the House Revenue and Taxation Committee on Thursday that the proposal came from recommendations by Idaho’s DOGE Task Force, which reviewed government programs and spending.
READ MORE | Idaho DOGE Task Force recommends defunding Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs
The bill would also eliminate the commission from a list of organizations eligible for a state income tax charitable contribution credit.
Rep. Steve Berch questioned why the legislation would remove both state funding and the tax credit option, saying it could make it more difficult for the commission to raise money.
“I hate to use this word, but I’m really offended by this specific effort to make it that much more difficult for private citizens to be able to contribute to the Hispanic commission,” Rep. Berch said in committee. “I don’t think this can be justified from a financial point of view, and quite frankly, I don’t think it can be justified from a moral point of view.”
In response, Rep. Jason Monks said that it would be more “offensive” to not allow further discussion of the bill before a final decision is made.
The proposal comes after an earlier attempt this session to eliminate the commission entirely. In January, Rep. Heather Scott presented a draft bill that would have removed all references to the commission from Idaho law and dissolved it by July 1, but that measure failed to advance out of committee.
The committee ultimately voted on Thursday to introduce the legislation, allowing it to be printed and advanced for further debate.
This story has been, in part, converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Shanea Fulks is the owner of Seven Sisters Closet Revival, a new consignment store at 260 South Woodruff in Idaho Falls. Take a look inside in the video above. | Rett Nelson, EastIdahoNews.com
Do you want to know what’s happening in the eastern Idaho business scene? We’ve got you covered. Here is a rundown of this week’s business news across the valley.
BIZ BUZZ
IDAHO FALLS
New consignment shop in Idaho Falls offers vintage clothes for customers and booth space for sellers
IDAHO FALLS – Curating vintage clothing is Shanea Fulks’s passion, and she’s sharing it with the community through a new business venture.
Seven Sisters Closet Revival opens Saturday at 260 South Woodruff inside Parkwood Plaza in Idaho Falls. It offers racks of vintage clothes for customers and booth space for others to sell their items.
“You get a rack with shelves, and you can come in throughout the week and sell things,” Fulks tells EastIdahoNews.com. “The things you’ll see in the middle of the store are pieces that I have curated. I hand-pick all the things I bring to the store.”
See some of the items in the video above.
Fulks says she’s had multiple people walk in already who are excited about the shop.
The store will have a grand opening this weekend. Fulks is partnering with the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon-cutting and open house at noon on Friday. A local band will be performing during the event.
Then on Saturday, a grand opening celebration will begin at 2 p.m. Several vendors and live entertainment will be available. Fulks says she’s looking forward to interacting with the community.
Fulks has been selling items from her personal collection online for years. After helping a mother and daughter find a formal dress during an interaction at another shop in town several years ago, Fulks says she realized there was a need for a store like this.
After about a year of working with real estate agents, Fulks says the Parkwood Plaza space formerly occupied by a beauty salon called Blush became available, and it was an ideal fit.
“It’s just been a whirlwind and we’re just trying to get it going,” says Fulks.
Fulks’ interest in fashion stems back to childhood. She lost her dad and stepdad to suicide at a young age and grew up in a household that struggled to make ends meet. As a result, she says they bought clothes at Goodwill and other secondhand stores.
She remembers being made fun of because of the clothes she wore. In time, she learned to embrace her uniqueness and developed an interest in vintage clothes.
“I’ve just always been attracted to old sweaters, military jackets (her dad served in Vietnam),” Fulks says. “I like to help people feel confident wearing something unique, even if it’s not trendy. Be bold and wear whatever you want.”
The idea of making the most of your circumstances and embracing who you are is inspired by her experience with suicide, and it’s reflected in the art that’s on display in her store.
“Part of the theme in my store is ‘Stay. We need you,’” she says.
The business name refers to her family. She comes from a blended family of six girls and four boys. When she and her husband were married, they had a daughter — the seventh sister.
Fulks says she’s looking forward to offering great deals to customers. She has two sons with autism who love art, and she wants to host art-themed events for people with special needs. She’d also like to host tea parties and other events in the future.
“I want people to come and feel like they belong,” she says. “I’m going to allow people to do karaoke. When you’re here, I want you to feel like you can have fun.”
Seven Sisters Closet Revival will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
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Gov. Brad Little has signed House Bill 533, which would remove the need for license plate stickers on Idaho vehicles.
The legislation, introduced earlier this session by Rep. Jon Weber (R) of Boise, eliminates the requirement for registration stickers on Idaho license plates. Weber stated during the bills intorduction that officers can verify the status of license plates without the stickers, potentially saving the state around $300,000.
During the bill’s introduction, some lawmakers argued that it could increase the workload for law enforcement.
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The new law is set to take effect in July.
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