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In late 2018, eight communities from across the West Central Mountains came together to sign a Community Agreement with Perpetua Resources (then Midas Gold). A key component of the Community Agreement was the creation of the Stibnite Advisory Council. This report highlights the work of the Stibnite Advisory Council since the Community Agreement was signed.

FORMATION & ROLE OF THE COUNCIL

The Stibnite Advisory Council is made up of a representative appointed annually from Adams County, Cascade, Council, Donnelly, Idaho County, New Meadows, Riggins, Yellow Pine, Perpetua Resources Idaho and Perpetua Resources Corp. The Council meets monthly and serves as the communities’ principal forum for communication regarding the Stibnite Gold Project with management of Perpetua Resources, now and throughout the life of the Project. Representatives are tasked with the responsibility of working through shared issues with Perpetua Resources, providing key information back to the communities they serve and overseeing the implementation of the Community Agreement.

As outlined in the Community Agreement, the Council’s primary job is to take reasonable steps to understand and educate themselves on the Stibnite Gold Project by asking Perpetua Resources for information on various elements of the project. Reasonable steps may include information sharing, discussion and potential resolution of matters related to the project by participating in the meetings of the Stibnite Advisory Council. The Stibnite Advisory Council does its best to work in an efficient, solution-oriented and cooperative manner.

CREATING THE FRAMEWORK

By mid-2019, the Council created bylaws, established a monthly meeting schedule, elected officers, formed working groups to focus on specific areas of interest and launched a website which houses all documents. www.StibniteAdvisoryCouncil.com was created so the Council could easily share information with residents of the region.

Currently, the Stibnite Advisory Council has four active working groups:

  • Environmental
  • Supporting Industry
  • Transportation
  • Workforce

The working groups were established based on priorities and areas of concern identified by Council members. In the future, new working groups may be added as priorities evolve.

COUNCIL ACTIVITIES

The Stibnite Advisory Council has taken its role to become educated on the Stibnite Gold Project. Council members have asked Perpetua Resources for presentations on topics related to the project. Monthly meetings feature in-depth presentations from the company’s technical experts. To date the Stibnite Advisory Council has received presentations and updates on the following topics:

  • Project Updates
  • Refinements to Alterative 2
  • Fish Tunnel
  • Feasibility Study
  • Powerline Upgrades
  • ASAOC
  • Site Visit
  • Alternative Winter Access and Partnership with the Valley County Snowmobile Advisory Council
  • Economic Study
  • Antimony
  • Safety Programs Now and Into the Future
  • Transportation, Traffic and Access
  • On-site Infrastructure
  • Reclamation and Closure Plan
  • Water Management Now and Into the Future

In addition, the Stibnite Advisory Council has invited local leaders to present on issues that impact the region. Those presentations included:

Housing & projected growth from Andrew Mentzer, Executive Director West Central Mountains Economic Development Council

Cascade Medical Center Strategic Plan from Tom Reinhart, CEO Cascade Medical Center

St. Luke’s Update from Amber Green, Chief Operating and Nursing Officer

INFORMED COMMENTS

As part of fulfilling the Community Agreement, each entity provided an informed comment letter to the U.S. Forest Service during the Draft EIS comment period in August 2020. Members of the Stibnite Advisory Council had been sharing the information they learned with their respective cities and counties from the outset. This information was shared through press releases, public open houses in some communities, city council and county commissioner meetings, allowing community feedback in the comment letters.

ONGOING WORK

At the request of the Stibnite Advisory Council, Perpetua Resources has started a number of on-going projects.

In March 2020 an on-going workforce survey was launched for anyone interested in working for Perpetua Resources (https://stibniteadvisorycouncil.com/take-the-survey/). Over 200 people have responded and the information collected from the survey is consistent with an economic study on the Stibnite Gold Project conducted in 2016.

The Council created a FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS document (https://secureservercdn.net/198.71.233.38/23b.af9.myftpupload.com/wp- content/uploads/2021/08/2021-8-2-FAQ_Project-Glossary_Aug2021.pdf) to provide information for interested community members. The document covers a variety of topics and continues to be updated as new questions are answered. Questions in the document have come from Councilmembers as well as community members.

In April of 2021, the Independent Water Monitoring Program was launched to bring increased transparency to water testing surrounding the Stibnite Gold Project. The Independent Water Monitoring Program (IWMP) was created in response to comments from community members and city officials to provide third party transparency. Here is a link to the release announcing the IWMP: https://stibniteadvisorycouncil.com/release-independent-water-monitoring-program/.

LOOKING AHEAD

Meetings continue to be held on a monthly basis via Zoom or in person and are open to the public for observation only.

The Council will continue to ask questions, add to on-line documents, and continue to receive information on the project and its effects on the region.

The public is invited to attend a meeting, ask questions of your local representative and take time to review the website at, www.stibniteadvisorycouncil.com for additional information and to review the FAQ document.