Nevada County’s Idaho-Maryland Mine faces major court setbacks on vested rights and Clean Water Act claims. New General Plan policies highlight legacy mining hazards, raising bigger questions about balancing environmental responsibility, property rights, and the county’s future.

“In complex public-law disputes, that kind of pragmatic equilibrium—rather than total victory—is frequently where events ultimately converge.”

“[The outcome] emerged from a sequence of decisions: early approvals without clear vesting analysis, an environmental review that struggled to build public confidence, internal reversals of staff recommendations, and final actions that shifted the dispute from regulation to litigation.”

“We have evidence that certain parties have conspired to co-opt public agencies to pressure the Board of Supervisors […] to vote to deny the Project at the future Board hearing,” wrote Ben Mossman.

On the steps of the Nevada County administrative building, a huge crowd gathered both for and against the Rise Gold mining proposal.

Free bus rides if you drink the Kool-Aid!