Western Exploration has submitted its Mine Plan of Operations (MPO) to the United States Forest Service (USFS) for the Doby George gold project in northeastern Nevada. This submission formally initiates the federal permitting and environmental review process for the site, with the USFS acting as the lead agency.

The MPO provides a detailed roadmap for the proposed surface use, construction, and operation of an open-pit, heap-leach gold mine with a throughput capacity of 7,500 tonnes per day. According to the plan, the project footprint covers a total disturbance of 697 acres, split between federal and private land. Specifically, 345 acres fall within private land boundaries accessible through a mineral lease agreement.

The filing is the culmination of project layouts refined through a multi-agency site visit held in July, where USFS representatives provided feedback that was subsequently integrated into the final MPO. The document is backed by an extensive suite of baseline environmental studies that commenced in February 2026. These investigations span biological, cultural, paleontological, air quality, hydrogeological, and aquatic resource assessments, establishing the baseline conditions required under the National Environmental Policy Act.

Western Exploration is continuing these environmental investigations alongside concurrent hydrogeological testing and an active drilling program. This work is designed to underpin a future pre-feasibility study (PFS). The company is also evaluating infrastructure requirements; a grid power feasibility study is currently underway with the Raft River Rural Electric Cooperative Inc. Results from this study are anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2026 and are expected to be incorporated into the upcoming PFS.

The ongoing baseline work is broad in scope, ranging from raptor and sage-grouse surveys to Phase I hydrogeologic investigations and geochemical characterization. These efforts are intended to provide the necessary data to navigate the federal permitting pipeline, which runs in tandem with the project's ongoing technical and economic assessments. As the project progresses, the results from the various baseline reports and the power feasibility study will serve as critical components for the next stage of technical reporting.

Read the full announcement: Western Exploration Submits Mine Plan of Operations for the Doby George Project