Prospect Mountain East Side Facility Plan of Operation

SWCA led the development of a mine plan of operation in Eureka County, Nevada, incorporating comprehensive archaeological and environmental assessments as part of the Plan of Operations for Gullsil. On lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), SWCA conducted a Class III archaeological inventory, which included a Class I cultural resources records search and literature review, followed by an intensive field inventory of 57 acres. This survey identified two significant sites: a historic well site and the Diamond Mine/Prospect Historic Archaeological District (DMPD).

For the DMPD, SWCA completed a Nevada State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) District form, which detailed site-specific contexts and defined the four elements of an archaeological district—periods of significance, statement of significance, district boundary, and contributing/non-contributing element characteristics. The district was recommended for eligibility for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under Criteria A and D, with associated mining features and artifact concentrations evaluated individually as contributing and non-contributing elements.

In conjunction with these archaeological efforts, SWCA conducted associated baseline surveys, an air quality emission inventory, and prepared National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation for mine approval. These surveys included a habitat assessment with field evaluations of bats, big game, raptor nesting, sensitive plants, and noxious weeds, ensuring a thorough understanding of the ecological impacts.