Boulder County leaders worry about mining expansion impacts

Elected leaders in Boulder County are raising concerns about the proposed expansion of the Cross gold mine by Grand Island Resources. The expansion could impact well water, surface water in Barker Reservoir, and drinking water quality for Boulder residents. The mine, operational for over 40 years, has faced compliance issues due to heavy metal discharges. Although improvements have been made to the water treatment system, leaders question if these upgrades will be enough to protect local communities. The new mining permit application seeks to expand the mining area significantly and resume underground operations. Residents can submit comments on the application until April 2, 2025.