Wharf Mine official reports continued reclamation, large water‑handling volumes and local contributions

Jasmine McAuley addressed the Board of Minerals and Environment on July 9 with an update on Wharf Mine (reported as WARF re Resources Inc.) operations, reclamation and community outreach.

McAuley said the company has affected roughly 1,300 acres since permit issuance and reclaimed approximately 73 acres last year, with an aggressive target of about 50 more acres in the coming year. She reported an employee headcount of 266 (excluding contractors), said the operation pumped about 76,000,000 gallons of groundwater and withdrew about 136,000,000 gallons of surface water in the prior year, and described land application and treatment cycles for processed water.

She said the company applied approximately 126,000,000 gallons on land, treated about 31,000,000 gallons and discharged the treated portion as appropriate under permit conditions. McAuley noted the company’s severance tax contributions — she said roughly 95% of taxes went to the state severance tax fund and that amount was about $17,000,000 last year — and listed local purchases and charitable donations (about $230,000) and a sustainability fund established for longer‑term community support.

McAuley outlined leach‑pad offload and denitrification sequencing across 2025–2026, described denitrification and offloading procedures that allow reuse of pads, and said the operation experienced a significant fire in the prior year that briefly halted crushing operations but that production had resumed. She also confirmed drone herbicide application and seeding of roughly 70 reclaimed acres last year.

The board asked no formal questions that led to a vote; the presentation was received for information.