Valley County Commissioners met with representatives from Perpetua Resources on October 8, 2023, to negotiate a development agreement aimed at mitigating the impacts of the Stibnite Gold Project. Commissioner Sherry Maupin expressed concerns that the proposed agreement insufficiently addresses the anticipated effects on local housing availability.
The draft agreement, known as the “community impact and benefit agreement,” is designed to hold Perpetua accountable for increased demand on local services and infrastructure, including emergency medical services, solid waste management, recreation, roads, and housing during both the construction and operation phases of the Stibnite Mine. The discussion regarding the agreement has been postponed until the commissioners’ meeting scheduled for 2 p.m. on October 22, 2023, at the Valley County Courthouse in Cascade.
This agreement is a stipulation of the 2020 conditional use permit for a logistics facility located on Warm Lake Road, approximately eight miles east of Idaho Highway 55. It encompasses all activities related to the Stibnite Gold Project, which received approval from the U.S. Forest Service in January. The construction of the gold mine, situated about 40 miles east of McCall, is projected to cost around $2.2 billion and will take three years before gold and antimony mining operations commence. Permitted mining activities are expected to continue for a duration of 12 to 15 years, followed by three to five years dedicated to reclamation and closure. Plans for future expansions of the project beyond the currently permitted three open-pit mines have also been announced by Perpetua.
At the meeting, Perpetua representatives included legal counsel Deborah Nelson and community relations manager Belinda Provancher. The draft agreement outlined Perpetua’s contributions to local housing plans, including the establishment of the Stibnite Foundation and proposals for on-site staff housing. The company aims to provide up to 1,080 beds for construction workers and up to 600 beds during mining operations, complete with amenities such as laundry and food services. Nelson emphasized that on-site housing is the most effective measure they can take to support their employees.
Despite these commitments, Commissioner Maupin insisted that on-site housing alone does not address the broader housing challenges facing the community. She highlighted that the logistics facility permit requires Perpetua to tackle housing availability issues across the county. “I sat at this table when we did the conditional use permit for the logistics facility,” Maupin stated. “My vote will be not to sign this unless we mitigate housing on the valley floor.”
Maupin proposed that Perpetua contribute $150,000 to the West Central Mountains Housing Trust to fund an employee for two years. This trust focuses on renting homes to individuals earning 30% to 80% below the average median income. Currently, the trust operates four homes in Donnelly, eight in New Meadows, and one in McCall, with additional homes under construction in Cascade.
Commissioner Neal Thompson supported Maupin’s request for funding, suggesting that Perpetua should also finance a biannual study to assess the impact of the Stibnite Gold Project on local housing availability. “I think a biannual review of looking at contracts, what’s going on, how’s this working, that’s a very smart idea on all of our parts,” Thompson remarked.
Conversely, Commissioner Katlin Caldwell disagreed with the notion of imposing additional housing requirements on Perpetua. She argued that the mining operation would not significantly worsen the current housing situation, attributing existing challenges to the prevalence of short-term rentals. “I just struggle with putting a burden on one company like this, when the housing issue is much bigger,” Caldwell said.
As discussions progress, the Valley County Commissioners are seeking assurances that the Stibnite Gold Project will not exacerbate housing shortages in the area, emphasizing the need for comprehensive solutions that benefit the entire community. The upcoming meeting on October 22 will be pivotal in determining the future of the development agreement and its impact on housing availability in Valley County.
