The proposed project includes road maintenance, drill pad construction at 37 sites, and exploratory core drilling. The proposed action incorporates best management practices and design features to avoid and/or minimize impacts to forest resources.
Location
The project is in Gila County approximately five miles southwest of Miami, Arizona . (See map at the end of this document in Appendix A). The primary access to the project from Miami, Arizona on U.S. Highway 60/70 west approximately five miles to the Pinto Valley Mine Road turnoff, then turning south on Copper Springs Road/ Forest Service Road (FSR) 349 and continuing 0.3 miles to the northern boundary. FSR 349 and Simpson Lake Road provide access to the central portion of the project.
Project timeline
1
NEPA Start Date
1/23/2026
2
Finding/Decision Date
8/26/2026
NEPA / regulatory detail
| Categorical Exclusion | USGS 9.5B (516 DM 9); USGS 9.5G (516 DM 9) |
| Decision Signed Date | 8/26/2026 |