PRESQUE ISLE - Some sample drilling may begin at Bald Mountain next summer in advance of possible full-scale mining at the site which is northwest of Ashland. That according to Anthony Hourihan, of JD Irving Ltd, who presented an update on the project to the 65 attendees of the Aroostook Partnership for Progress/Leaders Encouraging Aroostook Development annual meeting held at Northern Maine Community College Thursday, Sept. 27.

   Hourihan was the featured speaker for the event which also included progress reports from APP and LEAD presidents Bob Dorsey and Jon McLaughlin.

   Hourihan said the Maine Legislature's review of the provisional mining rules won't begin until January 2014, but there is plenty of due diligence work to complete before that happens.

   "The current data on Bald Mountain is 25 to 30 years old and needs to be revisited with current technology and practices to determine the economic viability of a mine," said Hourihan, director of land development for JD Irving.

   He said recently the area was surveyed from an aircraft equipped with laser mapping equipment, which gives detailed information about the site. Company officials are also touring other mines to determine best practices.

   A major focus on best practices, according to Hourihan, is to get better educated on water management and treatments to determine how the site can be developed without impacting water quality off site. He also said the company is evaluating best practices for the eventual decommissioning and closure of the mine.

   Hourihan also highlighted four components of the company's process moving forward:

• Monitor and review rule making process to insure process is driven by an outcome based system based upon science and recognized best practices.
• Engage local business and organizations to keep local communities involved in the process - insuring an understanding of fact versus rhetoric.
• Update and supplement the existing geological data as well as environmental baselines to help determine pre-feasibility.
• Based upon updated data, draft rules, and preliminary engineering, determine the capital costs, which may be up to $800 million, and projected returns of the project.

   "We're currently looking for expertise and partners to do this project right," said Hourihan. "The company has been doing business in northern Maine for 60 plus years and will be here well after the mine closes, so we want to do what is right."

   In his annual report, Dorsey also mentioned support for new mining regulations, which was passed in the last legislative session and signed into law by the Governor. He also touched on the work of the biomass and compressed natural gas (CNG) working groups. Biomass was promoted in a variety of ways, including the first ever biomass fair held at the University of Maine Presque Isle and in a three part series on WAGM-TV. For more information on CNG see adjacent story.

   Dorsey also pointed out the Aroostook County Jobs Projection Project, which identified more than 1,800 jobs over the next five years. The jobs website also went live this past month.

   As for LEAD activities, McLaughlin said the organization again hosted Aroostook Day at the Legislature, supported the mining regulation changes and is holding candidate forums throughout the County and a U.S. Senate candidate debate.

   LEAD officers approved for 2012-13 were McLaughlin, president; Jim Davis, vice president; and Jennifer Curran, secretary. The treasurer position is still open.