Kore Mining Returns
This spring, 2026, the United States Forest Service announced KORE Mining has re-submitted a proposal for exploratory drilling for gold at Hot Creek. Back in 2020, we began the fight against KORE Mining to protect Hot Creek and in 2024, successfully defeated the mining company and the USFS in court. But the time to take a stand and protect Hot Creek is here one more.
The current administration has dismantled many environmental protections and safeguards communities have against mining companies. Because of this, KORE Mining has resubmitted a proposal for exploratory drilling. This time, the process by which KORE Mining can submit applications for drilling and begin the project are much different. Trump’s administration has gutted NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) by about 80%- this means that most previous environmental protections have been completely removed or significantly reduced. In regards to this specific project, the USFS is not required to have a public comment period, limiting public input.
Furthermore, the USFS and other agencies are allowed a more liberal use of a categorical exclusion. A categorical exclusion, when applied by the Forest Service, states that a project will not have a significant impact on the environment and therefore a project is not required to have an Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Last time, we defeated KORE and the USFS under a decision stating that the use of 2 categorical exclusions is not allowed and that it is a single project, not two projects; one for drilling and one for reclamation. Because there is now a more liberal use of categorical exclusions allowed, KORE’s application can be exempted.
KORE’s current proposal mirrors their last project proposal, with 12 drill pads adjacent to Hot Creek across from the Hot Creek Fly Fishing Ranch. KORE Mining’s 2021 plan of operations proposed drilling down 1,400 feet with a core drill and would use about 4,000 gallons of water per day. They drill 24/7 with night lighting until they finish a drill hole and then move on to the next spot. A hole will take 7-10 days. Surface disturbance was estimated to be less than an acre for putting in roads to the drill pads. They would reseed the drill pad and temporary roads at the end of the project.
We believe that the impacts of this project will significantly impact the land, water, ecology, people, and economy.
KORE’s resubmission for exploratory drilling requires immediate action to protect Hot Creek; to protect the land and ecosystem, to protect native land, to protect undeveloped recreation spaces, and to protect our tourist based economy. It is time to take a stand as a community to protect Hot Creek once more.
