Imperial Gold Announces Project “ACES” to Tackle Environmental Issues Plaguing Salton Sea

Показать описание

Local Mineral Extraction Could Produce Materials to Remediate Exposed Toxic Playas, Create Sustainable Wildlife Habitat, and Address Local Health Concerns

(IMPERIAL, CA)- Imperial Gold Corporation (“Imperial Gold” or the “Company”) – As part of the Company’s commitment for positive social and environmental change in Imperial County, CA, Imperial Gold is pleased to announce Project ACES - A Clean Environment for the Salton Sea. Project ACES has the potential to bring long-term positive environmental impacts, as well as economic benefits, to the region through a coordinated effort underpinned by the successful development of the Imperial Gold Project.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Project ACES has the potential to deliver a low-cost, clean cover solution for contaminated Salton Sea shorelines
• Appropriate remediation technique supported by multiple state agencies in California and endorsed by 2020 Salton Sea Management Report
• Clean materials from Imperial Project can be re-purposed to create sustainable wildlife habitats and public recreations areas
• Solution provided by Project ACES has the potential to lower pollution and reduce harmful health impacts while improving quality of life for area residents

Over 100 years of industrial and agricultural pesticide runoff has flowed into the Salton Sea. The Salton Sea continues to dry each year and increasing amounts of toxic dust is uncovered on the growing beaches, also known as playas. The hot and dry nature of the Imperial Valley cause this toxic dust to be lifted by the wind and blown around surrounding communities, creating poor air quality, resulting in respiratory disease and other health issues that Imperial Valley communities have been struggling with for decades and the problem is accelerating: more than 100,000 acres of playas are expected by 2047 with a vast majority on the southern end near Brawley.

Imperial Gold’s Project ACES is anticipated to utilize clean earthen materials generated from the Company's proposed local operation as a remediation material to cover the exposed toxic playas at the Salton Sea. This will reduce the negative health impacts currently impacting Imperial Valley, and address longstanding challenges facing the Salton Sea and the local community. In addition, the Company also intends to offer the material to rehabilitate diminishing wildlife habitat and build sustainable recreation areas around the Salton Sea. These measures will vastly improve the quality of life for those close to the Salton Sea and make it once again a positive setting for those who want to visit California's largest body of water.

“With Project ACES, the Imperial Gold project will not only address a major environmental concern but will also create local jobs and support the Imperial Valley economy,” commented Marc Leduc, Chief Operating Officer of Imperial Gold. “We want to work closely with our neighboring communities to take significant steps towards solving the long-standing health and environmental issues of the Salton Sea.”

The Salton Sea and the Imperial Gold Project site share the same terrain and sediment deposited by the Colorado River over the past 10 million years. The Imperial Gold operation will generate clean earthen materials, which are the same as those deposited by the Colorado River across the Imperial Valley, and are just miles from the Salton Sea.

Using such materials to cover the exposed beach is a remediation technique approved by the California Natural Resources Agency, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the California Department of Water Resources as stipulated in the 2020 Salton Sea Management Report. “Project ACES provides an opportunity to use the excess materials produced by our project to meet a critical environmental need and advance Imperial Gold’s commitment to social responsibility and vision of a healthy and prosperous Imperial Valley region,” added Mr. Leduc.

Brawley City Council member Ramon Castro stated, “The Salton Sea has been an environmental challenge to the Imperial Valley and California for decades. Imperial Gold is presenting Project ACES as one potential solution to the issues with the Salton Sea, and I value their partnership and commitment to this community.”

Imperial Gold’s Project ACES, a Clean Environment for the Salton Sea, is one of the many ways Imperial Gold looks to improve the quality of life for our fellow Imperial Valley residents for generations to come.