Suit against gold-mine exploration dropped

LEWISTON (AP) - A conservation group and the Nez Perce Tribe have dropped a lawsuit against three federal agencies after the U.S. Forest Service rescinded a central Idaho gold mining exploration permit.

The Lewiston Tribune reported that the tribe and the Idaho Conservation League dropped the lawsuit after the Payette National Forest revoked the permit late last month.

The three-year permit would have allowed Midas Gold Corp. of Vancouver, British Columbia, to drill about 178 exploratory holes in an area east of McCall in the headwaters of the South Fork of the Salmon River.

Forest officials decided that additional environmental analysis of the company's plans and potential environmental effects are needed.

The company said it still plans to establish a mine on private land.