Overview and History
The Haile Gold Mine is located in southern Lancaster County at 6911 Snowy Owl Road in Kershaw, South Carolina. Haile Gold Mine was one of the first operating gold mines in the United States after gold was discovered there in 1827 by Benjamin Haile. Haile Gold Mine has been operated on and off for nearly 200 years. Today, Haile Gold Mine is owned and operated by OceanaGold Corporation, a global mining and exploration company.
Haile Gold Mine is currently seeking approval from DHEC to expand its existing mining operations. If approved, the expansion will include:
- Expansion of the permitted area from 4,552 to 5,484 acres.
- Lateral expansion of pit boundaries.
- Conducting underground mining.
- Optimizing processing plant operations.
- Increasing storage capacity of tailings and overburden areas.
- Increasing water treatment plant capacity.
DHEC has received applications for new and modified environmental permits from Haile Gold Mine, Inc. for the proposed expansion and other mining-related operations. These permitting actions may include:
- Mine Operating Permit modifications
- Air Quality Operating Permit
- 401 Water Quality Certification
- National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits
- Dam Safety Permit
Upcoming opportunities for public engagement regarding these permitting actions can be found on the Community Engagement page.