EPA Enacts Mercury Emissions Rule for Gold Mines

Source: Mineweb (12/19/10)

"The new regulations only permit 84 pounds of mercury emissions for every million tons."

Environmentalists have praised the EPA's decision to toughen regulation and monitoring of airborne mercury emissions from U.S. gold mines utilizing provisions of the Clean Air Act.

The new regulations only permit 84 pounds of mercury emissions, for every million tons of ore processing by mines using autoclaves and roasters. Existing precious metals operations now produce 129.6 pounds of mercury emission per one million tons of ore.

Washington, D.C.-based NGO EARTHWORKS claimed that, of the 12 largest emitters of mercury air pollution among U.S. gold mines, eight are in Nevada. They include Barrick's Goldstrike and Ruby Hill mines; Queenstake Resources' Jerritt Canyon Mine; Newmont's Twin Creeks, South Carlin, Midas, and North Carlin mines; the Ruby Hill Mine; and Standard Mining. Out-of-state major emitters of mercury pollution include Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold operations in Arizona, the C.R. Biggs Mine in California; Kennecott's copper concentrator outside of Salt Lake City, Utah; and Wharf Resources in South Dakota.

The regulations also impact mines in Alaska, Colorado, Montana and Washinton.

Four northeastern Nevada gold mines began voluntarily reducing their mercury emissions from roaster in 2001. On March 2006, Nevada's Environmental Commission adopted the Nevada Mercury Air Emissions Control program, modeled on the voluntary program.

However, environmental groups in several states and officials in Utah and Idaho claimed Nevada's regulations weren't inadequate. Health officials in Idaho blame Nevada mines for mercury contamination at fishing reservoirs near the Idaho-Nevada borders. In Utah, high concentrations of mercury have been found in the Great Salt Lake, potentially impacting waterfowl who may migrate through Utah.

Meanwhile, the EPA decided to build on the reductions from Nevada's program for controlling mercury emissions.

Novavax Shares Shoot 65% Higher on Phase 3 COVID-19 Vaccine Trial's 89.3% Effectiveness
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/29/2021)

Novavax Inc. shares established a new 52-week high after the firm's COVID-19 vaccine demonstrated an 89.3% efficacy rate in a Phase 3 trial in the U.K. and also showed efficacy against the South African variant in a Phase 2b trial.

Abiomed Shares Gain 8% After Firm Announces Record Q3 Revenue of $232 Million
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/28/2021)

Shares of cardiac medical device maker Abiomed Inc. traded higher after the company reported record revenue for Q3/21 despite the impact from COVID-19.

Sorrento Shares Rise 35% After Firm Posts Positive Data from Phase 1b ICU COVID-19 Trial
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/27/2021)

Shares of Sorrento Therapeutics traded higher after the company released positive preliminary results from it of Phase 1b COVI-MSC™ Study for treatment of hospitalized ICU COVID-19 patients.

Junior Mining Sector 'the Best Value in the Space'
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/27/2021)

The StreetSmart Live! Broadcast on Jan. 26, 2021, focused on metals and why now is a good time for investors to be looking at them and the mining space. John Newell, independent analyst and portfolio manager, and John Feneck, mining sector expert and president of Feneck Consulting, addressed the status of the current metals market. CEOs of the three metals-focused companies comprising the Metallic Group of Companies—Group Ten Metals, Metallic Minerals and Granite Creek Copper—discussed their projects.

Vir Shares Climb 48% on Initial Phase 1 Chronic Hepatitis B Trial Data
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/26/2021)

Vir Biotechnology shares traded higher after the company reported data from its Phase 1 Chronic Hepatitis B Study that showed VIR-3434 significantly and rapidly reduced hepatitis B surface antigen.

Aurinia Pharma Shares Open at 52-Week High as FDA Approves Adult Lupus Nephritis Drug
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/25/2021)

Shares of Aurinia Pharmaceuticals traded 30% higher after the company reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved its LUPKYNIS™ (voclosporin) for use in treating adults with active lupus nephritis.

AzurRx Doses First Two People in Expanded Phase 2b Trial of Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/22/2021)

AzurRx BioPharma shares traded 45% higher after the firm advised it had dosed the first two patients in its Phase 2b OPTION 2 Extension Study of MS1819 for treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in patients with cystic fibrosis.

NGL Energy Shares Rise 21% as It Seeks to Raise $2.05 Billion from Senior Secured Note Offering
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/21/2021)

Shares of NGL Energy Partners LP traded higher after the firm made a series of announcements over the past three days regarding an update on financial operations, a settlement with a customer in bankruptcy, a quarterly Class D unit distribution and a $2.05 billion senior secured debt offering.

Explorer Discovers New Gold Mineralization at Abitibi Gold Belt Property
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/21/2021)

iMetal Resources is setting out to see if the multi-million ounce gold resource next door continues onto its Gowganda West property in Ontario.

Gritstone Oncology Licenses LNP Platform from Genevant Sciences to Develop COVID-19 Vaccine
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/20/2021)

Shares of Gritstone Oncology reached a new 52-week high price after the company advised it entered into a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Genevant Sciences to develop and commercialize self-amplifying RNA vaccines for use against SARS-CoV-2.