The owner of a gold mine near Whitehall has filed an application to enlarge its existing pit and dig a new one.

Golden Sunlight Mine officials say the expansion would add 4.2 million tons of ore for processing and could extend the mine’s life by two years to 2017.

The mine is owned by Barrick Gold Corp. of Canada.

Herb Rolfes of the state Department of Environmental Quality says the company wants to dig a new pit on 50 acres 1,000 feet to the north of the main pit.

The plan calls for the removal of 52 million tons of waste rock.

Barrick official Tim Dimock tells the Montana Standard (http://bit.ly/Stl36B) strong gold prices make it viable to go for the ore.

DEQ has 90 days to consider the application.

___

Information from: The Montana Standard, http://www.mtstandard.com