A Canadian gold mining company has applied for a permit to expand a gold mine near Whitehall, Mont.

KECI-TV (http://bit.ly/Qs51um ) reports Barrick Gold Corp. has asked the Department of Environmental Quality for permission to enlarge its existing pit at the Golden Sunlight Mine and dig a new one. 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.

Herb Rolfes with the DEQ says the company wants to dig a new pit on 50 acres just north of the main pit. The plan calls for the removal of 52 million tons of waste rock. The agency has 90 days to consider the application.

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Information from: KECI-TV, http://www.keci.com