NEDERLAND — The fate of the Cross Gold Mine was planned to be set this May, as Grand Island Resources’ (GIR) conversion application for Designated Mining Operation status was to finally go before the Mined Land Reclamation Board for a long-delayed hearing that would have mandated GIR commit to one of two possible outcomes: operation or reclamation. 

However, that decision may have been delayed yet again, as a letter from GIR Vice President Richard D. Mittasch sent to the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) on April 29, 2026, stated the company’s withdrawal of their application.

As this withdrawal subsequently triggered a mandatory reclamation process for the mine site—to be completed within five years—Mittasch’s letter also included a request to delay that process for 90 to 120 days from the date of the next Mined Land Reclamation Board (MLRB) hearing.

That hearing was originally scheduled for May 20, with a pre-hearing conference on May 6; both were canceled when the Division accepted GIR’s withdrawal on April 30. 

“The withdrawal of the Conversion Application is made in conjunction and to assist with the imminent purchase of the Cross Caribou Mine by American Clean Resources Group, Inc. (ACRG),” Mittasch’s letter reads. It went on to explain the need for a delay in the reclamation process by detailing ACRG’s plan to acquire the mines from GIR’s owner, Sustainable Metal Solutions, LLC.

“ACRG's ‘runway’ to acquisition and filing of a new Conversion Application requires withdrawal of the current application, followed by a period necessary to evaluate a market-based price for the mine.” 

Though DRMS accepted the withdrawal of the Designated Mining Operation conversion application, they have yet to grant GIR’s request for a reclamation delay. The Division released this statement in response to The Mountain-Ear’s inquiries:

“Per a Mined Land Reclamation Board order, Grand Island is to enter into final reclamation. Per Statute and Rule, Grand Island has five years to complete reclamation per the approved plans. DRMS will be working with Grand Island on a reclamation timetable.”

This news comes after representatives of ACRG met with DRMS to outline the “elements, steps, and critical timing necessary for ACRG's proposed purchase of the Cross Caribou Mine asset.” 

In addition to correspondence notifying GIR that their withdrawal had been accepted, another letter was sent to Mittasch after his request for reclamation delay was received.

This letter—sent by Colorado Environmental Protection Specialist Patrick Lennberg—reminded Mittasch that MLRB had ordered an increase of $1,609,578 to the Cross Mine’s current Financial Warranty.  

“The Board ordered the amendment of the current Financial Warranty, or submittal of a new Financial Warranty reflecting the increase, is due within 60 days from the date of the hearing, May 17, 2026,” the letter reads. “Failure to post the additional required Financial Warranty within 60 days may result in the Division pursuing enforcement actions.” 

Lennburg has also been providing information to Nederland residents who have written to state officials concerned about a sudden increase in truck traffic on the neighborhood roads leading up to Cross and Caribou Mines. 

According to Lennberg’s prodding of GIR, they reported receiving a delivery of gravel material required for maintenance purposes, but any other heavy vehicle traffic was unrelated to their operations.  

"Current operations at the site are limited to site maintenance, water treatment, monitoring, and similar activities,” Lennberg concluded.