New Mine to Open in Idaho by 2015

PARIS, Idaho (AP) — Officials with Paris Hills Agricom say they expect to begin operations at a new eastern Idaho phosphate mine as early as January 2015. The company's vice president of operations, Dave Kramer, told the Idaho State Journal that the permit process for the Paris Hills Phosphate Project is proceeding as expected, and he hopes to begin building the underground mine by the end of 2014.

The company already has phosphate mineral leases from the state, as well as the rights to mine of private properties in the area, but it still must submit formal permit applications to several state and local departments. If approved, the mine is expected to bring more than 350 jobs to the area with wages for underground mining positions ranging between $28 and $32 an hour.