LOVELOCK — The judge presiding over Coeur Rochester v Rye Patch Gold granted the injunction sought by Coeur to prevent RPG from entering the mine site.  However, the injunction was granted only in part.

Judge Michael Montero drew a line around the area of operations --  to include the heap leach pad, the open pit, the haul road, the rock crushing area --  and issued the injunction that will prevent RPG from entering that area for reasons of safety.

Otherwise, RPG may work the claims obtained after Coeur Rochester failed to pay $75,000 in federal maintenance fees before August 31, which resulted in the loss of more than 400 lode claims covering more than 8,000 acres.

Montero issued the injunction late Tuesday (Dec. 20) in 6th Judicial District Court after hours of testimony.  SPJ will post a more detailed account of the hearing on Wednesday (Dec. 21).