International Tower appoints Robert Comer as its chief administrative officer

International Tower Hill Mines (TSE:ITH) has appointed Robert Comer as its new chief administrative officer and general counsel, the company said Tuesday.

Comer, who will be in charge of all legal matters, will now play a key role in the company’s permitting for the Livengood gold project in Alaska.

In addition, he brings nearly 25 years of experience practicing natural resource and mineral law in the U.S. 

Over the course of his career, Comer has served at the Department of Interior in executive roles like Associate Solicitor for Minerals, Land and Water and regional and counsellor solicitor.

During 2007, he held the position of general counsel and principal deputy to the office of the Federal coordinator for Alaska natural gas transportation projects. He helped to establish a new federal office involved with permitting a natural gas pipeline from Alaska to the Alberta hub.

From 1994 to 2000, he performed legal services for Asarco Inc.’s mining and smelting operations. He also held positions with major law firms and provided strategic legal services to mineral and natural resource companies.

International Tower Hill Mines chief executive James Komadina said: "His tremendous legal experience in the mining and natural resource space, in particular with the U.S. Department of the Interior, will be invaluable as we advance the Livengood project through permitting and development into a major new gold mine in North America."

International Tower holds a 100 percent stake in the Livengood gold project, which can be accessed by highway about 70 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska.

The company is focused on rapid development of the Livengood project as it continues to bolster its current resource and explore its 145 kilometre district for new deposits.

In August, the company reported results of an updated preliminary economic assessment for the property, with a base case net present value of a whopping $1.2 billion, alongside a significantly expanded surface mine resource.

At a processing rate of 91,000 tonnes per day, the mine was estimated to have average annual production of 664,000 ounces of gold over the first five years, and 562,000 ounces over the 23-year life of the operation, making it potentially one of the largest single gold mines in North America.

Shares of the company nudged up 15 cents, or 4.04 percent, rising to $3.86 each today on the Toronto Stock Exchange.