EUREKA, Nev. (AP) — Federal land managers have approved a major mine project in central Nevada, saying it will provide an average of 400 long-term jobs.

U.S. Bureau of Land Management officials announced Friday that a record of decision has been signed for the Mount Hope Molybdenum Mine, about 25 miles northwest of Eureka.

The BLM says Eureka Moly LLC's open-pit molybdenum mine will disturb some 8,100 acres of public land and 260 acres of private land located within the 22,886-acre project area.

The project life of the mine includes 44 years of mining and ore processing, and 30 years of reclamation.

Eureka County commissioners issued a news release criticizing both the federal agency and the mining company for failing to resolve many issues concerning the mine's potential environmental impact, including water consumption.