The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Sierra Front Field Office is seeking public review and comment on the United Comstock Merger Mill at American Flat Environmental Assessment during a 45-day comment period from Dec. 5, 2012 through Jan. 19, 2013. The millsite near Gold Hill, Nev., is commonly known as American Flat and was the largest concrete mill in the United States when it was built in 1922.
In 2008, an audit by the Department of the Interior, Office of Inspector General found the American Flat Mill site to be a high liability public safety hazard. This EA analyzes the effects of the Proposed Action (demolition) and of three Alternatives (current management, institutional controls, and selected building retention). The purpose and need for action is to promote public health and safety on BLM-managed lands, to mitigate or abate the physical human safety hazards, and to address the historic resources of the site.
In March 2012, the BLM, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the State Historic Preservation Officer executed a Programmatic Agreement to resolve the adverse effects to cultural and historic resources that would result from implementation of any of the considered alternatives. Mitigation measures are identified in this EA for each of the alternatives.
The Proposed Action would remove all structures at the American Flat Mill site, revegetate the site, and develop a variety of on-site and off-site interpretive materials of the cultural and historic resources. The BLM has preliminarily determined that the Proposed Action would not have significant effects on the human environment, and has prepared a draft Finding of No Significant Impact.
Printed copies of these documents and supporting maps are available at the Carson City District Office at 5665 Morgan Mill Rd, in Carson City. They may also be viewed on-line at: http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/
Should you have any questions, or to submit your comments, contact: Brian Buttazoni, project manager, at 775-885-6000, at 5665 Morgan Mill Rd, Carson City, NV 89701, or via email at: [email protected]. Comments can also be faxed to:775-885-6147 Attn: American Flat.
