BLM NEWS RELEASE
CARSON CITY — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City District, Sierra Front Field Office has received a right-of-way (ROW) application by Comstock Mining for the construction, maintenance and use of the “Lucerne haul road” across public land segments between their Lucerne pit mining operation and heap-leach processing facility. To evaluate the request, the BLM will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) and is opening a 30-day public scoping period to start on Jan. 17. Written comments on the proposal will be accepted through Feb. 16, 2013.
Comstock Mining is currently mining in the Lucerne and Billy the Kid pits, southwest of Gold Hill along State Highway 342, in Storey County, Nev. The mining and heap-leach operations are located on privately-owned lands. The haul road would cross several public land segments. Comstock Mining is also proposing to make the haul road an exclusive use road. Use of the haul road could reduce Comstock Mining’s use of State Highway 342 as a haul road.
In order to fulfill the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and National Historic Preservation Act, an EA is required to evaluate the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative effects to the human environment from the right-of-way (ROW) authorization.
To assist the BLM in evaluating Comstock Mining’s proposal, the BLM requests public input at this early stage:
- Do you have knowledge of sensitive or unique resources within the proposed project area?
- Do you have knowledge of conflicts for the use of the American Flat Road/Lucerne Access as an exclusive use road?
- Do you have other information about the proposed project area that could assist us with our evaluation?
This ROW request does not involve permitting mining. Comstock Mining has no request to the BLM to mine on public lands. The on-going mining operations in the Lucerne and Billy the Kid pits are on privately-owned lands and are not subject to BLM decision-making.
To gather input on this proposal, the BLM has scheduled the following meetings:
- A briefing will be provided to the Storey County Planning Commission on Thurs., Jan. 17. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. and will be held at the District Courtroom, 26 South B Street, Virginia City;
- A public workshop will be held at the BLM’s Carson City District Office on Tues., Jan. 22. The workshop will be from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. with two presentations at 6:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. The format will be an open house, not a hearing. The workshop will be held at 5665 Morgan Mill Road, in Carson City.
- A public workshop will be held at the Piper’s Opera House on Tues., Jan. 29. The workshop will be from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. with two presentations at 6:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. The format will be an open house, not a hearing. The workshop will be held at 12 North B Street, Virginia City.
Copies of the scoping documents are available at the BLM’s Carson City District Office. For additional information and maps of the proposal go to: http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/carson_city_field/blm_information/nepa.html.
Should you have any questions, or to submit your comments, contact: Brian Buttazoni, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, 5665 Morgan Mill Rd, Carson City, NV 89701 or email at: [email protected]. Only comments received at this email address will be considered. Comments can also be faxed to: 775-885-6147 attn: Brian Buttazoni.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
For more information call Brian Buttazoni at: 775-885-6004.
