United Comstock Merger Mill at American Flat
History
The American Flat Mill (AFM) site is located on BLM-managed lands within the Virginia City National Historic Landmark and the Virginia City Historic District near Gold Hill, Nevada. The mill was built in 1922 to process local gold and silver ore utilizing cyanide vat leaching in what was then described as the largest concrete mill in the United States. During the life of the mill, approximately $7.5 million worth of silver and gold was produced.
Site Status
Since the mill was permanently closed in 1926, this seven-acre mill site has been used as a place to hold parties, post graffiti, and conduct paintball wars despite physical safety hazards from falling concrete, underground mill sumps filled with water, and holes in the concrete flooring. A 2008 audit of the site by the Department of Interior, Office of the Inspector General (OIG), found the AFM to be a high risk liability to the U.S. Government.
Recent BLM Efforts
The BLM's on-going management efforts at AFM focus on public health and safety and to comply with the direction of the Office of the Inspector General that BLM "identify and resolve trespassing on abandoned mine sites and assess and mitigate hazards associated with these sites."
In 2010, BLM prepared a draft and final environmental assessment (EA), to analyze a variety of alternatives to mitigate safety and historical resources concerns on the mill site. On April 5, 2011, the BLM withdrew the Decision because of public concerns that the Decision was signed before the completion of the Section 106 process.
In June 2011, the BLM sought additional public input through provisions in Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act on the proposals to reduce site safety hazards at the AFM site. The BLM sought public input on the identification of historic properties and comments on potential effects analyzed in the 2010 EA relative to regulation 36 CFR Part 800.2(d) and 800.3(e).
On March 5, 2012, the BLM in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) concluded the Section 106 process by executing a Programmatic Agreement (PA). The PA signatories were the BLM, SHPO and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. The Comstock Historic Commission and National Park Service were also involved as concurring parties.
Upcoming BLM Efforts
The BLM will make the revised draft EA (with mitigation identified in the Programmatic Agreement) available to the public for a 30-day comment period during 2012.
For More Information
Please contact Colleen Sievers at 775-885-6000.
