Virginia City and Gold Hill Wastewater System Improvements Environmental Assessment

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Sierra Front Field Office, in coordination with Storey County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), helped to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Virginia City and Gold Hill Wastewater System Improvements (Project). The EA analyzed the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative effects to the human environment associated with the Project, which would include the construction of an upgraded wastewater treatment plant along Six Mile Canyon; replacement of the sewer collection system in Virginia City; construction of sewer lift stations and force main; and replacement of the sewer collection system in Gold Hill.

The BLM is responding to Storey County’s application for a land patent of 12 acres under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act of 1926 for construction of upgrades to its wastewater treatment plant. The BLM is also responding to Storey County’s Right-of-Way application under Title V of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 for the replacement of sewer lines on BLM-administered lands in Virginia City and Gold Hill.

The right-of-way for replacement of 32,900 linear feet of pipeline on BLM administered lands would be authorized by the BLM pursuant to Title V of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (PL 94-579) and the regulations contained in 43 CFR 2800. The sewage WTP upgrade and expansion would be authorized by the BLM pursuant to the Recreation and Public Purposes Act of 1926, as amended, and the regulations contained in 43 CFR 2740 and 2912. The 12-acre WTP parcel will be conveyed directly to Storey County as a land patent.

The draft EA was available for public review until May 24, 2011.

If you have any questions on this project, please contact:

Brian Buttazoni
Planning and Environmental Coordinator
775-885-6004

Shannon Gardner
Storey County Building Inspector
775-847-0966

Document Links:

Map of Improvements - Virginia City

Map of Improvements - Gold Hill

Map of Improvements - Wastewater Treatment Plant

On July 12, 2012 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued the Final EA and Finding of No Significant Impact statement.

On September 25, 2012 the BLM issued a FONSI and Decision Record for the BLM-managed lands in this project.