Winnemucca District Office
| Contacts: | Lisa Ross | , 775-623-1541 | , lisa_ross@blm.gov |
BLM to Prepare Environmental Assessment on Sandman Exploration Project
Winnemucca, Nev. - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Winnemucca District (WD), Humboldt River Field Office (HRFO), will begin preparing the Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the impacts from the construction and reclamation of the Sandman Exploration Plan of Operations. Newmont Mining Corporation (NMC) “Sandman Exploration Project” would expand notice-level and state reclamation permit activities located about 14 miles west to northwest of Winnemucca.
Newmont currently has approximately 59 acres of proposed or constructed surface disturbance under existing authorizations on public and private land within the project area. The Plan would add up to 441 acres of new surface disturbance to existing exploration activities, for a total of 500 acres. The acreage would be divided between public and private land. A copy of the Plan is available for review at the Winnemucca District Office at 5100 E. Winnemucca Blvd., during regular business hours – weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The BLM is seeking input identifying issues and concerns or applicable knowledge to assist with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. A scoping letter and map are available on the WD webpage at: www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/wfo/blm_information/nepa0.html.
The public can submit comments on the proposal through September 14, 2009. Please send written comments to Ken Loda, project lead, BLM, Humboldt River Field Office, 5100 E. Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, Nevada 89445, fax 775-623-1503, or email to NV_WFO_Webmail@blm.gov and input “Sandman Exploration Project (Loda)” in the subject line.
Comments submitted for this project, including names and personal identifying information, will be available to public view at the field office.
For further information, please contact Ken Loda, Sandman project lead at 775-623-1539.
The BLM manages more land - 253 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Winnemucca District Office 5100 East Winnemucca Blvd. Winnemucca, NV 89445