Carson City, Nev. - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Nevada Department of Agriculture and the Nevada Department of Corrections on Saturday, May 18, hosted the second of three annual saddle-trained horse adoption events at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center (NNCC) in Carson City.  ]]> http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/info/newsroom/2013/may/elko__blm_releases0.html http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/info/newsroom/2013/may/elko__blm_releases0.html Wed, 15 May 2013 17:35:30 -0600 ELKO, Nev. – The Wells and Egan Field Offices of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Elko and Ely District Offices are releasing the Final Environmental Assessment (EA), Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Decision Record (DR) for the Three HMA Water/Bait Trapping Wild Horse Gather.

The project area for this gather and removal of wild horses is from within and outside the Triple B, Maverick-Medicine, and the western and central portions of the Antelope Valley Herd Management Areas (HMAs). Total acreage within the project area is 1,839,459 and the 2013 estimated population is 1,504 wild horses. The Appropriate Management Level for the project area is 548-1,015 wild horses. With the lack of needed precipitation this past fall and winter, BLM expects that there will be a lack of available water for wild horses in the summer and fall months ahead.

This action is based on limited water and/or forage availability to adequately support the current population of wild horses and on the adverse impacts to range resources being caused by wild horses concentrating on site specific areas within the project area. Attempts were made during two 2011 gather operations to relieve the pressure on these areas of concentrated wild horses and to achieve AML for the HMAs. Both gathers were completed prior to achieving appropriate AML due to vegetative cover, terrain and weather conditions.

The Elko and Ely District Offices have been monitoring water and forage resources since the completion of the 2011 gathers. Semi-weekly from June 2011 through the end of October 2012, the BLM hauled more than 150,000 gallons of water to springs within the project area to help alleviate wild horse pressure on the springs. ]]> http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/info/newsroom/2013/may/battle_mountain__blm.html http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/info/newsroom/2013/may/battle_mountain__blm.html Wed, 15 May 2013 16:50:40 -0600 Battle Mountain, NV - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Battle Mountain District, Mount Lewis Field Office issued a Decision to approve the Plan of Operations for the Cove-Helen Underground Mine Project. The mine area is 26 miles southwest of Battle Mountain, Nev., on State Highway 305.

“After a thorough permitting process, I am pleased to announce the approval of this important gold processing project,” said Douglas Furtado, District Manager for the Battle Mountain District. “The BLM worked closely with the mine proponent to ensure the Cove-Helen Project is permitted in an environmentally responsible manner.”

The Cove-Helen Underground Mine Project will disturb 465.32 acres of public lands. The project will be located on a previously disturbed mine site and will employ up to 37 people. 

The Decision to approve the Plan of Operations for the Cove-Helen Underground Mine Project, and the Environmental Assessment are posted on the Battle Mountain BLM website at http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/battle_mountain_field.html.

For further information on the Cove-Helen Underground Mine Project or to obtain a printed copy of the Environmental Assessment and Decision, contact Jon Sherve, Assistant Field Manager, Non-Renewable Resources at (775) 635-4164 or email jsherve@blm.gov. ]]> http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/info/newsroom/2013/may/elko__interagency.html http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/info/newsroom/2013/may/elko__interagency.html Tue, 14 May 2013 16:55:10 -0600 ELKO, Nev. – With the temperatures beginning to rise, the Elko District Interagency Fire Management Team would like to remind the community of the dry weather conditions still prevalent in northeastern Nevada. ]]> http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/info/newsroom/2013/may/blm_announces_temporary.html http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/info/newsroom/2013/may/blm_announces_temporary.html Mon, 13 May 2013 15:50:00 -0600 The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City District-Sierra Front Field Office, announces the temporary closure of public lands adjacent to and north of the Stead Airport in Washoe County, Nevada, during activities related to the Reno National Championship Air Races. This action is taken in the interest of safety for spectators and participants during the racing seminar on June 12 through June 15, and during qualifying and competition events on Sept. 11 through Sept. 15, 2013. 

Agencies will offer several media availability opportunities to discuss these restrictions, last year’s fire statistics and predicted forecast for this year: ]]> http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/info/newsroom/2013/may/southern_nevada__agencies.html http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/info/newsroom/2013/may/southern_nevada__agencies.html Fri, 3 May 2013 12:30:10 -0600 Las Vegas – Beginning Monday, May 6, the public will have the opportunity to review and comment on the preliminary recommendations for the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) Round 14 expenditures and a proposed expenditure of Lincoln County Land Act (LCLA) funds for an environmentally-sensitive land acquisition in Elko County.  Written comments will be accepted for 45 days until Wednesday, June 19.

The preliminary recommendations include expenditures of approximately $8.7 million for a variety of conservation, restoration, and improvement projects throughout Nevada, and a set aside for a Special Account Reserve.  ]]> http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/info/newsroom/2013/may/battle_mountain__.html http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/info/newsroom/2013/may/battle_mountain__.html Thu, 2 May 2013 10:55:20 -0600 Tonopah, Nev.--The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Battle Mountain District, Tonopah Field Office, is opening 70 acres previously classified under the Recreation & Public Purposes Act. The lease holders, Esmeralda and Nye counties and the Beatty General Improvement District, chose not to pursue new leases or patents to these lands.

The three parcels being reopened include the 20-acre Sportsmen Park and fish pond at Rye Patch Creek, near Tonopah; a 10-acre proposed municipal park in Beatty; and a 40-acre emergency services training center site at Silver Peak.

A notice published in the Federal Register on October 30, 2013, opens these public lands to the operation of the public land laws generally, including the 1872 Mining Law. The lands have been and will remain open to mineral leasing.

The case files are available at the BLM Tonopah Field Office, 1553 South Main Street, P.O. Box 911, Tonopah, NV 89049. Information is also available at http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/battle_mountain_field/blm_information/national_environmental.html, or contact Mark Ennes, Tonopah Field Office Assistant Field Manager, Non-Renewable Resources, at (775) 482-7835, or email at mennes@blm.gov. ]]> http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/info/newsroom/2013/may/elko__blm_releases.html http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/info/newsroom/2013/may/elko__blm_releases.html Thu, 2 May 2013 10:35:30 -0600 ELKO, Nev.--The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Wells Field Office is releasing an Environmental Assessment (EA) for Pilot Gold’s (USA) Inc. (Pilot) Plan of Operations for Kinsley Exploration Project for public review until May 30.

The project is located in the Kinsley Mountain Range, approximately 38 miles south of West Wendover, Nev. Public scoping was conducted in December 2012.

Pilot proposes to increase surface disturbance at their existing exploration project from 4.79 acres to 60 acres to conduct exploration drilling and construct drill pads and access roads. Much of the disturbance will be within or adjacent to the previous Kinsley Mine location.

The proposal also includes construction of water wells and maintenance roads and the extraction of gravel for road improvements from an existing gravel location near the project area, making the total proposed disturbance about 100 acres. The Kinsley Exploration Project will be permitted through both the BLM and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP).

The EA is available on the BLM Elko District website: www.blm.gov/rv5c

Questions concerning this project should be addressed to Gerry Miller by phone at (775) 753-0372 or by email at gkmiller@blm.gov. ]]>