BLM seeks input on American Flat

The Bureau of Land Management, Sierra Front Office will be seeking public comments on a right-of-way amendment application from Comstock Mining LLC to construct and maintain an “exclusive use haul road” between its existing heap-leach facility and mining operation. To evaluate this proposal, the BLM has prepared the American Flat Road/Lucerne Access Right-of-Way Draft Environmental Assessment. Public comments will be accepted from Nov. 10 through Dec. 9.

The BLM has scheduled the following public workshop to receive input on this proposal:

A workshop will be held at the Piper’s Opera House on Thursday, Nov. 13 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. with a presentation at 6:45 p.m. The format will be an open house, not a hearing. The workshop will be held at 12 North B Street in Virginia City.

Comstock Mining is currently mining in the Lucerne and Billy the Kid Pits. Mined material is hauled to a heap-leach processing facility under an existing right-of-way. Haul and public both share the American Flat Road and the Lucerne haul road.

To ensure safe use of the roads, under the amended right-of-way, Comstock Mining LLC would be authorized to utilize three “wedge” segments of public lands within the Lucerne pit for haul purposes and make modifications to the American Flat Road to separate public and haul traffic. A new, realigned section of the American Flat Road would be constructed to facilitate public traffic.

To comply with the National Historic Preservation Act, the BLM and consulting parties are preparing a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to resolve the potential adverse effects to historic properties. A separate public workshop on the MOA will be held in January.

Hard copies of the documents are available at the BLM’s Carson City District Office. To review the project documents and maps and for information on how to submit comments go to: http://tinyurl.com/7kbkvdg.

For more information call Brian Buttazoni at 775-885-6000.