PUBLIC NOTICE
REVISED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
FOR PAINTED ROCK MINE PROJECT
COMMENT PERIOD AND PUBLIC MEETING
Notice is hereby given that the Department of
the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), will
be releasing a Revised Draft Environmental
Assessment (Revised DEA) dated March 4,
2024, for the Painted Rock Mine Project. The
BIA published a Draft EA for public review in
April 2022 and two public meetings were held
in May 2022. Based on comments received
during the public comment period on the
Draft EA, the BIA, BLM, and Douglas County
determined that additional analyses were
needed. The Revised DEA was prepared to
clarify the proposed project actions and to
provide additional analysis of potential impacts
or concerns brought forward during the April
2022 Draft EA comment period.
The proposed aggregate mine would be
adjacent to Sunrise Pass Road, approximately
six miles east of US 395 (two miles east of the
terminus of Johnson Lane). The Proponent is
requesting BIA approval of a sand and gravel
mineral Lease totaling 148.8 acres on an
Indian-owned allotment, 0.1-mile (0.8 acre)
right-of-way from a second Indian-owned
allotment, and use (right-of-way) of roads on
BLM-administered public lands that would
make up a 2-mile haul route extending from
the terminus of Johnson Lane to the mine
entrance and a 0.8-mile alternative non-haultruck
route to the south.
Based on the analysis and impacts discussed
in the Revised DEA and comments received
during the public review period, the BIA and
BLM will decide whether to reach a Finding
of No Significant Impact, direct further work
on the EA, or initiate the preparation of an
Environmental Impact Statement.
The public comment period for the Revised
DEA will be open for 30 days, beginning
on March 4, 2024, and ending on April 3,
2024. An in-person public comment meeting
is scheduled to occur on March 20, 2024,
from 4:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Douglas
County Community and Senior Center,
located at 1329 Waterloo Lane, Gardnerville,
NV 89410. The public meeting will include
a short presentation, time to converse with
subject matter experts, and time to make
a verbal public comment on the content of
the Revised DEA (limited to two minutes per
person). In order to be considered part of the
Administrative Record, a comment must be
submitted in writing on forms provided at the
meeting or as instructed below.
For additional information or to submit a
written comment, please visit the project
website at https://paintedrockmineproject.org/.
Written comments may also be emailed to
info@ paintedrockmineproject.org, or mailed
to the following address:
Chip Lewis, Regional Environmental
Protection Specialist
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Western Regional
Office
2600 N. Central Avenue, Fourth Floor
Mailroom, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Copies of the Revised DEA are available
for public review on the internet at https://
paintedrockmineproject.org/, the BIA Western
Nevada Office at 311 E Washington St.,
Carson City, NV 89701, the BLM Carson
District Office at 5665 Morgan Mill Rd., Carson
City, NV 89701, and the Douglas County
Public Works Department at 1120 Airport Rd.
Building F-2, Minden, NV 89423.
Pub Date: February 28, March 2, 2024
Ad # 41189
