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BLM's Mining Proposal
Below are a number of BLM and related Links to documents related to a proposal to lease the land for mining operations on 640 acres of BLM land east of Interstate 15 and west of the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area. The proposed mining sites are 3.5 miles from Anthem, 5.5 miles from Seven Hills and 1.5 miles from the new community of Inspirada. Public Hearings were held at the Henderson Executive Airport on 6 and 7 December, which is the first step in the Environmental Impact Statement process required before BLM can lease the land for mining operations, according to an article by Jeremy Twitchell in the 13-19 December, 2007 issue of the South Valley Home News. If approved, according to the Home News article, the mines would produce dolomite, which would be turned into aggregate for use in concrete production. Timing is Everything.The BLM comment period ends on Friday, 4 January 2008. The timing of this response process is likely no accident, in winter and covering the busiest holiday season of the year. Why is this happening? Unknown to most, the proposed mining developer Rinker Materials was involved in a legal dispute with the Interior Department over a portion of the land BLM is proposing to lease. That dispute was subsequently settled. However, and according to BLM in an email to The SCA View, "the nature of the settlement agreement is that BLM would make available via competitive sale a large volume of mineral materials if all concerns related to NEPA [National Environmental Policy Act] and authorization were met. BLM agreed to this and the appeal of the ALJ decision was withdrawn." As a result, the action now being taken by BLM to lease the land is being done pursuant to that aforementioned Settlement Agreement, which is a public document available for viewing at the Las Vegas office of BLM, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89130. Ron Johnson Addendum: The asphalt production portion has been deleted. The Mineral Industry in Nevada Crushed Stone Production in the U.S.
Ron Johnson, 14 December 2007 |