Date: January 28, 2004

CONTACT: Diane Hendry at (775) 623-1500

ECHO CANYON EXPLORATION PROJECT

The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Winnemucca Field Office, has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) in response to a proposal received from Nevada Cement Company. The EA analyzes potential impacts from the proposed action that would involve conducting mineral exploration activities approximately 25 miles northeast of the City of Lovelock in Pershing County, Nevada. 

The proposed exploration project would evaluate a limestone resource in the project area and determine if it is suitable for manufacturing Portland cement. The exploration would include construction of drilling access roads and 51 drill pads. In addition, two water monitor wells would be drilled and developed approximately 1.5 miles northwest of the Rye Patch exit of Interstate Route 80. The total surface disturbance would be approximately 14 acres.

The EA is currently available at the Winnemucca Field Office and on the Winnemucca Field Office Web page at: http://www.nv.blm.gov/winnemucca . The public is invited to submit written comments on the proposed project to the Winnemucca Field Office, Attention: Jeff Johnson, 5100 East Winnemucca Boulevard, Winnemucca, NV 89445-2921. A thirty-day comment period will end on February 20, 2004. For further information on the proposed project please contact Jeff Johnson, Planning & Environmental Coordinator, at the Winnemucca Field Office (775) 623-1500.

- BLM -