Date: February 9, 2005

CONTACT: Jamie Thompson, Public Affairs Officer, (775) 623-1500

ECHO CANYON EXPLORATION PROJECT AMENDMENT

The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Winnemucca Field Office has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) in response to Nevada Cement Company’s proposed amendment to the approved Echo Canyon Exploration Plan of Operations, located approximately 25 miles northeast of the City of Lovelock in Pershing County, Nevada. The EA would modify the Echo Canyon Exploration Project EA, NV-20-04-02 by analyzing potential impacts from the Proposed Action. That action would involve the installation and operation of an air quality monitoring station approximately 0.3 miles northwest of the Rye Patch exit on I-80 within the Plan boundary. The total surface disturbance would be approximately 1.55 acres in addition to the 14 acres previously analyzed.

This EA and the Echo Canyon Exploration Project EA are currently available at the Winnemucca Field Office or on-line at: http://www.nv.blm.gov/winnemucca/NEPA  The public is invited to submit written comments on the proposed project to the Winnemucca Field Office, Attention: Lynn Harrison, 5100 East Winnemucca Boulevard, Winnemucca, NV 89445-2921. A 15-day comment period will end on February 23, 2005.

For further information on the proposed project please contact Mark Gingrich, Surface Protection Specialist or Lynn Harrison, Planning & Environmental Coordinator, at the Winnemucca Field Office (775) 623-1500.
 

- BLM -