Les Thrasher has submitted a Plan of Operations to develop a gypsum mine 7 miles southwest of Carp and 1 mile west of Meadow Valley Wash in southern Lincoln County, Nevada,. An access road, approximately 1.5 miles in length, would be constructed from Meadow Valley Wash up the side of the canyon to the deposit. A location map is attached.

The project would consist of an open pit and associated operations facility, a waste dump and stockpiles, and the access road for a total disturbance of approximately 12 acres. Production would last for 5 years or more. At the completion of the project, both the pit and access road would be reclaimed. No benches, highwalls, dumps, or stockpiles would remain. All disturbances would be recontoured. Any areas with available topsoil would be seeded.

The project area lies within desert tortoise habitat north of the Mormon Mesa Area of Critical Environmental Concern and east of the Meadow Valley Wilderness Area. The project area is within the planning area of the Caliente Management Framework Plan Amendment and Record of Decision for the Management of Desert Tortoise Habitat, 2000. Bighorn Sheep and T&E Species are known to occur in the region. An Environmental Analysis will be prepared.

Comments on the proposal and requests for additional information should be sent to Bill Wilson at: William_Wilson@nv.blm.gov

Legal Location: T 10 S., R. 66 E., Sections 27 and 34 (see map below)
Date Posted: 06/02/2005