The Fernley City Council is set to consider a controversial proposal for a silica mining operation at its regular meeting set for Wednesday at 4 p.m. Nearby residents have kicked up a dust storm of opposition to the mine that Nevada Cement plans to use for a critical additive needed to produce the company's end product.
Opposition has keyed on two areas: dust and the use of Sage Street on the city's west side as a primary access route to the mining area. While city staff is recommending approval for the mine, four new conditions have been added in a 141-page agenda report prepared for the council. The complete agenda report may be viewed here: http://www.cityoffernley.org/DocumentView.asp?DID=2794
The new conditions, which have not been reviewed by the Planning Commission, include two provisions that call for Nevada Cement to file a detailed dust control plan to the city for approval prior to issuance of a grading permit. The company would also be compelled to file access agreements for any and all parcels of land that will be used to access the mine.
Additionally, Nevada Cement would be required to file copies of all documents with the city that it is filing with the Bureau of Land Management and/or the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection as a part of the project. Another key condition would call for Sage Street to be used only during the first 18 months of the project. Use of Sage Street would be limited to material testing, construction, and storage related to pre-operations of the facility, according to the agenda report.
There were at least three access routes to the proposed silica mine outlined in Nevada Cement's original proposal. However, Sage Street was identified as the primary access that would have seen up to a dozen loads a day being transported from the facility. The company plans to operate the mine six days a week and remove about 200 tons of raw material per day.
Residents nearby are concerned about dust and the potential cancer-causing elements that could become airborne by the surface mining. However, the added conditions are designed to address those concerns, but it remains to be seen how those conditions might impact Nevada Cement's ability to get the mine up and running.
The citizen's group has launched a website outlining their reasoning for opposing the mine. The website can be accessed here: http://pozzolanmine.weebly.com/
The council is clearly walking a tightrope on this issue juggling the preservation and creation of jobs at one of Fernley's major employers, while working in restrictions designed to assuage the fears of citizens.
Also at Wednesday's meeting, the council will consider streamlining the structure of operations at city hall as they mull over a proposal to consolidate the finance office in with the day to day operations of the city clerk. A staff report outlining the option is available for review here: http://www.cityoffernley.org/DocumentView.asp?DID=2793
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The message here is "The City is Concerned About Jobs"....NOT about the citizens. What a joke a few jobs vs. the good of the people. Fernley's motto: The End Justifies The Means". When the town dries up, the only three people that will be left in Fernley are Chaffin, Clegg and Martin.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the City Council Agenda, the meeting is set for 6:00 PM, not 4:00 PM. Perhaps I don't understand your reference to 4:00 PM above but here is a link to the City Councils agenda:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cityoffernley.org/CurrentEvents.asp?EID=310
While limiting this to 18 months of pre-operation is a good idea, the City should also hold Nevada Cement, in writing, responsible for the bill of any repairs that must be made to Sage Drive. 18 months is plenty of time to damage a brand new road.
ReplyDeleteIf they are only using it for pre-operations, the damage should be minimal. However, I was told at the open house Nevada Cement is planning on pulling material out as well in the first 18 months to establish the market. Depending upon the tonnage, there could be considerable damage from this.
FYI from NCC, all of this will happen in the first 18 months without the proposed improvements to Sage Drive -- no widening, no slowing lanes.
Regarding the City Council Meeting. Their meeting starts at 4:00 p.m. At 6:00 pm they open the meeting to the public who may voice concerns for 5 minutes. As a group, we have requested that Jerry Burns present our case. Unfortunately, we have asked for a little more time to do this as there are many issues involved but they have not responded to our request.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good start for us, we need to come together in this city, letting our leaders know we are not going to be pushed around any longer. We will hold you, mayor et al accountable in all you do, or don't do. Remember, together we can make a difference. Citizens Working For Fernley, www.cw4fernley.weebly.com
ReplyDeleteI would like to know of any city that allows a residential street to be used for a commercial/industrial truck thruway. Sells, of NCC told me at last Thrusday's meeting, they plan on taking out 20 loads per day. That means, 20 trucks in and 20 trucks out..total of 40. That comes to one truck on the average of every 15 minutes, and then add to that the water and gas trucks. How would the council people or mayor like to have that traffic going by their homes?
ReplyDeleteAnonymours above: Fernley is famous for violating all rules, safety, laws etc. for their benefit. They don't care about people, but you are right if this was their street, it would be different.
ReplyDeleteEven when the people plead with them, they actually enjoy inflicting pain on people.
The mine will be perfectly safe. Not only for the employees of Nevada Cement, but also for the mines neighbors. If all you people would do a little more research, you would find that not only are there many silica mines that operate safely in nevada already, but there is one in particular that requires tons of high silica ore to pass through fernley almost daily.
ReplyDeleteI am opposed to anything going on at the dry lake behind the Truck Inn because I shoot my 1,000-yard target rifle out there. It's the best place on Earth to do stuff like that...
ReplyDelete