Last Saturday's monthly Coffee With The Mayor drew a big turnout--approximately 100 residents--many of whom turned out to express concerns and voice opposition to a proposed Nevada Cement mining operation that was approved at the February 11 Fernley Planning Commission meeting. The political hot potato now moves to the city council for consideration, probably some time in March.The Fernley Planning Commission approved the special use permit application 6-0 at its last meeting in February. The proposed silica surface mining operation would be located at 695 Sage Street on property controlled by the Bureau of Land Management. According to Nevada Cement President Joseph Sells, who was at the meeting Saturday, the silica is needed as an additive for cement manufactured at the company's Fernley plant.
In an Agenda Report prepared for the Planning Commission by Senior Planner Bill Cadawallader, the city staff recommendation was to approve the special use permit. Based on plans submitted to the city, Nevada Cement will operate the mine six days a week and remove about 200 tons of raw material a day.
The 25 acres for the proposed mine is about 2.5 miles west of U.S. 95-A and the primary access route will involve a portion of Sage Street. Based on the Agenda Report, trucks will make seven to eight trips per day, with a possible maximum of a dozen trips per day along the primary and/or two other alternative access routes that have been designated for the project.
The complete 90-page Agenda Report can be viewed here: http://www.cityoffernley.org/DocumentView.asp?DID=2669
Concerned residents at Saturday's coffee expressed fears about dust, carcinogens, noise and traffic. Interim City Manager Greg Evangelatos said there has been so much feedback from citizens on the proposed mining operation, that the city council will be scheduling a special meeting to give residents an opportunity to air their concerns. A date for that meeting has yet to be determined.
In the meantime, Sells told the crowd that Nevada Cement will be holding two open house events for residents to get more information on the mine. Both events will be at Fernley City Hall. The first open house is slated for Saturday, March 7 at 10 a.m. and the other will be Thursday, March 12 at 6:30 p.m.
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