Bureau of Land Management Accepting Comments for Gibellini Mine
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BATTLE MOUNTAIN, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management Mount Lewis Field Office has scheduled two virtual public meetings for the Gibellini Vanadium Mine on September 2 at 2 p.m. PDT and September 3 at 5 p.m. PDT.
These online meetings will provide an overview of the proposed project, the organization of the Gibellini Project DEIS document, and information on how members of the public can submit formal comments to the BLM.
Information on registering for the meetings can be found at https://go.usa.gov/xf2GR. No formal comments will be accepted during the online meetings.
“In accordance with Secretarial Order 3355, we anticipate having a record of decision in 12 months,” said Doug Furtado, Battle Mountain District Manager. “Good public involvement and comments will ensure that the document acknowledges issues and identifies those that need to be addressed in the environmental impact statement.”
The Gibellini Project is a proposal by the Nevada Vanadium Company (NVC) to construct, operate, reclaim, and close an open pit, heap leach, vanadium mining operation known as the Gibellini Project. The proposed project is in the southern extent of the Fish Creek Range on 6,456 acres of federal lands administered by the BLM in Eureka County, Nevada. The proposed project area is approximately 27 miles southeast of Eureka, Nevada.
Approximately 10 million tons of vanadium would be mined annually. Mining and crushing would occur up to 24 hours per day, seven days per week. NVC would employ up to 120 employees for the construction of the proposed Gibellini Project. During mine operations, there would be up to 120 employees with approximately 30 employees on-site at any one time, including contractors.
Vanadium is one of 35 critical minerals identified by the U.S. Geological Survey. These minerals include rare earth elements, as well as other metals such as lithium, indium, tellurium, gallium and platinum group elements.
Recognizing the importance of critical minerals, in 2017 President Trump issued Executive Order 13817, A Federal Strategy to Ensure Secure and Reliable Supplies of Critical Minerals, which directed the Secretaries of Interior and Commerce to lead the development of a government-wide strategy to protect and expand access by U.S. manufacturers and suppliers to necessary critical minerals. In turn, the Secretary of the Interior issued Secretary's Order 3359, Critical Mineral Independence and Security, and led development of the final critical minerals list in May 2018.
This announcement solicits public comments and consultation to identify issues and alternatives to be considered in the land management plan. The BLM will analyze these issues and use them to develop a range of alternative management strategies. Comments can be submitted through Tuesday, September 15.
Comments be submitted in the following ways:
- on-line via the ePlanning website, https://go.usa.gov/xf2GR (see the Participate Now tab);
- or by mail to Scott Distel, Project Manager, 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV 89820.
For more information, contact Scott Distel, Project Manager, at 775-635-4093. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.