Numerous new mines, energy projects, transmission lines, and large-scale planning efforts all simultaneously permitting. What's a public lands advocate to do?
Northern NV is getting hit as well. The small town of Gerlach is threatened with geothermal development with leases that cover the entire community. The town sits on the resource with great potential for permanent adverse impacts to life & property. Lithium mine claims have been issued on the south Black Rock playa starting just a few thousand feet from my home. This too posses significant threats to life & property. The claims should have never been issued in the first place. I wrote the black rock NCA RMP (2004) with a mineral decision that states the south playa was to be withdrawn from the 1872 mining law. BLM has had 20 years to implement that decision.
And there may be potential for solar development to the west and south edge of town to complement mining to the east and a geothermal power plant on the north side of town.
Patrick, I’m a NEPA lawyer, lots of experience with BLM in Oregon. Not a litigator, I do admin stuff — comments and appeals. I can pitch in, as an extra set of eyes on something, or I can do a NEPA analysis on some project no one is going to have time to get to, etc. I’m on “burnout sabbatical” right now so I have a little extra time. I’ll shoot you a message so you have my email if you want to reach out.
Northern NV is getting hit as well. The small town of Gerlach is threatened with geothermal development with leases that cover the entire community. The town sits on the resource with great potential for permanent adverse impacts to life & property. Lithium mine claims have been issued on the south Black Rock playa starting just a few thousand feet from my home. This too posses significant threats to life & property. The claims should have never been issued in the first place. I wrote the black rock NCA RMP (2004) with a mineral decision that states the south playa was to be withdrawn from the 1872 mining law. BLM has had 20 years to implement that decision.
And there may be potential for solar development to the west and south edge of town to complement mining to the east and a geothermal power plant on the north side of town.
Patrick, I’m a NEPA lawyer, lots of experience with BLM in Oregon. Not a litigator, I do admin stuff — comments and appeals. I can pitch in, as an extra set of eyes on something, or I can do a NEPA analysis on some project no one is going to have time to get to, etc. I’m on “burnout sabbatical” right now so I have a little extra time. I’ll shoot you a message so you have my email if you want to reach out.
Rebecca, you're an angel! What do you think the folks at ONDA might say in the way of pro Bono work? We have such incursions here in Oregon as well.
Dropping in to say how much I enjoy reading this Substack. Thank you Patrick for all you do for our region. 💚
Restacking this to Notes.