Cinderlite will expand gravel pit on Goni Road

With plans to expand its gravel pit off Goni Road, Cinderlite Rock and Sand is asking the Bureau of Land Management for permission to excavate 28 acres of public land designated as conservation reserve.

An environmental assessment and related reports are expected to be finished in the next two months, said Dan Erbes, BLM geologist managing the environmental reports. The land was designated by BLM as open space land, meant to remain undisturbed.

Some concern has surfaced about the plan, mainly associated with the possibility more trucks would drive in the neighboring area. About 12 homes are situated 1/4 mile away from the site. Judging from the scale and location, the pit could be visible from anywhere in Carson City eventually, Erbes said.

Cinderlite officials declined to comment about the application.

According to plans filed with BLM, the company expects to expand its current operations at the site by an additional 13 acres on private land and 28 acres of public land. The expansion would produce 10 million tons of aggregate over 25 years, the company estimates.

Once the environmental studies are completed, the company will apply for a special use permit with the Carson City Planning Commission.

City Community Development Director Walt Sullivan said the commission might impose traffic and impact concerns during the permitting process.

"Obviously, this is a very interesting decision (BLM) has to come to," Sullivan said. "On one hand, the Urban Interface plan identified most of the BLM properties as open space. At the same time, it does allow for some mining operations on BLM properties. They have to balance or weigh both concerns."

Contact Jill Lufrano at jlufrano@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.