BLM withdraws decision on American Flat Mill

The Bureau of Land Management has withdrawn its decision on the United Comstock Merger Mill at American Flat environmental assessment because of public concerns that the decision was signed before the completion of the Section 106 process as mandated by the National Historic Preservation Act.

The BLM will continue working with the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and interested parties to complete the Section 106 process and to take into account possible adverse affects to a place that is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 requires federal agencies to take into account the effects of their undertakings on historic properties, and afford the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation a reasonable opportunity to comment.

After the Section 106 process is completed, the BLM will issue a new decision record, which would initiate a new 30-day appeal period.

On Dec. 8 the BLM Carson City District-Sierra Front Field Office issued a finding of no significant impact and decision record for the United Comstock Merger Mill at American Flat Environmental Assessment to remove the millsite to mitigate hazards that threaten human health and safety and to document and interpret the historic resources at the site.

A 2008 audit by the Department of the Interior, Office of the Inspector General, found the American Flats site to be a high-risk liability to the U.S. government.

Information about the United Comstock Merger Mill at American Flat is posted on-line at: www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/carson_city_field/blm_information/nepa/comstock_merger_mill.html For more information, call Colleen Sievers at 775-885-6000.