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Conservation group urges Inyo County to press for full environmental review of exploratory drilling north of Shoshone
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Summary
Amargosa Conservancy urged the Inyo County Board of Supervisors to support rigorous environmental review of a Saint Cloud Mining proposal for up to 43 boreholes near Shoshone, citing risks to groundwater, Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and culturally sensitive sites.
Mason Vale, campaigns director with Amargosa Conservancy, told the Inyo County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 19 that his nonprofit is urging county leaders to push for rigorous environmental analysis of an exploratory drilling proposal by Saint Cloud Mining north of Shoshone.
The proposal calls for drilling up to 43 boreholes, some several hundred feet deep, to search for clay minerals such as zeolite. Vale said the site lies within three miles of Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, is within about a half mile of Eagle Mountain — a culturally important site for the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe — and abuts critical habitat for the endangered Amargosa nightwort, a plant found only in the Amargosa watershed.
Vale said any disturbance to groundwater in the area could affect Ash Meadows and the desert springs that feed the Amargosa River, with consequences for wildlife and the Shoshone and Tecopa communities downstream. He asked the board to "stand alongside our organization, our tribal partners, and ... Nevada communities," and urged county participation in future NEPA processes to ensure water resources and cultural values are protected.
No county staff report or formal board action on the mining proposal was presented during the meeting. Vale asked the board to advocate for a thorough environmental review; he did not specify particular regulatory filings or a timeline for county participation.
Background: Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is a federally managed refuge in Nevada known for rare endemic species; federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews are normally the route for proposed projects on federal lands or projects with federal approvals that may affect federal resources. Vale noted inter-jurisdictional concern, saying nearby Nevada communities and Nye County are also expressing opposition to the proposal.
Ending: The board did not take action on the topic at the Aug. 19 meeting. Vale concluded his public comment by asking the county to participate in and support rigorous environmental review for any proposed mining in the region.
