BLM field manager briefs Churchill County on grazing decisions, land exchanges and geothermal permitting

Zach Reicold, Field Manager for the Bureau of Land Management's Stillwater Field Office, told the Churchill County Board of Commissioners at the meeting that the agency is finalizing documents related to the National Defense Authorization Act and a Sand Canyon Road realignment and will provide the county with the regulatory citations underpinning its proposed course of action.

The presentation covered multiple program areas that affect local land use. “We are finishing up that document this week. And we will have all the CFRs and all the regulations that we're using to base our decision on, and present that to, I believe now, Chris Spross, will present that to you hopefully either by Friday or early next week,” Reicold said.

Why it matters: the BLM manages grazing allotments, land transfers and federal permitting that affect ranching, recreation and potential energy development in and around Churchill County. Reicold’s update outlined near-term administrative milestones and opportunities for county review.

Key points from the BLM update:

- Grazing allotments: Reicold said the BLM expects to finalize the administrative record and sign a final grazing decision for the Navy B16 allotments “hopefully by the end of the month.” The agency is collecting land-health and utilization data ahead of a permanent grazing decision and plans to follow up on B17 and B20 allotments in coordination with the Winnemucca District Office.

- Land exchanges and checkerboard lands: The BLM described an interagency agreement process for land exchanges referenced under "209" and said it has state director concurrence on a checkerboard resolution under code "2908"; the BLM will share the proposed path forward with the county for local input.

- Wild horse work: Reicold said the agency is expecting to sign the Lahontan Herd gather environmental assessment this Friday and is awaiting statistically corrected census numbers to refine herd estimates from this year’s flights.

- Geothermal projects and lease sale: The BLM said work continues on geothermal projects including Dixie Meadows and Diamond Flat. Diamond Flat was completed last month under emergency permitting authorities, while Dixie Meadows has been submitted for emergency permitting at the Secretary’s level and remains under review. The BLM said a geothermal lease sale is scheduled for October; parcel 2179 has been deferred because it falls within a special management area covered by NDAA co-stewardship planning, and parcel 2171 had a portion removed because it overlaps conveyance areas identified under the NDAA.

- Minerals and exploration: The agency received a draft plan of operations from Cosmo Dixie for exploration and has returned comments to the proponent.

- Recreation and rights-of-way: Special recreation permits continue (notably the Vegas-to-Reno OHV event is scheduled for Aug. 13–16), and the Edwards Creek/War Canyon right-of-way application for irrigation piping was returned to the proponent for additional information to support NEPA analysis.

Reicold closed by saying the BLM will provide draft documents and language for county review if county staff agree with the proposed course of action.

What the county plan is next: Reicold said the BLM will transmit the legal and regulatory citations and draft documents to county staff for review and invited the county’s input on implementation steps.

Ending: Commissioners did not take formal action on the BLM presentation; the item was informational and staff were invited to review materials when provided.