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District Attorney Offers Draft Framework to Limit Hazardous‑Waste Facilities Near Towns
Summary
Nye County's district attorney asked the board for direction to draft an ordinance limiting siting and transport of hazardous‑waste processing near populated areas; commissioners backed starting language and told the DA to work with town boards, Planning and state agencies.
At the Oct. 15 meeting the district attorney presented an outline for controlling transportation, storage and processing of hazardous wastes in Nye County, seeking direction to draft a county ordinance. The presentation followed public concern that Nevada’s regulatory climate and remote tracts make certain production and processing facilities attractive to out‑of‑state companies.
The DA said the county "has a right to control what type of activities are going on within our community" and proposed several tools: establishing a safety buffer around Pahrump (and potentially other townships), using water‑basin boundaries (Basin 162) as a geographic limit, tailoring provisions for different townships and coordinating with state and federal authorities and regional planners.
Public speakers from Tonopah, Beatty and Pahrump urged broader town‑by‑town participation and workshops. Concerns included potential unintended consequences, impacts on county‑owned property (for example, the Tonopah Airport), protection of water basins and transportation impacts on county roads. The Regional Transportation Commission and public works staff advised integrating transportation routing and operational guidance for truckers into any rule set.
Commissioners directed the district attorney to draft proposed ordinance language for a future agenda and to consult planning staff, the town boards and relevant state agencies. The DA said he would prepare draft text and consider a basin‑ or radius‑based buffer and other restrictions that avoid unintentionally blocking existing lawful industrial users such as licensed waste-handling firms already operating in specific townships.
