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Mono County supervisors direct staff to press for full environmental review of proposed exploratory core‑boring project
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Summary
Assistant county counsel told supervisors an exploratory core‑boring proposal on Forest Service land mirrors a 2021 plan that was legally challenged; supervisors directed staff to draft a letter requesting the highest level of NEPA environmental review and to return with that letter for board approval.
Assistant County Counsel Emily Fox briefed the Mono County Board of Supervisors on a forthcoming exploratory core‑boring proposal on Inyo National Forest land and recommended the board treat the project as it is circulated under NEPA.
Fox said preliminary materials indicate the new proposal mirrors a 2021 plan that would place three cores on each of 14 drill pads and asserts less than one acre of surface disturbance. She told the board the county’s Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA) permitting authority is triggered for disturbances greater than one acre and cautioned that board advocacy before that threshold is met can limit members’ ability to act later in a quasi‑judicial permitting role.
“We previously submitted a letter opposing a categorical exclusion back in 2021 for reasons like the sage‑grouse and water‑quality concerns,” Fox said. “When the forest posts the NEPA document you should treat the 30‑day public comment period as your one key opportunity to provide substantive input.”
Supervisor John Peters (board member) urged an immediate, strong statement to the Forest Service. “We should request the highest level of environmental review allowable in advance so the core‑boring proponents know a categorical exclusion is not an option,” Peters said. Supervisor McFarland asked for confirmation that SMARA applies only if disturbance exceeds one acre; Fox confirmed that is the trigger but cautioned that road widening or uncounted disturbances could push the project over that threshold.
During public comment, Lynn Bolton, conservation chair for the Range of Light Group (Sierra Club), said the 2021 plan understated disturbance. “They don’t usually count Forest Service routes, but widening two‑track service roads or larger drill pads would likely push this over one acre,” Bolton said, explaining why those elements should be closely examined.
The board directed staff and counsel to prepare a letter asking the forest to require a robust level of NEPA review (environmental assessment or EIS) and to return the draft letter to the board for prompt consideration. Staff said the Forest Service’s public circulation — including the 30‑day comment window — should be treated as a single, high‑priority opportunity for written county input.
