BLM reports multiple exploration projects in Elko County, says regional fish biologist vacancy will slow some permits

A Bureau of Land Management representative told the Natural Resources Management Commission that several mineral- and land-use projects are proceeding in Elko County while permitting work on some files will be slower than expected.

"Our 30 day review period will be initiated on June 25," the BLM representative said, referring to an upcoming geothermal lease sale. The speaker also said the Nevada North Lithium Project is up in the North Salmon River area and that "the 30 day appeal period will be closing on Bridal, the 4th." The BLM noted a Coyote Mine expansion kickoff meeting was held in January and that the Beacon Hill Exploration Project (a pozzolan resource) should deliver an administrative draft environmental assessment for review this week.

The representative described the Juniper Loaf plan of operations as a very small amethyst operation inside a wilderness study area that will disturb roughly half an acre at a time and will require an environmental assessment. On staffing, the BLM said it has lost its fish biologist position — a capacity-building post funded through Inflation Reduction Act sources — and that the vacancy means "we have no fish biologist for right now," slowing biological assessments for permit renewals including Jack Stone and Adobe Hills and a Water Gap modification EA.

The update included an operational note that several range program employees who had been affected earlier are back and that seasonal hires (biological science technicians and a park ranger) are being brought on to catch up on summer monitoring. The commission did not take formal action on any of the BLM items during this report.