NYE COUNTY AGENDA INFORMATION FORM X Action a Presentation 0 Presentation & Action Agenda Number Department: County Manager Agenda Date:I 21617104
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NYE COUNTY AGENDA INFORMATION FORM X Action a Presentation 0 Presentation & Action Agenda Number Department: County Manager Agenda Date:I 21617104 II IContact : Michael Maher Phone: 482-8191 Continued from meeting of: Return to: I Location: TONOPAH Phone: Action requested: (Include what, with whom, when, where, why, how much ($) and terms) Discussion, Possible decision and direction to staff regarding United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Environmental Assessment for a Land withdrawal Renewal and Expansion at Base Camp, Hot Creek Valley, Nye County, withdrawing an additional -I,35 acres of public !and for a period of 2 years, beginnin 'I2 April 2085. Complete description of requested action: (Include, if applicable, background, impact, long-term commitment, existing county policy, future goals, obtained by competitive bid, accountability measures) ' Nye County has been given an opportunity to provide the Tonopah Field Station with any information, issues or concerns that we might have regarding the proposed project. Our comments must be postmarked or otherwise delivered by 4:30 p.m., December 20,2004. County Manager request approval to provide the following concernslcomments in addition to any that the Board or other Elected Official or department may have. Nye County has serious concerns over issues with the United States Air Force and the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) regarding contractors, and payment of Possessory Use Taxes, and Sales and Use Taxes in all NTTR areas. Nye County desires access to names of all contractors and listings of all equipment used on site, with specific data to be available to our Assessor and Auditing Staff. Any information provided after the agenda is published or during the meeting of the Commissioners will require you to provide 10 copies: one for each Commissioner, one for the Clerk, one for the District Attorney, one for the Public and two for the County Manager. Contracts or documents requiring signature must be submitted with three original copies. Expenditure Impact by FY(s): (Provide detail on Financial Form) 0 No financial impact 1. Dept Date 6. Date Date 7. HR / Date I I Date 1 8. Legal Date I I II Date 1 9. Budgets Date I I !! Date 1 40. County Manager Date P P ii lace on Agenda I' I1 Board of County Commissioners Act Clerk of the Board Date AGENDA FINANCIAL FORM Agenda Item No.: 1. Department Name: 2. Financial Contact Person: Direct Phone 3. Personnel Contact Person Direct Phone 4. Was the Budget Director consulted during the completion of this form (Y or N )? 5. Does this item require a budget adjustment to be made (Y or N)? 6. Account Number Data: (Complete for all revenue and expenditure lines and for all fiscal years that are impacted. Budqeted: Y=Yes, N=No, A=Absorbed in budget (state how under "Comments" section below.) FY Budgeted Fund Dept # Function 0 bject $ Amount 7. Comments: Completed by: Date: Signature United States Dqartm.mt of the Interior BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT Tonopah Field Station 1553 South Maim Street P.O. Box 91 1 Tonopah, Nevada 89049-091 1 In Reply Refer To: 2300 NVO65-2OQ5-007 NVN-7782 1 (W065.20) NOV 9 2004 Enclosed for your infomzation is a copy of the Enknmental Assessment for a Land Withdrawal Renewal and -on at Base Camp, Hot Creek Valley, Nye County. You are asked to provide this oflice with any hJ?onnation, issues, or concerns you may have regmkg the pposed project. Cements must be postmariced or othawise delivered by 4:30 p.m. December 20,2004, for mnsideration Please sad mmmRlts to Wendy Seley at the above address. If you have any questions, you may contact her at (775) 482-7806, William S. Fisher Assistarrt Field Manager, Tonopah DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT for LAND WITHDRAWAL RENEWAL AND EXPANSION at BASE CAMP HOT CRIEEK VALLEY NYE COUNTY, NEVADA Cover Sheet Proposed Action: - The United States Air Force proposes to renew withdrawal of approximately 623 acres and withdraw an additional approximately 1,359 acres of public land in Nye County, Nevada, at a site referred to as Base Camp for a period of 20 years, beginning 12 April 2005. Type of statement: Environmental Assessment Lead agency: Bureau of Land Management Cooperating agencies: United States Department of Defense For further information: Dr. Stephen Zitzer Desert Research Institute 755 E. Flamingo Road Las Vegas, NV 89 1 19 (702) 862-5436 Abstract: The United States Air Force proposes to renew withdrawal of approximately 623 acres and withdraw an additional approximately 1,359 acres of public land in Nye County, Nevada, for a period of 20 years, beginning 12 April 2005. The purpose of the withdrawal is to ensure the continued operation of facilities that support an Air Force Communications Site located on Halligan Mesa. The proposed withdrawal area and the communications site are located near the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) and are necessary for safe and secure operation of national defense activities on the NTTR. There are no requested changes to the current land use at the existing withdrawal and all of the lands applied for are to be withheld from public settlement, sale, location, or entry under the general land laws and from location and entry under the United States mining laws. Existing public land livestock grazing will be permitted to continue, as will existing power line rights-of-way. No new water rights will be needed to hifill the purpose of the proposed action. The enlarged area requested for Base Camp is necessary for an increased tempo of operations, safety issues, and support necessary for the Air Force Communications Site on Halligan Mesa. Denial of this application would entail substantial public expense and u-ouid threaten the safe and secure operation of military activities on the NTTR. There are no suitable alternative sites. TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..........................................................................................................ES- 1 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ......................................................................1 .1 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1. 1 1.2 Need for the Proposed Action ...................................................................................1 -I 1.3 Purpose of the Proposed Action ............................................................................... 1 .1 1.4 National Environmental Policy Considerations........................................................ 1 .1 1.5 Decisions to be Made ................................................................................................1-4 1.6 Public Involvement .............................................................................................. 1-4 ALTERNATIVES INCLUDING THE PROPOSED ACTION ........................................... 2-1 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Alternative A: No-Action (Non-renewal and Non-expansion) ................................. 2-1 2.3 Alternative B: Renew Existing Withdrawal ............................................................. 2-1 2.4 Alternative C: Preferred Action (Renewal and Expansion)...................................... 2-1 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................. 3-1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 3-1 Physiography. Geology and Soils ........................................................................... 1 3.2.1 Physiography................................................................................................. 3. 1 3.2.2 Geology ......................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2.3 Soils............................................................................................................... 3-2 Climate ...................................................................................................................... 3-4 Hydrology and Water Resources .............................................................................. 3-5 3.4.1 Hydrology ..................................................................................................... 3-5 3 .4.2 Water Rights and Water Use ......................................................................... 3-8 3.4.3 Flood Potential .............................................................................................. 3-9 3.4.4 Erosion and Deposition............................................................................... 3-1 3 Air Resources .......................................................................................................... 3- 13 3.5.1 Air Quality .................................................................................................. 3-13 3.5.2 Air Emissions ........................................................................................ 3-14 Vegetation and Wildlife ......................................................................................... -3-1 5 3.6.1 Vegetation ............................................................................................ 3- 5 3.6.2 Noxious weeds ........................................................................................... 3- 18 3.6.3 Wildlife ...................................................................................................