Western Quarry Limestone: BLM Opens Scoping on Mining Plan and Winnemucca RMP Amendment Through October 28

What the proponent proposed

Lithium Nevada LLC, a subsidiary of Lithium Americas Corporation, submitted a Mining and Reclamation Plan for the Western Quarry Limestone Project to the Humboldt River Field Office of the Winnemucca District.

According to the Federal Register notice:

• The Proposed Action is to construct, operate, reclaim, and close a new limestone quarry using conventional open pit mining methods.
• The Mining and Reclamation Plan boundary would cover about 874 acres of BLM-administered land.
• About 474 acres of surface disturbance would occur.
• Life of the proposed action is about 43 years — roughly six months construction, 40 years operation, and two years reclamation.
• Mine operations would employ 78 people part-time and 16 full-time.
• Existing surface disturbance under a previously authorized Western Quarry Limestone Notice would be overlapped by proposed mine features and incorporated into the proposed action.

Why an RMP amendment is on the table

The project boundary overlaps about 872.3 acres of Visual Resource Management (VRM) Class II and 0.9 acres of VRM Class III adjacent to State Route 140. Under the proposed action alternative, BLM would change the visual management classification of 872.5 acres from VRM Class II to VRM Class III so the project area would be managed entirely as VRM Class III. That change requires amending the 2015 Winnemucca District Resource Management Plan.

No Action alternative (per the notice): BLM would not approve the proposed Western Quarry Limestone Project and would not amend the 2015 RMP visual direction; exploration could continue under an existing Notice that allows up to 3.89 acres of disturbance.

Scoping clock and how to comment

• Comments due: October 28, 2026
• ePlanning project page: https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=6D41DC2C-694D-F111-BEC6-001DD803D7D3
• Email: BLM_NV_WDO_WesternQuarry@blm.gov (as published; confirm on ePlanning if the address display differs)
• Mail: BLM Humboldt River Field Office, Attn: Western Quarry Limestone EA, 5100 East Winnemucca Boulevard, Winnemucca, NV 89445
• BLM will hold one public scoping meeting; date/time to be announced at least 15 days in advance on the ePlanning page.

Contact listed: Kathy Torrence, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, (775) 623-1576.

What scoping is (and is not)

Scoping collects issues and alternatives before the draft EA/RMP amendment analysis is locked. It is not a yes/no vote on the quarry. Commenters can flag wildlife, water, cultural resources, recreation, noise, air quality, socioeconomics, and visual resources — disciplines BLM already lists for its interdisciplinary team. The notice states this planning effort does not include evaluating or designating Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs).

Legal hooks named in the notice

BLM cites NEPA, FLPMA Section 302, Interior NEPA regulations, 43 CFR part 3600 (mineral materials / related surface management context as cited), and land-use planning regulations at 43 CFR part 1600. The project is framed as a response to a Mining and Reclamation Plan for a limestone quarry on public land — language that squarely sits in the mining / quarry public-notice lane for civic readers.

Source

Federal Register Document 2026-19769 (Sept. 28, 2026), 91 FR 61246 — Notice of Intent To Amend the Winnemucca District Resource Management Plan for the Western Quarry Limestone Project, Humboldt County, Nevada and Prepare an Associated Environmental Assessment. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/28/2026-19769/notice-of-intent-to-amend-the-winnemucca-district-resource-management-plan-for-the-western-quarry

Not legal advice. Not a newspaper. Not Legal Publication. Record of Sale, LLC (Oregon).

Notes and sources

1. Author: Ryan Standley / Record of Sale, LLC / Notice Nearby.
2. Discussed on @NoticeNearYou: (pending — fill xPostUrl after live post).
3. Not legal advice. Not a newspaper. Not Legal Publication. Record of Sale, LLC (Oregon).