Project Name: Western Quarry Limestone Project

NEPA Number: DOI-BLM-NV-W010-2026-0022-RMP-EA

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Project Information

NEPA Number

DOI-BLM-NV-W010-2026-0022-RMP-EA
Project Name

Western Quarry Limestone Project
Project Type

RMP Amendment - EA
NEPA Status

In Progress - Public Scoping Period
Lead Office

Humboldt River Field Office
Last Updated

09/27/2026 - 12:51 PM

Project Description

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. 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 approximately 874 acres of BLM-administered land, of which approximately 474 acres of surface disturbance would occur. The life of the proposed action is approximately 43 years and includes approximately six months for construction, 40 years for operation, and two years for reclamation. Mine operations would employ 78 people part-time and 16 full-time.

Existing surface disturbance associated with the previously authorized Western Quarry Limestone Notice would be overlapped by the proposed mine features within the mine area. As such, the existing disturbance would be incorporated into the proposed action.

Currently, the project boundary overlaps 872.3 acres of VRM Class II and 0.9 acres of VRM Class III adjacent to State Route 140. Under the proposed action alternative, the BLM would change the visual management classification of 872.5 acres from VRM Class II to VRM Class III, which would result in the project area to be managed entirely as VRM Class III. The change of 872.5 acres to VRM Class III would include the established objectives in the RMP. This proposed change would require an RMP amendment to modify the direction established in the 2015 Winnemucca District RMP, adjust the VRM classifications, meet VRM objectives, and ensure that the Western Quarry Limestone Project is in conformance with the RMP.

What's New

9/28/2026: Notice of Intent to Prepare a Resource Management Plan Amendment and Environmental Assessment for the proosed Western Quarry Limestone Mine Project

The Notice of Intent to prepare a Resource Management Plan Amendment with an associated Environmental Assessment for the proposed Western Quarry Limestone Mine Project published in the Federal Register today. This Notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments. The BLM requests that the public submit comments concerning the scope of the analysis, potential alternatives, and identification of relevant information, and studies by October 28, 2026.

One public meeting will be held October 13, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. PST at the Winnemucca Convention Center, 50 West Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, NV 89445.

Scoping comments must be submitted in writing. You may submit your scoping comments by 1) clicking "Participate Now" at the top of the page and entering your comments or uploading attachments; 2) emailing your comments to [email protected]; or 3) mailing your comments to: BLM Humboldt Field Office, Attn: Western Quarry Limestone EA, 5100 East Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, NV 89445. Comments will be accepted through October 28, 2026.

To increase public understanding of the project, the BLM has published a Supplemental Information Report on this website. This document may be accessed by clicking "Documents" at the top of the page. Additional documents are also available on the "Documents" page.

Project Location

State/Territory	County
Nevada	Humboldt County
Nevada	Humboldt County
Nevada	Humboldt County

Application Information

Program

Mining
Sub-Program

Mineral Materials (Limestone, Sand and Gravel, etc.)

Project Dates

Start Date

9/28/2026

Project Office Information

Lead Office

Humboldt River Field Office
Offices

Humboldt River FO

Contacts

Contact 1 Name

Kathleen (Kathy) Torrence
Contact 1 Email

[email protected]
Contact 1 Phone

(775) 623-1500

Contact 2 Name

Evan Allen
Contact 2 Email

[email protected]
Contact 2 Phone

(775) 861-6593