Open pit mining

On August 1, 2017, Comstock Mining, Inc. (CMI) released its quarterly report, which included a number of statements and topics important to Silver City. CMI’s ultimate goal of an open pit mine in Silver City remains unchanged. The company plans to begin the permitting process for the Dayton Mine by the end of the year. “We are marching toward Dayton feasibility come hell or high water,” according to company CEO Corrado DeGasperis, with production plans ready to go in two years.

In a recent “letter” published in CarsonNow.org Pamela Abercrombie decried the negative reaction of Silver City and Gold Hill residents to the Comstock Foundation’s fund-raising gambit offering prints of the “Nine Cheers for the Silver State” painting to subscribers. In characterizing critics of the painting as “this handful of local residents,” she echoes a favorite tactic of Corrado de Gasperis, Comstock Mining’s CEO who frequently diminishes the legitimate concerns of residents by portraying CMI critics as “a few disgruntled residents” or the like.

As a resident of Silver City, I am a proud board member of the Comstock Foundation for History and Culture. Born and raised in Carson City, I spent much of my youth on the Comstock. I focused much of my studies on Nevada and western history obtaining my undergraduate degree in history from the University of Nevada, Reno.

I was honored when asked to serve on the Foundation’s board and it has been incredibly rewarding to work with the Foundation during this exciting time for the Comstock Historic District.

Silver City, NV - The Comstock Resident’s Association’s (CRA) recent request for funds to obtain third-party analysis of health and safety data associated with mining activities in Gold Hill and Silver City has been denied by Comstock Mining Inc. (CMI).

Silver City, NV – August 4, 2014 – The Comstock Residents Association (CRA) announced today that it is seeking financial assistance from Comstock Mining Inc. (CMI) to conduct document and data review following the mine’s continued activity near residences in the area.

This request succeeds CMI’s offer to pay for blood testing and soil analysis for Silver City residents due to potential health and environmental consequences of mining activity close to homes in the area.

At the Lyon County Commission meeting January 2, the commissioners voted 4-1 to grant a request from Comstock Mining Inc., to modify the county Master Plan and change the zoning, which would allow pit mining in and adjacent to Silver City.

Four of the Commissioners ignored the recommendation of the Planning Commission and the express wishes of the citizens of Silver City and voted without explanation to abandon precedent and acquiesce to the company's desires.

Even though I'm not a knee-jerk "mining is bad for Nevada" person, I urge the Lyon and Storey county commissions to deny permits for large-scale open pit mining operations in the Comstock Historic ...

Dear Editor: As a long time resident of the Comstock, I have watched with dismay the erosion of the Comstock Historic District that has occurred because of open pit mining.

One need only travel from Virginia City to Carson City to see what used to be historical landscapes transformed into a series of ugly pit mines. The Comstock Historic District is a cultural and historic resource set aside for the people of Nevada. Pit mining erodes this resource visually, and endangers historic landscapes and structures.

By Erich Obermayr
Silver City, Nevada —population around 200 — is a small, unincorporated community in rural northwestern Nevada. It is located along State Route 342, in Gold Canyon, 3.5 miles from Virginia City. It lies within the Virginia City National Historic Landmark and the Comstock Historic District. The nearest large cities are Reno, 20 miles to the north, and Carson City, 9 miles to the southwest.