Douglas County creates 'Frequently Asked Questions' in regards to proposed Painted Rock Mine
At their September 3rd and 17th meetings, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners discussed the proposed Painted Rock Mine, located on tribal trust land administered by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) in Douglas County.
The Painted Rock Mine is a proposed commercial gravel pit operation east of the Johnson Lane Community.
Under federal law the BIA must review the project for significant environmental impacts prior to permitting. The BIA did not consult with Douglas County in developing their Environmental Assessment (EA). County staff learned of the project shortly before the EA was released by the BIA for public comment. It was brought to the Board in order to raise public awareness and to provide public comment. That public comment period ended in September.
“We continue to receive a lot of public comment in regards to the Painted Rock Mine Project,” said County Manager Patrick Cates. “It is important that we clear up any misinformation circulating and clarify this land and this project are not under the jurisdiction and control of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners. The County has no authority to approve or condition this project in any way.”
The operator of the project, Knox Excavating, and the owners of the trust land reached out to the county and offered to enter into an agreement to mitigate some of the impacts to the county and residents. Approved by the Board at their September 17 meeting, the agreement includes mitigation controls, cooperation on flood control, and payments to help with the maintenance of Johnson Lane.
“They were under no obligation to do this. I am grateful for their willingness to work with us,” said Cates.
In an effort to better inform the public on this project, Douglas County has created an FAQ page. For a list of Frequently asked Questions on this topic please visit our webpage.
To submit comments or find more information about the Painted Rock Mine Draft Environment Assessment visit http://paintedrockmineea.com/