Folks, these are  notes .    I check and the biomass plan document is no longer on the server,  http://rredc.nrel.gov/biomass/doe/rbep/com_feas/five.html.  One should remember the first Mt. Wilson plan(NV 040-99-007 ) , 10,000 acres were slated for aerial application of  herbicide.

State Legislature meeting minutes addressing chipping issues dated 4/07/00 and 4/05/01 follow the excerpts of the biomass document.

     The last document is the 06/01 minutes from RAC.
 

Gregory Morris
Future Resources Associates, Inc.
2039 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 402
Berkeley, California
(510) 644-2700
February 17, 1994

Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Pinyon-Juniper Resource Assessment

Biomass Harvesting and Processing Technology

Pinyon-Juniper Havesting & Processing Technology

Pinyon-Juniper Transportation Options

Pellet Fuel Manufacturing

Market Assessment

The California Biomass Fuels Market

The Nevada Biomass Fuels Market

The Residential Pellet-Fuel Market

Cost Analysis

Harvesting and Processing Costs

Transportation Costs

Sales and Marketing Costs

Total Costs

Commercialization Analysis

Commercial Potential for Eastern Nevada's Pinyon-Juniper Biomass Resources

Steps in Achieving the Commercial Potential for Pinyon-Juniper Biomass

Conclusions

References

Appendix 1: Annotated Bibliography
 
 
 

Commercialization Analysis

At the present time the only use of Eastern Nevada's Pinyon-Juniper resources for energy applications is limited to the small scale production of firewood for use mainly by the local rural population in traditional wood stoves and fireplaces. No mechanized harvesting and processing into energy products is being undertaken, and the BM is not currently engaged in any large-scale land-clearing operations, despite their desire to see such activities undertaken. Thus the industry whose commercialization potential is the subject of this study must be created from scratch.

This section considers what the most promising commercial markets might be for energy products from Eastern Nevada's Pinyon-Juniper resources. The long-term commercial potential is first analyzed, to determine whether there is a reasonable possibility for the ultimate commercialization of energy from Pinyon-Juniper biomass. Then steps in reaching the ultimate commercial potential are considered, in order to determine how best to achieve the commercialization of this resource.

Commercial Potential for Eastern Nevada's Pinyon-Juniper Biomass Resources

The most immediately available market for Nevada's Pinyon-Juniper biomass resources is the California biomass fuels market, which consumes approximately 7.5 million BDT per year of fuel. There is a clear interest on the part of the California market in the development of new fuel sources, and the quantities that would be likely to be produced in Nevada could be absorbed easily into the California market.

California biomass power plants are currently paying in the range of $35 - 40 per BDT of fuel. The cost analysis presented in the previous section suggests that it will cost a fuel producer in the range of $45 - 55 per BDT to deliver fuel to the California market from a permanent chipping operation in Nevada. This cost is about 25 percent higher than the current fuel price. Moreover, with many of the California facilities facing the prospect of seeing their revenues fall significantly over the next five-to-ten years as fixed-price energy contracts with the California utilities expire, the long-term prospects for the price of biomass fuels in the California market are highly uncertain. It is difficult to see how the California fuels market can be a suitable target for a sustainable, full-scale biomass energy production industry in the Pinyon-Juniper woodlands of Eastern Nevada.

A more limited production operation that could make use of idle harvesting and processing equipment in California during the summer would be of interest to many California fuel producers. The cost analysis suggests that fully costing out such an operation, for example one harvesting for approximately three months each summer in Nevada and producing approximately 20,000 BDT per year of fuel, would cost $50 - 55 per BDT to deliver fuel product in California, clearly too much to be of interest. On the other hand, if the fuel producer were willing to forgo charging any rent or capital related costs to the operation, on the basis that these costs must be paid for the equipment anyway, even if the equipment were sitting idle in California, the delivered cost of fuel in California would be on the order of $45 per BDT, still a little too high to make economic sense, but possibly close enough, considering the uncertainty of the cost projections at this stage of development, to stimulate further investigation of this option.

In order to avoid the high cost of rail transportation of the biomass fuels into California, a local market for biomass boiler fuels in Eastern Nevada could be established by developing a small power generating facility there, either by one of the existing local municipal utility companies, or as an independent power producer. The cost analysis suggests that fuel could be produced and delivered to such a facility from a permanent chipping operation based in Eastern Nevada for a cost of about S24 per BDT, in quantities of approximately 45,000 BDT per year. This is enough fuel to supply an efficient, base-load biomass power plant producing approximately 6 MW of electricity for the grid, a size range that is commensurate with the needs of the local municipal utility companies in the Eastern Nevada region. Figure 8 shows a pictures of a typical biomass-fired power plant located in California.

Figure 8

Click here to expand figure.

A biomass-fired power plant smaller than about 10 MW fails to take full advantage of economies of scale that are realized by larger facilities. On the other hand, there is a great deal more used woodfired biomass power-generating equipment available in this size range, offering an opportunity for cost savings in the range of about 20 - 30 percent of total installed cost as compared with facilities employing all new equipment. Although a pre-feasibility study for a power facility in Eastern Nevada is beyond the scope of this study, generic data are useful in establishing a preliminary interest in a project of this type.

Typical costs of electricity production for a 6 MW, 45,000 BDT/yr biomass power plant employing all new equipment can be estimated as follows:

A small, municipal utility-owned biomass power plant has the potential to be a viable venture in Eastern Nevada. This is a promising long-term market for the region's Pinyon-Juniper resources, and would provide a variety of benefits to a regional economy that currently is ailing. The benefits would include new long-term employment opportunities in both fuels production and power plant operations, as well as construction jobs during the building of the facility and the environmental benefits of limited clearing of some of the dense stands of the Pinyon-Juniper woodlands. Indeed, it is the desire to achieve the environmental benefits of limited clearing operations on an on-going basis that provided the stimulus for the performance of this commercialization study. The production of 45,000 BDT per year of Pinyon-Juniper fuel would entail the annual clearing of approximately 2,000 - 2,500 acres of P-J woodlands, or approximately four square miles. Probably four to eight different sites would be harvested each year. The power plant could be expected to operate for 20 to 30 years.

The pellet fuels market is also a commercial possibility for Pinyon-Juniper energy products, assuming that these resources can be converted successfully into a high-quality fuel product. Pellet fuel retailers in the Las Vegas market report paying wholesale prices for delivered pellet fuel of about $170 per ton, as compared with the projected delivered price of pellet fuel produced from Pinyon-Juniper of approximately $125 per ton. Although the local market currently is limited in size, a drop in the price of pellet fuel could be a major stimulus to the market, which already is growing rapidly. In addition, the regional market is already well established. The only major question as to whether the pellet fuel market is a suitable commercial possibility for Eastern Nevada's Pinyon-Juniper resources is the technical one concerning whether a suitable product can be made from the raw material. This technical issue must be addressed before any further efforts are made to develop this application.

Go to :

Steps in Achieving the Commercial Potential for Pinyon-Juniper Biomass

Cost Analysis
Commercial biomass fuels production from Eastern Nevada's Pinyon-Juniper resources involves several distinct steps, each of which contributes to the total production cost of the finished fuel product. The major fuel-production steps include (not all steps are necessary for all products):
 

Biomass Harvesting and Processing

Tree Cutting

Hauling of the Trees to a Landing Site

Chipping of the Trees to Produce Whole Tree Chips

Grinding and Extrusion of the Biomass to Pellet Fuels
Transportation of the Wood Chips

Truck-hauled Chip Vans

Rail Transportation
Sales and Marketing of Product

Harvesting and Processing Costs
The costs of harvesting and processing Pinyon-Juniper biomass into fuels can only be estimated roughly at this time. In order to determine accurate and reliable costs it will be necessary to conduct actual on-ground harvesting trials in Eastern Nevada's Pinyon-Juniper woodlands. Such trials have not been conducted yet. The cost data developed for the purposes of this report are based on making a series of assumptions and analogies to other biomass harvesting and processing operations, and are intended for preliminary planning purposes only.

Pinyon-Juniper harvesting and processing costs will depend to a considerable extent on the scale of the operation being pursued. This is so because of the high capital cost of some of the equipment that must be employed, and because of the high costs of crew mobilization and site set-up. In particular, any scale of operation will require a chipper that is large enough to process whole Pinyon and Juniper trees. Such equipment has an annual wood-chip production capacity, if used on a year-round basis, of up to 100,000 BDT. Operations that do not require the production of this amount of material, or are not able to operate on a year-round schedule, will have to amortize the cost of the equipment over a smaller production base, or find a way to utilize the equipment for other purposes during the time it is not used for processing in the Pinyon-Juniper woodlands.

For the purposes of cost estimation, a theoretical harvesting and processing operation must be defined. Because the chipper is the single most expensive piece of equipment to be employed, the theoretical operation is designed around a single chipper machine. The entire operation will be designed to ensure that the chipper is fully utilized during all of the time that it is installed at the harvesting site. In order to process the Pinyon and Juniper trees, the chipper must be a wide-mouthed, high capacity model, capable of processing large diameter material (up to approximately 24 inches), and material with multiple perpendicular branches. The capital cost of an appropriate chipper is about $500,000.

The chipper will be set up in an established landing site, where it will remain during the entire harvesting and processing operation for a given harvesting site. Harvesting will commence with the cutting of the trees, which is accomplished with a mechanized tree shear. The cutting can precede the rest of the harvesting operation, and need not be coordinated with subsequent operations. Loaders outfitted with grapples and/or forks will be used to move the trees from the harvesting area to the landing site, and for loading them into the chipper. Loaders will also be used for loading chips from storage piles at the landing site into the chip vans, and for management of the chip piles, as necessary. Loaders and tree cutters both have capital costs of about $65,000 per machine. The chipper will be operated almost continually, except for periodic shutdowns for the sharpening of knife blades and other necessary maintenance and unavoidable down time. Chips will be blown directly into vans when vans are available at the landing site, or into piles for later loading when there are no vans available. It is estimated that three loaders and one cutter will be necessary to complement one chipper machine. It is possible that four loaders will actually be necessary. The entire crew, operating for eight to nine months per year in the mountains of eastern Nevada, is projected to be able to produce about 45,000 BDT per year of whole-tree chips from Pinyon-Juniper biomass.

Capital and operating costs for harvesting and chipping equipment and operations have been supplied by San Joaquin Helicopter, Inc., one of the largest producers of biomass fuels in California, and a contributor to this project. Table 5 shows a summary of the calculation of total harvesting and processing costs for a theoretical harvesting crew producing Pinyon-Juniper biomass fuels in Eastern Nevada for eight months per year on an on-going basis, producing 45,000 BDT per year of fuel product. The estimated cost of fuels production is about $15.25 per BDT, which includes all operations beginning with the cutting of the trees through the loading of the chip vans. No costs are assessed for the initial site survey and environmental work for each harvesting area, as it has been suggested that the BLM would be willing to provide these services to the project in return for the benefit of having the land clearing performed free of charge by the fuel producer. The cost also does not include any component for the payment of stumpage or royalties to the BLM. Such fees will have to be determined in a negotiation process with the BLM. For estimation purposes, they can be assumed to be about $0.50 - 3.00 per BDT. The BLM currently receives about $5.00 per cord for firewood removed from the P-J woodlands, and a cord of firewood is equivalent to approximately two tons of total biomass. Mechanized fuelwood production operations will do a much better job of site clearance and cleanup than firewood cutters, so the level of stumpage fees that will be assessed remains an open issue, subject to negotiation.

The assumptions with the highest level of uncertainty embedded in the calculations shown in Table 5 are:
 

The actual amount of fuel that the harvesting crew can process during the annual eight-to-nine month harvesting season.

The number of loaders that will be necessary to complement the chipper and keep it supplied with trees.

Adding an additional loader and operator to the harvesting crew results in an increase in the cost of fuel production of approximately $1.00 per BDT over the projected base-case level of $15.25 per BDT. The fuel-production cost is even more sensitive to the assumed productivity of the entire harvesting and chipping operation than to the ratio of loaders to chippers. If the productivity of the operation is only 40,000 BDT per year, vs. the assumed 45,000, the production cost increases by almost $2.00 per BDT over the basecase level. If the productivity is actually 50,000 BDT per year, the production cost decreases by more than $1.50 per BDT as compared with the base-case level shown in the table.
It is also of interest to estimate what the costs would be of a more limited harvesting operation, for example, one scaled to the production of 10,000 or 20,000 BDT per year. This amount of material would be sufficient, for example, to support a commercial-scale pellet mill operation geared to making pellet fuel for the residential market. For a more limited operating season of this type, which would require only about six weeks to three months of harvesting and chipping each year, it would not be feasible to establish a permanent harvesting crew in Eastern Nevada. The most likely possibility would be to rent harvesting equipment from a fuel producer working in California's agricultural regions, where biomass fuel production is at a minimum during the summer season while crops are being grown. This would be the ideal season for producing fuels in the Pinyon-Juniper woodlands of Eastern Nevada, and it would offer the California fuel producer an opportunity to increase the annual use to be derived from his harvesting and processing equipment.

Table 6 shows the estimated cost of producing 10,000 BDT per year of whole-tree chips from Pinyon-Juniper biomass. Table 7 shows the estimated cost of producing 20,000 BDT per year. During the actual harvesting and chipping operations, hourly productivity would be about the same for these limited operations as in the larger-scale operation described previously. The major differences are that equipment rental costs would be more expensive on an hourly basis, and the operation would need to pay for the costs of mobilization and demobilization, which are primarily the costs of transporting the equipment into and out of Nevada. The total cost of a limited, 10,000 BDT per year harvesting operation is estimated to be about $23.00 per BDT of whole-tree chips, approximately fifty percent greater than the costs associated with a permanently situated, eight-to-nine month per year operation. The total costs of a 20,000 BDT per year operation are estimated to be about $20.50 per BDT.

Go to :

Transportation Costs

-or-

Table of Contents

-or-

Table of Contents
 
 

April 7, 2000

Dan Frehner began the presentation by identifying topics addressed by the Tri-County Group. They include:

· BLM property obtained for school construction with the assistance of Gene Kolkman;

· Economic development;

· Federal land withdrawals;

· Land exchanges and acquisitions and exploring ways to expedite these processes;

· Noxious weed control;

· Piñion Juniper Harvest: NTS Development Corporation intends to harvest Piñion Juniper for manufacture into wood chips and other timber-based consumer goods. He expressed appreciation regarding the actions of Gene Kolkman in facilitating meetings with United States Senator Harry Reid’s staff to reach this goal; and

· Wilderness Study Areas (WSA): Addressing the issue of removal of nonqualifying areas

http://www.leg.state.nv.us/70th/Interim/Statcom/Lands/Minutes/IM-Lands-20000407-2108.html
 
 

ASSEMBLY Committee on Taxation

Mike L. Baughman, Ph.D., Nevada Test Site Development Corporation (NTSDC), Lincoln County, the city of Caliente, Eureka and Lander Counties, supported the concepts of A.B. 434 and developing renewable energy projects in rural areas. NTSDC worked with the rural counties to create employment and income opportunities around the Nevada Test Site. The bill created incentives for renewable energy firms to locate to Nevada during rapidly escalating energy prices. The development of geothermal and other renewable sources reduced Nevada’s dependency on fossil fuels and helped stabilize energy prices. The companies produced income, employment, and stimulated other types of economic development. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) had proposed to thin Pinyon-Juniper woodlands in White Pine and Lincoln Counties through selective harvest. The thousands of tons of biomass produced would provide energy comparable to coal (Exhibit K). The bill needed a sunset clause because five years was sufficient to attract new businesses. They were concerned about the Commission on Economic Development approving or denying tax exemptions that did not meet the initial criteria but were in the best interest of the state. They felt "undue uncertainty" should not be present in a program that was clearly designed to benefit Nevada.

http://www.leg.state.nv.us/71st/Minutes/Assembly/TAX/Final/760.html

RAC Minutes -
MOJAVE-SOUTHERN GREAT BASIN
RESOURCE ADVISORY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
JUNE 21, 2001
MULL RANCH
(attendees list omitted)

Interface Issues
 - Gene Kolkman, Field Manager, Ely Field Office
*
Kolkman gave a presentation on the Ely Urban Interface Treatment Area.  The study is
being conducted by Argon Laboratories.
*
BLM needs to treat areas that are being invaded by woodlands that traditionally have been
sagebrush.
*
BLM has collected soils data to determine what species should be in areas that have been
out competed by juniper and pinyon.
*
Kolkman showed slides of the proposed treatment areas at Ward Mountain and Comins
Lake just outside of Ely.
*
This treatment will minimize the canopy effect of a woodland fire, and will restore about
20,000 acres of sage grouse habitat near Ward Mountain.
*
They hope to get back about 2 ½ million acres of sagebrush and 4 million acres of healthy
woodlands.  Otherwise, Kolkman believes woodlands won't be there in the next 100
years.
*
They are not dealing with woodlands, they are dealing with sagebrush areas.
*
This will not be a quick process.  BLM will hold public meetings as Kolkman wants the
public's input.
*
Ken Dixon, Lincoln County Public Lands, asked Kolkman what the time frame was to get
started.  Kolkman hopes to get started by August of this year.  This information is
available to the public.
*
A lot of sites have native seeds.  When they open up the canopy areas, the native seeds

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Page 3
June 21, 2001
 
         Mojave-Southern RAC
3
tend come back, especially sagebrush.
*
Selby asked how long it would take to treat the 20,000 acres.  Kolkman replied 3 to 4
years, as they hope to treat about 8 to 10 acres per day.
*
The question was raised about the wood by-product (biomass).  Kolkman answered that
some businesses such as the City of Ely and the Ely Shoshone are interested.  The wood
would be given to these businesses.
*
Some mines have been experimenting with biomass and sludge to produce top soil.
Another company makes yule logs they export to Europe.
*
Selby asked what a rough dollar estimate was for treatment.  Kolkman stated that with no
reseeding, it would cost about $200 per acre.  If they have to reseed, it would cost about
$400 per acre.  If a fire occurs, it costs several hundreds of thousands of dollars.  BLM is
still fighting cheat grass from the Cherry Creek fire last year.
Update by Tom Kuekes, USFS - Spring Mountain National Recreation Area
.
*
The Spring Mountain National Recreation Area
 has increased its staff considerably
because of the national fire plan directives.  They have doubled the number of fire
technicians.  These technicians will be making contact with the public­not just working on
fires.  Hiatt asked if these fire technicians can also educate the public about the threat of
weeds.  Kuekes answered yes.
*
Kyle Canyon
- The Forest Service (FS) hopes to begin this fall with new fuel breaks.
They are in the process of assessing what type of treatment they should use.
*
They are also taking a look at what they can do to enhance emergency evacuation plans.
 *
Open fires
 are prohibited as of June 15 in Clark County.  This year, for the first time, they
have implemented new restrictions that will go into effect each year.  These restrictions
will help reduce the risk of fire around communities.
*
Wild Horses and Burros
 - In connection with the National Wild Horse Association, the
FS has hired summer help to monitor wild horses.  The first project will be an emergency
gather in Lee Canyon as there is a traffic safety problem and damage is occurring to the
resources.  Less than 20 animals need to be gathered.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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June 21, 2001
 
         Mojave-Southern RAC
4
*
Recreation Fee Demo
 - Still working on this issue as they believe it is a very important
tool.  They will contract with the FS enterprise team this summer.  There are a lot issues
they need to work out such as what activities will require a fee.
*
The FS hosted
National Trails Day
 on June 3. About 100 people were at Coal Creek and
helped construct bike trails, put of signs, etc.  Young pointed out that during this event
they discovered a lot of old barbed wire on the ground.  The equestrian groups would like
to get together and clean this area up.
*
Wilderness Areas
 - A process similar to the Southern Nevada Public Land Management
Act (SNPLMA) is being put together by Senators Reid and Ensign.  They will be heavily
involved in wilderness issues which are part of this legislation.  The FS will share areas
with BLM.  A field trip will be scheduled for the Harrison Wilderness Study Area
sometime soon.
*
SNPLMA
 - The FS has six projects that were funded in Round 1 that will be going out
for contract.  The first project to come on line is Fleishman Campground.  Most buildings
were built in the 1960s, and do not accommodate modern day camping.  The Kyle Canyon
Visitors Center will get a new modular building.  This will increase their capacity to handle
about four times as many visitors.  This center will also have handicapped accessability.
*
The FS needs to look at a larger facility for visitor contact. The public is suggesting they
buy the old golf course, but it requires lots of work and reclamation.  Outside Las Vegas
has proposed to help the FS with an engineering design.  Selby asked what the asking
price is for the property.  Kuekes said he has heard about $10 million, but he stated that
the price will have to come down to match the appraisal.  There are about 120 acres,
which is an inholding surrounded by FS. Outside Las Vegas is going to submit a proposal
to the SNPLMA group in Round 3 call for nominations to acquire this property.
*
Round 2 Recommendations
 - Jo Simpson, Chief, Office of Communications, Nevada
State Office ,wanted to let the RAC know that State Director Bob Abbey is going to
Washington, D.C. next week to discuss the Round 2 spending package, and BLM will
announce the approved acquisitions after the Secretary makes an announcement.
Barbara Callihan, RAC member, asked if any consideration has been given to the Blue Tree area?
Kuekes answered that as far as SNPLMA projects, nothing is funded, but the FS is doing other
things in that area.
Nellis Air Force Base Plan (see attachment) -
Mark Morse, Field Manager, Las Vegas Field
Office
Morse showed RAC members a proposal for the revised boundaries for the Nevada Wild Horse
Range Herd Management Area on a map.  The remainder of the current Nevada Wild Horse Range
would have horses traveling into the area, but a herd could not be established outside the marked

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 5
June 21, 2001
 
         Mojave-Southern RAC
5
area.
*
The
total number of horses
 would be established based on monitoring data. The Nevada
Division of Wildlife (NDOW) and the Department of Energy do not want wild horses on
the Cactus Flat area.  They proposed another area, which is smaller.  Colonel White of the
Air Force agrees with them, as the Air Force doesn't want to loose the Tonopah Test
Range. Morse proposed to change the area, but the Air Force said they would not provide
water.  At the next meeting, the Air Force proposed if BLM would go back to the marked
area, the Air Force would provide water.  BLM had meetings with the wild horse groups
afterwards to see if they could live with this proposal.  The horse groups asked BLM to
find out if there was really a safety issue.  The initial study indicates there has only been one
accident and it killed the horse not the person.
*
The Air Force will make a presentation to BLM.  BLM will not be finished with the plan in
October as earlier scheduled. Young said the wild horse group requested a list of accidents
that have occurred with antelope because there are lots of antelope on the test range.
*
BLM just finished a census count of horses and there are 1,191 horses on the Nellis Base.
BLM plans on conducting a gather there in 2002.
*
Stan Smith, RAC member, asked Morse that if the appropriate management level (AML) is
per density, and if indeed, this area is moved to the black line on the map, will AML come
down?  Morse said yes.  AML will be based on available forage and water.  The AML will
stay with 600 to 1,000 animals.
*
Hiatt commented that at the last meeting, RAC members had a discussion about the AML
and the Preferred Alternative was controversial.  The Air Force will provide water at
various sites, so this changes dynamics as far as horses are concerned.  How is BLM
proposing to deal with drought in these areas. Morse commented that this will be re-
established when they evaluate AML.
*
Maurice Frank Churchill went through the area five years ago during the drought and the
horses were in terrible shape.  He wasn't aware of the Advisory Board then to tell them
there was cruelty to animals.  Through involvement with the Nevada Test Site, the tribe
does cultural clearances, and he gets a chance to look at things besides cultural.  His is
concerned for the horses.  He warned other RAC members and BLM to not let the horses
get too far out of hand.
*
Ken Dixon ­ Asked Morse if the Air Force is proposing to do any fencing?.  Morse
answered no, the only thing that would be developed would be water.
*
Smith asked why NDOW was uncomfortable with the proposed HMA.  Morse stated that
they don't agree with any movement of horses.  They differ in allowances of horses.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 6
June 21, 2001
 
         Mojave-Southern RAC
6
Wickersham commented that the history in the area has been because of budget constraints,
then the animals are compromised.  BLM needs to be able to deal with the problem
immediately­not wait a year or two when money is available.  If there is a way through
this, then the confidence would be there.
*
Kolkman pointed out that the Ely district has 3,000 horses over AML, and they have been
hauling water to some areas already.  They have been incurring range damage and will
spend $300 per acre to try to fix the damage.
Selby adjourned the meeting for lunch at 11:30 a.m.  Lunch was provided by Ely Field Office.  The
meeting reconvened at 1 p.m.
Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Plan
 - Gretchen Burris, Recreation Planner, Ely Field Office.
Ely staff  have been working with a local group called the Duckcreek Basin group, and they are
dealing more with the access issue instead of OHV use.  Jack Tribble from the Ely Field Office has
been the main person working on this plan.  The Duckcreek area has received a lot of use.  All
concerned participants want to put the brakes on "new roads" and the access situation.  The map
Burris brought shows current roads and trails in the area.  A team is conducting a public review of
the map.  The suggested action will go to public land managers for review.  She encourages broad-
based participation.
*
BLM has a student from Utah that will inventory all roads and trails on BLM land in the
Duckcreek Basin.
*
Chicas commented that he would like to see direction of travel included in the Duckcreek
plan.
*
Selby asked if they did an aerial or satellite survey.  Burris said they have used existing
data, but have not had new surveys done.  Have discussed using existing military aerials to
inventory.  Students are making extensive documentation on what type of damage is being
done and what condition the roads and trails are in.  Kolkman said they hope to use
classified technology to map soil and vegetation, but it is still in the discussion stage.
*
Burris told RAC members that another issue they are trying to get a handle on is permitted
events such as motorcycle and buggy racing.  They are in the process of looking at courses
that have been used and deciding which ones shouldn't be used again.  Will have folks GPS
these courses.  They have digitized the courses in the Caliente area, and it looks like
spaghetti.
*
Maichle commented that he conducted races for years in Lincoln County, and there were
some areas that after the race you couldn't tell where something had been.  Maichle said his
club likes to leave an area alone until you cannot tell they held a race there.  Burris said
they have talked about rotation.  Maichle said most clubs are pretty conservative and want
to do the right thing.  BLM has much more of a problem with unpermitted events than

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June 21, 2001
 
         Mojave-Southern RAC
7
permitted events.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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June 21, 2001
 
         Mojave-Southern RAC
8
*
Smith commented that he hopes that when BLM goes through these processes, they talk to
a wide spectrum of people, not just race groups.  Some groups would like to see sacrifice
areas other than rotation areas.
*
Burris said Ely Field Office right now has just 300,000 acres of limited roads and 11.7
acres of roads open.  They have looked at sacrifice areas and are actually looking at
specific areas.  Smith commented that he had done a lot of research for Desert Research
Institute, and with a major race, you don't recover.  Smith said there have been a lot of
races where there has been collateral damage away from the road too.
*
Hiatt commented that as the number of people increase, roads increase, and so does the
amount of dust created.  If we fail to recognize all of the dust we put into the air, we will
see limitations put on how we can use these resources.  Basically, it comes back to the
health of the land.
*
Selby asked Kolkman if he still wanted the RACs to develop standards and guidelines.
Kolkman said yes.  Simpson stated that the Northeast Great Basin RAC is working on
standards and guidelines for OHV.
*
Maichle stated that season of use, weeds, etc., are a part of OHV use too.  The Nevada
Department of Wildlife needs to be brought in on the discussions since hunters are one of
the biggest users of OHV.  Maichle said seasonal restrictions would benefit everyone.
Lincoln County Lands Action
 ­ This is part of a Tri-County action.  They set the land priorities.
The main priority is the Mesquite land sale.  They have been directed by Congress to sell 6,500
acres by October.  Unfortunately, they have some serious issues with the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Power Pants
 ­ The issue is with available water.  Two power plants that are interested in building
in Lincoln and White Pine counties just issued a Notice of Intent on June 13.
Mesquite Land Issue
 - Two to three sources of water are involved and a major aquifer.  With
this, there is speculation as to where water will come from and how it will be pumped.
*
A power plant is more definitive, even though there are some elements of risk.  These will
be plan amendments that will come before this board.  BLM has an obligation to staff these
questions out.  So far, Kolkman is very happy with the cooperation from the two
companies they are working with:  PG&E and Co-Gentrics.  BLM has contracted to get
the best scientific evidence available before issuing a decision.
*
Kolkman is not comfortable for BLM to say right now that they cannot develop in
Mesquite.  There are some outstanding differences of opinion on water rights.  It is their
legal responsibility to disclose what they find out.
*
Bill Mull, RAC member stated that he had a conflict with Vidler pumping water out of the

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Panaca area because this will effect his springs.  Mull believes someone should address the
issue of pumping water out of local areas.
Other Lands Issues
 - A delegation from the three counties­White Pine, Lincoln and Nye) is in
Washington, D.C., trying to drum up support to resolve their wilderness issues.  Under the Lincoln
County Lands Act, BLM is required to put proceeds from sale in an interest bearing account and
spend the money on land acquisitions and significant cultural issues.  This delegation is trying to
get that modified so the money can be used in Lincoln and White Pine counties for significant
cultural resources and recreation purposes.
Field Office Updates
Battle Mountain Field Office
 - Craig McKinnon, Field Station Manager, Tonopah (see
attachment)
The Tonopah 300 OHV race is starting tomorrow, June 22.  This is the number 1 gross event for
Tonopah.
Planning Efforts
 - Battle Mountain is working on the Area of Critical Environmental Concern
(ACEC) plan amendment.  They received 54 proposals which they submitted to Esmerald and Nye
counties.  Agee asked what was the biggest acreage proposed.  McKinnon answered that it would
be about 40,000 acres.  Commissioners were told they should only ask for ones they believe would
be important for the county.
Central Nevada Elk Plan
 - They are using the elk plan that was passed in Lincoln and White Pine
counties as a template. The Duckwater and Yomba tribes have been consulted on this issue.
Reveille Allotment
  ­ Consists of 600,000+ acres.  There are a lot of controversial issues.
Permittee has a 12-month season of use lease.  BLM made a significant cut to this use.  Permittee
does not believe BLM made wise decisions on his allotments.  This was a very difficult decision.
Permittee has filed actions on BLM.
*
Hiatt asked if BLM has written a recovery plan for the area.  MacKinnon stated that part of
exclosure states they would like to do some seeding in some areas, other than that, no.
*
Agee stated that she is really frustrated that there could not be an agreement made.
MacKinnon said BLM is taking a stand to say that spring rest is critical.
*
Maichle said his big concern is that they did not address running ditches.  MacKinnon said
they did.  They are in agreement about drying out ditches on public land.
Tamarisk
 - On Sept. 29, BLM will work with Beatty school children to take out some of the
tamarisk along the creek.  Some money has been dedicated to this task.
Rhyolite
 - Maichle wanted to point out the Rhyolite festival is tentatively planned in April 2002.

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Proceeds will go to maintaining the old depot.
Las Vegas Field Office
 ­ Mark Morse, Field Manager
What Kolkman laid out for restoration is very important to Nevada.  BLM did not take up this
cause, Kolkman did.  RAC should take advantage of this as BLM will.
Results of May 9 Land Sale
 - Twenty parcels were up for sale for a total of $11.7 million.   They
sold 1,700 acres for over $40 million.  American (Del Webb) bought 1,700 acres.  BLM and Del
Webb are working on a development agreement.
*
BLM allocated $50 million to land purchases, and projects on public lands for Round 2 .
The Final Recommendation Package went back to the Secretary in April.
*
Next year, there will be a planned community in Henderson, and that sale should bring very
high prices too.
Independent Power Plants
*
Meadow Valley (PG&E) is getting ready to do an Environmental Impact Statement ( EIS).
*
Calpine - This power plant will be located near Moapa.  They have not secured the water
rights yet.  It will be a water-cooled plant.  Morse has heard they did a very good EIS.
*
Three power plants will be located by Apex.  Duke, Reliant and Mirant. A lot of
transmission lines will be going out from there.
*
Further south, two power plants will be located in Primm.  These companies are doing
Environmental Assessments (EAs) right now.
*
A wind farm which is west of Jean and Primm will be in Table Mountain.  M&N wind
energy secured the right for this energy.  They are going to start an EA.  Total acreage is
4,600 acres.
*
Agee asked where all the energy will go.  Morse said that Governor Guinn said that 25
percent would go to Nevada and the rate would be lower for Nevada too.  Hiatt said we
are talking about 4,600 megawatts and this is more than Nevada needs.
Blue Diamond Hydro
 ­ Could develop if it is determined they got their permits.  Blue Diamond
believes they have gotten all of their permits.  Senator Reid interprets they did meet their
requirements.  Hiatt said this is a pump power project.  Advantage to this plant is that you can shift
when you need the power.
Congressional briefing
 coming up.  Morse stated that if there is anything the RAC would like to
be brought up, let him know.

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Red Rock General Management Plan
 - Protests are being worked on this week.  Will go to
Washington, DC to get them resolved.  A marketing feasibility study is being conducted to put
together an environmental education program.  Abbey's vision is for inter-city youth to go on
internet on see this information.  The will also use this center as a wild horse holding facility.
Mesquite Land Sale on Clark County Side
 - Have two mandates by Congress to sell land.  One
is for the airport and one is for 6,000 to 7,000 acres.  They ran into same concerns with FWS, as
did Ely.  FWS is telling BLM that if they can't guarantee water, they go to jeopardy.  BLM tried to
put together an agreement between FWS, City of Mesquite and BLM that shows they agree on
guidelines.
New Southern Nevada Law
 - Senators Reid and Ensign want to redo SNPLMA.  Kai Anderson
of Senator Reids staff held a stakeholders meeting.  They want to designate wilderness in Clark,
Lincoln and Nye counties.  Power companies have worked hard to get area opened up.  At
stakeholders meeting, someone asked about the shooting range.  BLM's task will be to sell acreage
between Jean and Primm.   They will have to make a sale on 6,600 acres.  Will need a 33-mile
right-of-way.  Some people believe they need another corridor highway.  Morse has asked to be
part of this legislation effort.
Hughes-Summerlin Corporation
 - The mountain faces are breaking down and Hughes wants to
develop it.  BLM needs to decide where Hughes will develop­on mountainside or on the flat lands.
Most of what Hughes wants has mining claims on it.  BLM will have to do a validity claim exam.
*
Henderson college was also on this bill.  320 acres are outside disposal area.  Last thing
that may go in is shooting range.
*
Hiatt said another player at the table is the Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan
participants.    Looking for mark-up this fall and passage in the spring.
Next RAC meeting
 will be September 6 and 7 in Tonopah.
Maichle brought up
Cal Baird issue
.  He asked if anything had been done or resolved since last
RAC meeting?  Morse answered that BLM might have an allotment for him to go to outside of the
state.  Maichle brought more petitions, which he gave to Morse.
There being no further business, Chairperson Selby adjourned the meeting at 4:25 p.m.

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Signed:
Approved by:
October 01, 2001
Susan Selby, Chair
Mojave-Southern Great Basin
Resource Advisory Council
Minutes provided by Debra Kolkman, Office of Communications, BLM Nevada State Office
Attachments:
1 - Nevada Test and Training Range RMP Update (1 p)
2 - Battle Mountain Field Office Update (2 pp.)
3 - Off Road Vehicle Technical Review Team - Final Report (10 pp.)
 
 
 
 
 
 

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