WINNEMUCCA, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Winnemucca District, Black Rock Field Office is seeking public input on the Black Rock National Conservation Area (NCA) Facility Preliminary Environmental Assessment (EA) for its proposed administrative facility. The facility would be located on public land less than one mile north of Gerlach, Nev., in Washoe County. The BLM would appreciate receiving substantive comments on the EA by Dec. 23.

Construction of the facility is being funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The site would include an office, support buildings and temporary housing for BLM staff working in the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails NCA and other nearby public lands. The facility would provide space for visitor services including outdoor displays and information, as well as inside space for volunteers to provide public information and sales of maps. The site could also be used to stage one or more BLM initial attack wildland fire engines during periods of high fire danger.

The proposal and associated impacts are described and analyzed in the Black Rock National Conservation Area Facility Preliminary EA. The document may be reviewed online at www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/wfo.html.

Questions and written comments may be directed to: Dave Hays, Field Manager, Black Rock Field Office, BLM Winnemucca District Office, 5100 E. Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, NV 89445-2921. Comments may also be submitted by e-mail to wfoweb@nv.blm.gov. E-mail messages should include “Black Rock NCA Administrative Facility Preliminary EA” in the subject line.

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment — including this information — may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, the BLM cannot guarantee that the information will be withheld.