Election Section

RENO, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management formally withdrew its approval of a proposed cat litter mine on BLM land north of Reno Friday, but said the Oil-Dri Corp. could submit a revised plan. 

BLM officials said they were forced the withdraw their earlier record of decision because the project no longer is feasible after Washoe County rejected a special use permit this week for an accompanying processing plant on neighboring private land. 

Oil-Dri Corp. officials expected the move and already are making plans to submit a new proposal. John Singlaub, manager of the BLM’s district field office in Carson City, said the revised plan will require a supplemental environmental impact statement as well. 

Under the revised plan, the largest maker of cat litter in the world still would mine the clay in two open pits across about 300 acres of BLM land but likely would site the processing plant on federal land as well. 

Another option is to ship the raw clay material elsewhere for processing, company officials say. 

The Washoe County Board of Commissioners rejected the special use permit on a 3-2 vote late Tuesday night despite Oil-Dri’s claims that the county has no authority to block access to the company’s mineral rights on federal land under the General Mining Law of 1872. 

“One way or another, we’re going to mine, whether we have to go to district court or ship the clay out or whatever,” Oil-Dri Vice President Bob Vetere said after the vote. 

Opponents said the project could cause water shortages and would pollute the air and water, clog residential streets with truck traffic and ruin the rustic qualities of the Hungry Valley area, just 10 miles north of downtown Reno. 

“I really think this could end up being some kind of defining case on the 1872 mining law,” said Tom Myers, a hydrologist and executive director of the Great Basin Mine Watch who has been involved in numerous appeals challenging mining projects in Nevada. 

Commissioners Jim Shaw and Jim Galloway joined Chairman Pete Sferrazza in opposing the project, and Commissioners Joanne Bond and Ted Short supported Oil-Dri’s bid. Bond and Short said they fear Tuesday’s vote will mean the county will lose jurisdiction over the project if it is built on federal land. 

Oil-Dri officials say their project would produce about 100 jobs and generate $12 million annually for the local economy. The project is the result of a search started 20 years ago for a new source of raw material for West Coast customers who sell Oil-Dri cat litter under several brand names. 

“We’re businessmen,” Vetere told the commission Tuesday night. “We’re being told by our customers, the Chloroxes and the Wal-Marts of the world that they want this clay and they want it quick.”