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February 20, 2009
submitted by Kathleen Bianchi
The "Coffee with the Mayor" Meeting is this Saturday, Feb. 21st at 8:30 a.m.at the Pioneer Crossing Casino. One of the topics we intend to question the Mayor about is the proposed Pozzolan Mine. The following letter has been submitted, as well as other letters from concerned citizens to the Mayor and the City of Fernley Council Members.
I am a resident of Sage Valley Estates in Fernley, NV, and I am extremely concerned about a proposal for a 25 year Use Permit approved by the City Planning Commission which is being requested by Nevada Cement to mine for a substance called Pozzolan. This product has a known carcinogen by the name of crystalline silica and when inhaled can cause silicosis of the lungs (a disease not unlike Mesothelioma and extremely toxic). This product would be carried by the wind and the cement company appears to already be making improvements off of Highway 95A at Sage St. almost directly ahead where it turns right, into our subdivision. The crystalline silica blowing in the wind is extremely detrimental to the elderly, small children and those who have Emphysema, Asthma, C.O.P.D., chronic bronchitis, rhinitis, allergies, and any other problem of the lungs. The truck traffic through our area with dust blowing everywhere is another major concern.
The problem is, that this has not yet been voted on, by the Fernley City Council, nor have environmental impact studies been made (according to the BLM) and yet, they're already working on the road.
As Fernley gets an extreme amount of wind, and the map shows this mine going in, and around medium and high density residential zoning, which also includes Fernley High School, I and most all of my neighbors as citizens, are quite concerned about the dust that will be carried to us by the mining of Pozzolan. We have received a flyer, and some facts just cannot be ignored. More information can be found at www.pozzolanmine.weebly.com.
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