BLM endorses Henderson mine cleanup
WASHINGTON — A plan to clean up and redevelop an abandoned manganese mine on federal land in Henderson won endorsement from the Obama administration Thursday.
An official from the Bureau of Land Management gave a House panel the green light to move ahead with the bill that would turn over to the Southern Nevada city 948 acres along Lake Mead Parkway contaminated by arsenic, lead and petroleum compounds.
The Henderson Redevelopment Agency has an agreement with the private Lakemoor Development LLC to reclaim the federal property and an adjacent 314 acres of private land that together comprised the Three Kids Mine.
The legislation “clears the way for eventual development” of the property, Jamie Connell, BLM acting deputy director, told the House subcommittee on energy and mineral resources.
A similar bill sponsored by Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., passed the House last year but stalled in the Senate, where a number of public lands bills were blocked.
“Something must be done to address this serious blight on the Henderson community,” Heck said Thursday in an appearance before the subcommittee.
Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760. Follow him on Twitter @STetreaultDC.