Silver City and Gold Hill residents seek financial assistance from active mine

Silver City, NV – August 4, 2014 – The Comstock Residents Association (CRA) announced today that it is seeking financial assistance from Comstock Mining Inc. (CMI) to conduct document and data review following the mine’s continued activity near residences in the area.

This request succeeds CMI’s offer to pay for blood testing and soil analysis for Silver City residents due to potential health and environmental consequences of mining activity close to homes in the area.
The CRA is requesting $50,000 from CMI which will be used to hire an independent, private third-party environmental consulting agency to review all documentation and testing data. There are numerous privacy considerations, including HIPPA, which must be taken into account before any residents agree to personal health or private property screenings.

“Comstock Mining has begun an internal program for comprehensive environmental monitoring,” said Joe McCarthy of the CRA. “And while we appreciate these efforts to examine possible environmental and health effects of the mine so close to homes, the interests of Gold Hill and Silver City residents are paramount.”

In 2011, CMI drilled exploration holes adjacent to Silver City homes. Although best management practices for drilling generally include dust reduction through water spraying, this drilling produced dust in amounts that concerned local residents. The primary concerns included the health of those exposed to airborne mercury, arsenic and lead particles and the impact of the toxic air on homes, yards and community parks. In addition to these concerns, it also became apparent through a discussion with CMI that the company was unaware it was working within the boundaries of a Superfund site.

“The implications of living with an active mine in your backyard is overwhelming at best,” said McCarthy. “Therefore, our residents would feel more comfortable knowing all data and screenings are being overseen by an independent environmental agency not related to Comstock Mining.”

The CRA presented this request to CMI at the end of July 2014.

About Comstock Residents Association
The Comstock Residents Association represents the interests of the residents of the Comstock, including Silver City and Gold Hill. These two proud communities consist of hard working Nevadans, many of whom have lived in the area since the 1960’s, have restored historically relevant residential properties and opened a variety of small businesses. CMI initiated open pit mining of a historic mine located in Gold Hill, just outside of Silver City in 2012. CMI is currently operating both its mining and exploration operations within the Carson River Mercury Superfund Site. In the 1995 Site Record of Decision, the EPA assessed the health risks from toxic substances, specifically mercury and arsenic. Mining as a future use of the area was not part of EPA planning or reflected in zoning at that time, however in December 2013 CMI sought to expand their mining into residential areas. The Lyon County Planning Commission voted to deny CMI’s master plan amendment request as well as zoning changes to protect the homeowners’ property rights. The Planning Commission’s decision went to the Lyon County Commission for a final vote where both amendments were voted on for acceptance (contrary to the recommendations of their own Planning Commission). The result is approximately 200 acres that were previously designated as residential and rural residential are now classified as “resource”, which allows mining exploration and open pit mining next door to family homes.