Mill owners seek public opinion on future of historic site

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In 1920, Caselton was founded by the Combined Metals Reduction Company on the south side of Ely Mountain. The town was designed and run by the company. Until the 2010s, the land on which the houses resided was owned by the company that controlled the mine, long after the mine itself had dried up.

Now, the mine is in the hands of Greenfield Environmental Multistate Trust LLC, Trustee of the Multistate Environmental Response Trust (Multistate Trust), which is responsible for owning, investigating, cleaning up, and facilitating the safe reuse of hundreds of former Kerr-McGee Corporation and Tronox Incorporated sites in 31 states.

The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) and the Multistate Environmental Response Trust (Multistate Trust) are hosting community meetings August 30­–31 with the residents of Caselton Heights, Pioche and surrounding areas to share updates about the investigations, cleanup options and potential future uses of the Caselton Mine Area, including the Caselton Mill Site Area. Food will be provided.

The Tuesday, August 30 meeting will focus on topics of interest to Caselton Heights residents due to their proximity to the Caselton Mill Site Area and the Caselton Wash Tailings. The August 30 meeting is tailored to Caselton Heights residents, although others are welcome to attend.

The Wednesday, August 31 meeting will address all matters discussed on August 30, but will additionally focus on topics of interest to the greater Pioche community and surrounding areas. The August 31 meeting is intended for the greater Pioche community and surrounding areas, including residents and business owners.

 The topics that will be covered include:

  • Environmental investigations and results
  • Proposed additional sampling in the Caselton Mill Site Area
  • Stormwater challenges near Tank Road and Newark Street
  • Cleanup options and funding considerations
  • Potential future uses of the Caselton Mine Area, including the Caselton Mill Site Area
  • Opportunities for community input

According to Bob Rollins, an employee of Greenfield, there will be a lot to talk about at the meeting. Rollins remembers when the company helped the residents of Caselton gain ownership of the land upon which their houses sat, and he says there are a variety of things the company can do with the property. Among the more likely possibilities is the opportunity to clean up the area and get rid of any waste left over from the mill’s production process. Beyond that, there have been conversations about opening up the mill for tourism or even the possibility of using the land to explore clean energy options.

Whatever the final result, Greenfield is looking for the chance to hear from everyone that calls the area home. Those interested in participating can attend the meetings, both of which will be held at the Thompson’s Opera House at 644 Main Street, Pioche. The meetings will run from 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Editor’s Note: The online version of this article corrects and clarifies several items from the earlier print version.