#ELKO — The Bureau of Land Management has issued a final decision approving the Murdock Mountain Phosphate Exploration Project in Elko County.
#Under the proposal, Nevada Organic Phosphate will assess phosphate mining potential across a 1,575-acre project area, creating roughly 9 acres of new surface disturbance on public lands.
#The approved exploration project includes construction of 26 drill sites, 23 trenches, and new access roads.
#Exploratory drilling is planned for depths up to 70 meters below the surface.
#This phosphate bed is part of the Permian Phosphoria Formation, which hosts most of the active phosphate mines in the western U.S.
#Any future proposed development of the area will require additional analysis and public review under the National Environmental Policy Act.
#According to the U.S. Geological survey, most phosphorus is consumed as a principal component of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizers used on food crops throughout the world.
#The United States is the world's leading producer and consumer of phosphate rock, which is used to manufacture phosphate fertilizers and industrial products.
#The final Environmental Assessment, Finding of No Significant Impact, and Decision Record are available at the BLM National NEPA Register. For more information, please call Aili Gordon at agordon@blm.gov or 775-753-0200.