WINNEMUCCA — The US Geological Survey recently issued a report on the potential impacts to water from the proposed Jungo Rd landfill. The study was requested by Senator Harry Reid last September.

The USGS was tasked with evaluating whether or not the proposed Jungo Rd. landfill would impact the Rye Patch Reservoir and Humboldt River, the potential impact to water resources in Winnemucca,  locations and altitudes of aquifers, the length of time it would take waste seepage -- should it occur --  to contaminate local aquifers, and the direction and distance contaminated groundwater would travel during a 95 – 190 year period.

The report used some data from previous studies – including investigations conducted in 1962, 1992, and 1995.  The report indicated neither the Rye Patch Resevoir or the Humboldt River would be impacted by surface releases from the proposed landfill, but further studies would have to be conducted to determine subsurface flows. Municiple water in Winnemucca would not be affected at all from either surface or subsurface release, the report noted.

WINNEMUCCA — Having practiced criminal and civil law for decades, local attorney Robert Dolan is picking up a new area of expertise:  air quality.  In the wake of the news that Nevada Department of Environmental Protection issued an air quality permit to Jungo Land & Investments for development of a class 1 landfill, Dolan responded by hitting the books.

He said he has ten days to appeal the NDEP decision to the State Environmental Commission, and he intends to come armed with latest in scientfic research on air quality. 

"I spent the weekend reading Ph.D disertations on air quality," he said while adding he's not been impressed with what he's uncovered. "It appears to be the same guess work a third grader could come up with."

WINNEMUCCA — While some continue to mull over their choices, others have made their way to the County Clerk’s front desk to officially become candidates for public office. The DA, sheriff, and the one open county commission seat all became contested races this week.

The campaign for DA has officially become a three-way race. Kevin Pasquale filed his candidate’s paperwork on Thursday (March 4) to challenge current office-holder Russell Smith.  Local attorney Mike Macdonald filed earlier this week. 

The DA’s office is a partisan one.  Smith filed to run on the Republican ticket, Macdonald for the Democratic ticket, and Pasquale will run on the Independent Party of America ticket – so all three will pass through the primary and advance to the general election.

WINNEMUCCA —  The Humboldt County Commission will not prepare a fiscal impact statement in connection to the proposed Jungo Rd. landfill because there are too many variables and too many unknowns they said on Monday (March 1). 

Nevada Revised Statutes require a fiscal impact determination for initiative and referendum ballot questions.  A committee is currently circulating petitions to have the issue of the proposed Jungo Rd. landfill put on the ballot in November -- if the county commission takes no action before that.  The initiative, if successful, would limit the amount of garbage at secondary landfills and the referendum would repeal the ordinance allowing out-of-district garbage.

The commission voted 4-1 to adopt the statement, “The fiscal impact cannot be determined at this time because Humboldt County cannot reasonably estimate the amount of revenue or the amount of loss that may be generated by Humboldt County with a reasonable degree of certainty.”  Commissioner Garley Amos was the lone holdout.  He commented, "I think it's pretty well researched and I think there is an economical and fiscal impact."