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PAHRUMP ADVISORY COMMITTEE Pahrump Nuclear Waste and Environmental Advisory Committee November 3, 2023 Scheduled - 11:30 AM / actual – 11:41 AM 1. Pledge of Allegiance and Call to Order. 2. Roll Call: John Pawlak, Bill Stremmel, Robert Adams, Dina Williamson-Erdag, Dale Griffith, Cheryl Varkalis Absent: Debra Perna Guests: Gerard Cote, Tamalyn Taylor - NYECC BOCC liaison: Ron Boskovich - absent 3. Approval of the Agenda for November 3, 2023 Dale G. – 1st Robert A. – 2nd 6 – yay / 0 - nay 4. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT none 5. For Possible Action – Discussion and deliberation of Minutes of the Pahrump Environmental Management Advisory Committee (PEMAC) meeting of April 7th, 2023. Motion to approve: Dale G. – 1st Robert A. – 2nd 6 – yay / 0 - nay. 6. Announcements (first) Tamalyn Taylor said that Friends of Discovery Park held quarterly meetings and was planning an event on Saturday Nov. 11th from 10 am to 1 pm. Bill S. said the Water District Governing Board was holding a public workshop on Tuesday, Nov. 14th at 10 am. Robert A. said that Tri-County Weed Control was looking for volunteers to assist detection of invasive weeds and had a phone app for submitting pictures of them. 7. Committee Comments Robert A. inquired about participation in the Earth Day event. 8. For Possible Action – Discussion and deliberations to consider changing alternate member Cheryl Varkalis from an alternate to a full voting member. Motion to approve: Dale G. – 1st Bill S. – 2nd 6 – yay / 0 – nay. 9. For Possible Action – regarding 2024 work plans and / or additions. Motion to approve discussion: Bill S. – 1st Dale G. – 2nd 6 – yay / 0 – nay. Chair John P. first inquired if other members wanted to have an Earth/Arbor Day event again in 2024 which would be on April 20th. There was unanimous support for continuing the tradition and agreement it should be from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Bob Rudd building in Petrak Park where this year’s event was held. The theme will be: Planet vs. Plastics. John P. said he could no longer be solely responsible for preparations and arrangements, suggesting that an Ad Hoc committee of three or four people be established for that purpose. John P. said that advertising takes 80% of the budget. Tamalyn Taylor suggested using back rooms for some of the exhibits to disperse people to minimize noise making conversation difficult in the main room. Presenters including NYECC – Tamalyn Taylor, Great Basin Water – Debbie Woodland, and the County are being lined up for those rooms. ---PAGE BREAK--- Motion to adopt Work Plan: Dale G. – 1st Cheryl V. – 2nd 6 – yay / 0 – nay. 10. For Discussion Only – regarding previously agreed upon Board name change to the Pahrump Environmental Management Advisory Committee (PEMAC). Dina E. questioned whether the word ‘Management’ was appropriate to be included in the name of a strictly advisory body, but agreement could not be reached on another name. John P. explained that changes in County personnel and relocation of offices had delayed making the change official, and that “Legally we have to move forward with this name.” A motion was made for proceeding with the name change: Dale G. – 1st Cheryl V. – 2nd 6 – yay / 0 – nay. 11. For Possible Action – Discussion and deliberation regarding environmental issues in Southern Nevada and within the Town of Pahrump to include comments to the Board of Nye County Commissioners. [ action/deliberation dropped so no vote needed.] Robert A. said we might try talking to Clark County about proposed solar projects within their jurisdiction but lying over Pahrump Basin 162. Bill S. said he had suggested to the BOCC that 10 acres for sale on E. Mesquite be purchased for community compost. Dina E. inquired about current composting facilities and asked what the finished product is and if it would be sold. John P. asked Bill to investigate how composting is handled by other communities. Cheryl V. complained about waste remaining from encampments on public lands due to lack of BLM enforcement. Bill S. said he had read in the PV Times about a new Director, Teresa Coleman, overseeing BLM land in Nye County who should be contacted about that problem. [ action/deliberation dropped so no vote needed.] none 12. For Possible Action – Discussion and deliberation regarding nuclear issues in Southern Nevada and within the Town of Pahrump to include comments to the Board of Nye County Commissioners Robert A. – 1st Dale G. – 2nd 6 – yay / 0 – nay Dina E. expressed concern over trucks placarded no. 7 carrying low-level nuclear waste into the Nevada National Security Site being routed entirely on Highway 160 from Interstate 15 over the pass to US-95 while California Route 127 through Shoshone was closed for repairs, stating that this was a “volume”, not a “safety” issue necessitating short-term funding for improvements by DOT, because taxpayers and the State of Nevada “won’t pay for it.” John P. said that the Nevada Site Specific Advisory Board could provide statistics. 13. For Possible Action – Discussion and deliberation regarding setting the date and time for the next committee meeting. It was agreediso schedule the next meeting for Friday, December 1st as the first day of the month. Dale G. – 1st Cheryl V. – 2nd 6 – yay / 0 – nay. 14. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT (Second) Tamalyn Taylor said that grocery stores were part of the “food system” donating to pantries, but restaurants were not yet included. 15. ANNOUNCEMENTS (Second) John P. suggested asking Public Works about their next scheduled hazardous waste pickup in response to an inquiry by Cheryl V. about where to dispose of hazardous liquids including used gasoline and chemicals. . 16. ADJOURNMENT – 12:55 PM Bill S. – 1st Dale G. – 2nd 6 – yay / 0 - nay The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, December 1, 2023 @ 11:30 am. ---PAGE BREAK--- Signed: Date: