On January 29, 2012, I wrote to the Nevada State Historic Preservation Officer, Ron James, saying:
“The Virginia City National Historic Landmark District is an Endangered Landmark suffering from from the cumulative effects of surface exploration and mining within the district, and in particular from present activities and plans for development of more than 6000 acres within the district by Comstock Mining Inc. (CMI) of Gold Hill, Nevada.” Please notify the Secretary of the Interior of this situation and request that, as provided for in 16 U.S.C. 1908, "Mining in the National Parks Act of 1976, Section 9," he ask the Advisory Council for Historic Preservation for advice regarding ‘alternative measures that may betaken by the United States to mitigate or abate such activity.’ I request that the Secretary suspend ongoing mine exploration and development in the VCNLHD until such time that he receives the advice of the Advisory Council.”
On Feburary 13, 2012, Mr. James forwarded my letter to Secretary Salazar, accompanied by a carefully neutral letter of his own, noting the concern of “a number of residents,” and that my letter presented “an interpretation” of the law that it was the responsibility of the Secretary of the Interior to intervene. To this date, Mr. James has received no response, nor, as far as I know, has he further pursued the matter.
So, I have taken the direct approach and started an online petition, “Save the Virginia City National Historic Landmark,” addressed to Ken Salazar, U. S. Secretary of the Interior. It asks him to please take steps to mitigate or abate effects of surface mining in the Virginia City National Historical Landmark."
As of this writing, we have 374 signatures on the Save the Landmark petition. In early 2011, a petition circulated among Silver City residents opposing surface mining in Silver City garnered 93 signature (SC pop. 170), and a petition circulated by CRA in Gold Hill/Virginia City opposing surface mining gathered over 400 signatures.
Whether you live in or near the Landmark, or have roots here, or just regard it as historically and culturally valuable, please take the time to sign the petition. We don’t have much money. Public opinion is our most powerful weapon.