County planners scratch cat litter mine

RENO, Nev. -- County planners Wednesday scratched plans by the world's largest maker of cat litter to build a mine and processing plant north of the city.

The Washoe County Planning Commission denied the special-use permit officials say Chicago-based Oil-Dri Corp. needs to begin work in Hungry Valley, about 10 miles north of downtown Reno.

Company officials insist the county has no authority to deny their federal mineral claims under the 1872 Mining Law.

"These are public lands with valid mining claims. They will be mined," said Oil-Dri attorney Earl Hill.

Officials said they would appeal the decision to the full Washoe County Board of Commissioners.

The project on about 300 acres of Bureau of Land Management land would produce about 100 jobs and generate $12 million annually for the local economy, Oil-Dri officials said.

A public hearing Tuesday night stretched for more than seven hours, with some citing concerns about increased traffic, pollution and water shortages.

The company has clay mining operations in Mississippi, Georgia and Illinois. It began seeking a West Coast mine about 25 years ago to improve distribution and found the clay in Hungry Valley, north of Reno -- where only 7 inches of rain falls a year -- to be of premium quality because of its absorption rate.