BLM Announces Additional Public Scoping Meeting
Bureau of Land Management Press Release
BLM Announces Additional Public Scoping Meeting for Ivanpah Solar Energy Project
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces a second public scoping meeting and an extension to the formal scoping period to solicit comments on the impacts of a proposed solar energy project in the California Desert. BLM published a notice of intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement in the Federal Register on November 6, 2007 indicating they will advertise and conduct public scoping meetings to hear about issues for the proposed Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System (ISEGS). The BLM formal scoping process that began with publication of the NOI in the Federal Register has been extended to run through January 31, 2008.
The BLM and the California Energy Commission (CEC) are conducting a joint environmental review process of the ISEGS project. The BLM and CEC planned to conduct a joint informational hearing and scoping meeting on January 4th. Adverse weather conditions cancelled many flights and the CEC had to postpone the hearing until January 25th. The BLM did conduct a scoping meeting but felt it was important to provide additional opportunities for members of the public that may not have had the chance to attend on January 4th. The CEC and BLM will hold another joint hearing and scoping meeting to gather public input during this early stage of the project.
The proposed Ivanpah SEGS project consists of three concentrating solar-powered steam, electricity generating plants and related facilities, covering about 3,400 acres of public lands in San Bernardino County, 4.5 miles southwest of Primm, Nevada. The project is entirely located on public lands and proposes to produce up to 400 megawatts of electricity.
This additional BLM scoping meeting will be conducted jointly with a CEC informational hearing and at the following time and location:
Date: January 25, 2008
Time: 12:15 p.m. site visit (transportation provided)
1:00 p.m. Commission informational hearing/BLM scoping meeting
Location: Primm Valley Golf Club, 4 mi SW Primm, NV, take Yates Well Rd. Exit I-15
Brief presentations describing the project and the review process will be made by the proponent, Solar Partners, LLC, and by the agencies after which a public comment period will be provided. Additionally written comments may be submitted by January 31, 2008, to the BLM’s Needles Field Office, attention George R. Meckfessel, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, 1303 South U.S. Highway 95, Needles, Calif., 92363-4228, or by fax (760)326-7099 or by e-mail ca690@ca.blm.gov attention Ivanpah SEGS.
For further information contact Tom Hurshman, BLM project manager (970)240-5345 or send an email message to tom_hurshman@blm.gov attention Ivanpah SEGS.