BLM Publishes Final Supplemental EIS on Proposed Silver State Solar South Project near Primm Las Vegas – Reflecting President Obama’s commitment to the responsible development of clean energy resources, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today announced its final proposed plan for the Silver State Solar South project on public land near Primm, Nev., calling for a scaled-down facility to protect environmental values. The final proposal is for a photovoltaic solar facility that will generate 250 megawatts, or enough energy to power approximately 75,000 homes. The BLM’s Las Vegas Field Office released the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and proposed amendment to the Las Vegas Resource Management Plan for the proposed solar development, starting a 30-day protest period and a 60-day Governor’s consistency review before a final decision on the project is made. To improve desert tortoise connectivity within the Ivanpah Valley and lessen reductions to recreational areas in the Jean Lake/Roach Lake Special Recreation Management Area, the proposal recommends a smaller project size, designating 31,859 acres as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern. The changes are the result of extensive public comment periods on the Draft Supplemental EIS as well as discussions with State and Federal agencies. The availability of the Final Supplemental EIS was announced in the Federal Register. The applicant proposed the construction and operation of a solar energy generating facility that would produce 250-350 megawatts of electricity. The proposal includes the construction of photovoltaic panels, and ancillary facilities, including a substation and switchyard. The right-of-way application area encompasses about 13,184 acres of BLM-administered public lands. The original proposal, for a 350-megawatt facility on 3,881 acres, has been reduced in the BLM Preferred Alternative to a 250-megawatt facility with a permanent footprint of 2,427 acres. If the project is approved, the right-of-way grant would only be issued for lands needed for project development. The Silver State South proposal expands on the Silver State North project, a 50-megawatt project that the BLM approved on October 12, 2010. Silver State North began operation in May 2012, making it the first utility-scale solar facility to come online on public lands managed by the BLM. The Final Supplemental EIS is available for public inspection at the BLM Southern Nevada District Office. Printed or electronic copies of the Final EIS are available by request from the BLM Southern Nevada District Office, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130, phone (702) 515-5136, or email: [email protected]. Interested persons may also review the Final EIS on the Internet at blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo/blm_programs/energy/Silver_State_Solar_South.html. Instructions for filing a protest with the Director of the BLM may be found in the “Dear Reader” Letter of the EIS and at 43 CFR 1610.5-2. For more information, please call Nancy Christ at 702-515-5136. -BLM-
Posted on: Sat, 21 Sep 2013 01:09:33 +0000
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