Input sought for local geothermal project, sage grouse population

The Bureau of Land Management Carson City District, Stillwater Field Office, has completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Tungsten Mountain Geothermal Development Project proposed by Ormat.

The project area is in Churchill County, approximately 60 miles east of Fallon. Written comments on the EA will be accepted until Jan. 21.

The BLM is also seeking public input under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) for the Project. This includes seeking information and identifying historic properties in or near the Project area.

Ormat is proposing to construct, operate and maintain the Tungsten Mountain Geothermal Development Project. This EA analyzes the potential impacts from the proposed development of this project including the following:

The construction and operation of two geothermal power plants; up to 24 geothermal production and injection well pads and wells; geothermal fluid pipelines; build approximately 17 miles of a generation tie (gen-tie) line; and construct access roads and ancillary facilities.

A copy of the EA is available at the Carson City District BLM Office and on the webpage at: http://1.usa.gov/1QWnTTL. Please send written comments to: Jason Wright, Tungsten Mtn. EA Project Lead, Stillwater Field Office, 5665 Morgan Mill Road, Carson City, NV 89701. Comments may also be submitted electronically via the EA webpage (under the “Contact Information” section), via email to blm_nv_ccdowebmail@blm.gov or via fax at (775) 885-6147 with the subject heading “Tungsten Mtn. Geothermal Development EA”.

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment-including your personal information- may be publicly available at any time. While you ask us in your comment to withhold personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. After the public review period has ended, comments will be analyzed and considered part of the decision-making process.

For more information on the EA and NHPA process, call Jason Wright at 775-885-6000.

BLM EXTENDS COMMENT PERIOD FOR SAGE GROUSE

The BLM has extended the comment period 30 days on potential changes to the Proposed Plan as set forth in the Greater Sage Grouse Bi-State Distinct Population Segment (BSSG) Forest Plan Amendment/Final Environmental Impact Statement.

The United States Forest Service was the lead agency for preparing the environmental impact statement (EIS) and land use plan amendment (LUPA). The BLM, a cooperating agency, is proposing to amend the Carson City District Office Consolidated Resource Management Plan (RMP) and the Tonopah Field Office RMP based on the analysis in this EIS. Public comments will now be accepted through Jan. 15

Following release of the Final EIS and Proposed Plan, the BLM determined based on protests received and additional internal reviews that additional changes to and a clarification of the Proposed Plan was required. The clarification and changes include setting disturbance caps within BSSG habitat; adjusting buffers for tall structures near active or pending leks, adding a restriction for new high-voltage transmission lines, and additional management direction for habitat connectivity. The environmental consequences of the proposed changes and clarification have been analyzed as part of the EIS/LUPA process.

The BLM has determined, however, that these proposed changes must be released for additional public comment. After considering any public comments on these proposed changes, BLM will issue a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Nevada and California BSSG amending the Carson City Field Office Consolidated Resource Management Plan (RMP) and the Tonopah Field Office RMP.

Comments must be limited to the changes and clarification proposed. BLM will consider the comments received prior to issuing a final ROD and RMP Amendment for public lands in the Carson City District and the Tonopah Field Office. To review the documents go to http://1.usa.gov/1fccdry.

Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

Email: blm_nv_ccdowebmail@blm.gov

Fax: 775-885-6147

Mail: BLM Carson City District, 5665 Morgan Mill Rd., Carson City, NV 89701, Attn: Colleen Sievers, Project Manager.