BLM Seeks Comments on Geothermal Projects

The Bishop Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is requesting comments on the Basalt Canyon Slim Hole Geothermal Well Exploration Projects proposed by Mammoth Pacific Limited Partnership.   The Environmental Assessment (EA) is being distributed for a 30-day review and comment period beginning on December 6, 2001 and ending on January 4, 2002.

Mammoth Pacific has submitted two plans of operation to conduct exploration drilling. Both projects are located west of U.S. Highway 395 and north of California Highway 203, entirely on Inyo National Forest lands within the Mono-Long Valley Known Geothermal Resource Area.   In one plan, Mammoth Pacific proposes to drill, complete, and test two large diameter wells on two of seven possible well sites.  This geothermal exploration well project is called the Basalt Canyon Exploration Project.  In the second plan, the company proposes to drill up to five small diameter wells on up to five of the same sites identified in the Basalt Canyon Exploration Project plan.  This is called the Basalt Canyon Slim Hole Exploration Project.

The exploration area consists federal geothermal leases CA-11667 and CA-14408 located within Section 31, Township 3, South, Range 28 east (T3S, R28E), and section 36, T3S, R27E, Mount Diablo Baseline and Meridian (MDB&M).

The EA was prepared in conformance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act.   Comments should be sent to Steve Addington, Field Manager, Bishop Field Office, 785 N. Main St. Suite E., Bishop CA, 93514, or Kathleen Morse, District Ranger, Mammoth/Mono Lake Ranger District, P.O. Box 148, Mammoth Lakes CA 93546-0148.  Comments must be received by January 4, 2002. 

- BLM -