CASE FILE NUMBERS: CACA-51645, CACA-523359
DOCUMENT NUMBERS: CA-670-2010-062, DOI-BLM-CA-D070-2011-0007

General Description of the Project

CSOLAR Development, LLC has submitted two right-of-way (ROW) applications. The first application is to construct, operate, and maintain a 230 kV transmission line, and the second application is for a road ROW across Federal lands along the Westside Main Canal. The electric generating facility would connect to the Imperial Valley Substation via 230 kV transmission line and access to the facility would be along the Westside Main Canal.

The Proposed Action consists of three primary components: 1) the construction and operation of the 200 Megawatt Imperial Solar Energy Center South solar energy facility; 2) the construction and operation of the electrical transmission lines that would connect from the solar power facility to the existing Imperial Valley substation; 3) the widening of an existing access road for ingress and egress to the Solar facility across Federal and private lands located along the west side of the Westside Main Canal. The electricity generation process associated with the Proposed Action would utilize solar technology to convert sunlight directly into electricity. As part of the project, the facility would interconnect to the utility grid at the 230 kV side of the Imperial Valley Substation via an approximately five-mile long transmission line. The proposed right-of-way (ROW) for the electrical transmission line corridor would be 120-feet wide. The project proponent is also requesting construction and operational access to the solar energy facility via use of an existing dirt road located along the west side of the Westside Main Canal, located within BLM and private lands .

The site of the proposed solar energy facility is located on 946.6 gross acres of privately-owned, undeveloped and agricultural lands, in the unincorporated Mt. Signal area of the County of Imperial, approximately eight miles southwest of the City of El Centro and south of the community of Seeley. The proposed transmission lines and access road would be located within the Yuha Desert, and within BLM’s Utility Corridor “N” of the California Desert Conservation Area plan. Imperial County is located in Southern California, bordering Mexico, west of Arizona, and east of San Diego County. 

Public Comments

The comment period for the Imperial Solar Energy Center - South Final Environmental Impact Report / Environmental Assessment (FEIR/EA) has closed.  All public comments on the FEIR/EA received by close of business on May 26, 2011 will be considered.

Associated News Releases and Notices

7/14/11	Salazar Approves Major Renewable Energy Projects, Identifies Next Step in Solar Energy Development

For more information, contact the Bureau of Land Management El Centro Field Office.

Authorization Documents

Right-of-Way Grant 0.5Mb

Decision Record  2.8Mb

Finding of No Significant Impact 0.1Mb

Final EIR/EA

Cover Title, Table of Contents and Executive Summary; 0.8Mb

Chapter 1 Introduction; 0.1Mb

Chapter 2 Proposed Action; 4.5Mb

Chapter 3 Affected Environment; 5.3Mb

Chapter 4 Environmental Consequences; 8.2Mb

Chapter 5 Cumulative Impacts; 2.2Mb

Chapter 6 Other CEQA Required Considerations; 0.1Mb

Chapter 7 Effects Found Not to be Significant; 0.1Mb

Chapter 8 List of Preparers; 0.1Mb

Chapter 9 References; 0.1Mb

CEQA Findings  0.2Mb

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program  0.4Mb

Response to Comments  8.3Mb

Appendix A Notice of Preparation and Responses; 2.4Mb

Appendix B Traffic Impact Analysis

Appendix C Air Quality/Greenhouse Gas Assessments; 3.0Mb

Appendix D Geotechnical Investigation Report; 6.5Mb

Appendix E Construction Acoustical Site Assessment; 1.6Mb

Appendix F LESA; 1.0Mb

Appendix G Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment

Appendix H1 Preliminary CEQA Level Drainage Study; 10.9Mb

Appendix H2  Preliminary Water Quality Report; 5.3Mb

Appendix I Biological Reports and Surveys; 15Mb

Appendix J Project Design Features; 0.1Mb

Appendix K Memorandum Of Agreement; 1.1Mb

 

Draft EIR/EA

Cover Title, Table of Contents and Executive Summary; 1.1Mb

Chapter 1 Introduction; 0.3Mb

Chapter 2 Proposed Action; 4.4Mb

Chapter 3 Affected Environment; 4.1Mb

Chapter 4 Environmental Consequences; 4.9Mb

Chapter 5 Cumulative Impacts; 0.9Mb

Chapter 6 Other CEQA Required Considerations; 0.3Mb

Chapter 7 Effects Found Not to be Significant; 0.3Mb

Chapter 8 List of Preparers; 0.2Mb

Chapter 9 References; 0.2Mb

Related Links

Project Vitals

Federal Process & Documents

BLM CDD Renewable Energy

Imperial County Planning and Development

Understanding the NEPA Process