Project Vitals

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SDG&E has requested a right-of-way authorization from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to construct and operate a photovoltaic solar energy facility on public land in southwest Imperial County, California.

The Ocotillo Sol Solar Energy Project would be constructed on an approximately 115-acre site located approximately nine miles southwest of El Centro, four miles south of Interstate 8, and 82 miles east of San Diego. An additional 15 acres would be temporarily disturbed during construction.

The project would be a 15-to 18-megawatt (MW) photovoltaic project (with peak capacity of 20 MW), with construction planned to begin in late spring 2012 if approved by the BLM. The project would utilize solar panels and would be built in a single phase. The project would connect to the existing SDG&E Imperial Valley Substation (IVS) to its immediate north via a buried 12.47-kV cable. The project would not require any expansion of the IVS, nor any upgrades to the existing transmission lines exiting the substation.

The EIS will be prepared by the BLM in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The EIS will analyze the site-specific impacts on air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, water resources, geological resources and hazards, hazardous materials handling, land use, noise, visual resources, and transmission system engineering and transmission line safety.

The California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan of 1980, as amended, requires that all sites associated with power generation or transmission not identified in the 1980 Plan will be considered through the plan amendment process. If the project is approved, a plan amendment will be necessary; the BLM will integrate the land use planning process with the NEPA process for this project.

Public Comments

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Publication of a Notice of Availability in today’s Federal Register initiates a 90-day public comment period for the EIS and possible plan amendment that ends July 19, 2012.  During the comment period, BLM will solicit public comment on issues, concerns, potential impacts, alternatives, and mitigation measures that should be considered in writing the Final EIS that will be released later this year.

Public Meeting and Hearings

Two public scoping meetings are scheduled to solicit public comment on issues, concerns, potential impacts, alternatives, and mitigation measures that should be considered in the analysis of the proposed action.

The meetings will be held at the following date, times and location: 

5/23/12	2PM - 4PM Imperial County Department of Social Services ("CalWorks") at 2895 S. 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243
5/23/12	6PM - 8PM Imperial County Department of Social Services ("CalWorks") at 2895 S. 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243

DEIS

Volume I

Chapters 1- 9 From Cover to Glossary; 3.85Mb

Volume II

Appendix Table of Contents 0.01Mb

Appendix A Figures; 4.65Mb

Appendix B Decommissioning Reclamation; 0.8Mb

Appendix C Biology; 0.3Mb

Appendix D Weed Plan; 1.62Mb

Appendix E Alternatives Analysis; 2.34Mb

Appendix F Plant Surveys; 1.49Mb

Appendix G Avian Winter Survey; 0.2Mb

Appendix H Avian Spring Survey; 0.2Mb

Appendix I FTHL Survey; 0.7Mb

Appendix J Burrowing Owl Survey; 0.02MB

Appendix K Paleo Survey; 0.1Mb

Appendix L Visual Analysis; 1.41Mb

Appendix M Scoping Report; 0.2Mb

Related Documents

Public Scoping Report

Geotechnical Field Work EA

Related Links

BLM CDD Renewable Energy

Understanding the NEPA Process