General Description of the Project
Geothermal resources are underground reservoirs of hot water or steam created by heat from the earth. Geothermal steam and hot water can reach the surface of the earth in the form of hot springs, geysers, mud pots, or steam vents. These resources also can be accessed by wells, and the heat energy can be used for generating electricity or for other direct uses, such as heating greenhouses and aquaculture operations or for dehydrating vegetables.
Issuance of geothermal leases could have indirect impacts because such leasing represents a commitment of resources, and it is reasonably expected that subsequent exploration, development, production, and closeout activities would occur. Therefore, the Final EIS presents a broad scope analysis of the potential indirect and cumulative impacts from geothermal leasing.
Currently, five noncompetitive geothermal lease applications are pending with BLM on approximately 7,051 acres of Federal mineral estate within the proposed action area. Before BLM may make a decision as to whether or not to issue these leases and offer future leases in the project area, the lands must first be assessed under NEPA requirements and procedures established under the Council on Environmental Quality regulations. The BLM El Centro Field Office has prepared this EIS to assess the potential environmental impacts from geothermal exploration, development, and operations that could reasonably occur if the lands are leased.
Public Comments
The comment period for the Truckhaven Geothermal Leasing Area Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) has closed. Public comments on the DEIS received by close of business on April 30, 2007 were accepted.
Public Meetings and Hearings
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) scheduled three open houses to gather comments on the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS), which analyzed the proposed leasing of approximately 14,731 acres of BLM-managed public lands for geothermal exploration and development in the Truckhaven area located in western Imperial County.
The meetings were held at the following dates, times and locations:
- 3/20/07, 6p.m. - 8p.m., Borrego Springs Resort, Borrego Springs, CA
- 3/21/07, 12p.m. - 2p.m., West Shores Senior Center, Salton City, CA
- 3/21/07, 6p.m. - 8p.m., County Center II D & E, El Centro, CA
Four scoping meeting were also scheduled to gather public comments regarding preparation of the draft environmental impact statement (EIS).
The meetings were held at the following dates, times and locations:
- 8/2/05, 6p.m. - 8p.m., County Center II B & C, El Centro, CA
- 8/3/05, 6:30p.m. - 8:30p.m., Handlery Hotel & Resort, San Diego, CA
- 8/9/05, 6p.m. - 8p.m., Sea Port Marina Hotel, Long Beach, CA
- 8/10/05, 6p.m. - 8p.m., Embassy Suites Hotel, Anaheim, CA
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