Supplemental Draft Environmental Study Available for Proposed Ivanpah Solar Electric Generation System Project

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today released for public comment a supplemental draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generation Project on public land in San Bernardino County, Calif., near the Nevada state line adjacent to Interstate 15.

The supplemental DEIS is now open to public comment through May 31, 2010.  The BLM a will use public comments received to prepare a Final EIS, with a decision expected later in the year.

The supplemental draft is available online at http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/needles/nefo_nepa.html  or by contacting the Needles BLM Field Office, 101 W. Spikes Road, Needles CA 92363, or by  telephone, (760) 326-7000.

As a result of additional information since the release of the DEIS issued Nov. 10, 2009, the BLM decided to supplement the analysis of environmental impacts in the DEIS with the additional analysis of impacts associated with:
• a reduced project footprint; and
• a modified location for a portion of the facility.
The objective of this Supplemental Draft EIS (SDEIS) is to supplement the current DEIS with the development, evaluation of environmental impacts, and identification of mitigation measures for the Mitigated Ivanpah 3 Alternative and Modified I-15 Alternative, as additional alternatives to the proposed project.  The California Energy Commission is continuing its certification process independently from the BLM NEPA process through the consideration of the Mitigated Ivanpah 3 proposal in a Final Staff Assessment Addendum.

Further details can be found at the BLM renewable energy web page cited above or by contacting Tom Hurshman, BLM Project Manager, (970) 240-5345, or email ca690@ca.blm.gov.

California Desert District   22835 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553