Salt Wells Geothermal Drilling EA-NV-030-07-05 (February 2007)

There are four stages of geothermal resource development within a lease: (1) exploration, (2) development, (3) production, and (4) closeout.  Each of the four stages under the lease requires separate BLM authorization and compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) when ground-disturbing activities are proposed.  

As described in Chapter 2, this environmental assessment (EA) addresses the proposed exploration of geothermal resources in the Carson Lake Basin Project LLC (Vulcan Power) Salt Wells lease area (project area), near Fallon, Nevada.

Because the proposed action considered in this EA, exploratory drilling in the project area, requires BLM authorization, it is considered a federal action; therefore, NEPA analysis is required.  This EA has been prepared in accordance with the NEPA, the Council on Environmental Quality regulations implementing NEPA, and the FLPMA.

EA Chapters & Figures:

Finding of No Significant Impact & Decision Record (2/6/2007)

Cover
Cover - Back page mission statement
Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - Introduction/Purpose and Need

Chapter 2 - Proposed Action

Chapter 3 - Affected Environment/Introduction
Chapter 3.1 - Land Use
Chapter 3.2 - Soils, Geology & Minerals
Chapter 3.3 - Water Resources
Chapter 3.4 - Vegetation
Chapter 3.5 - Wildlife Resources
Chapter 3.6 - Federally Listed Endangered and Threatened Species
Chapter 3.7 - Range Resources
Chapter 3.8 - Visual Resources
Chapter 3.9 -  Public Health & Safety
Chapter 3.10 - Air Quality
Chapter 3.11 - Recreation/Special Designations
Chapter 3.12 - Socioeconomics and Social Justice
Chapter 3.13 - Cultural Resources
Chapter 3.14 - Native American Trust Assets

Chapter 4 - Impact Analysis
Chapter 4.1 - Land Use
Chapter 4.2 - Soils, Geology and Minerals
Chapter 4.3 - Water Resources
Chapter 4.4 - Vegetation
Chapter 4.5 - Wildlife Resources
Chapter 4.6 - Federally Listed Endangered and Threatened Species
Chapter 4.7 - Range Resources
Chapter 4.8 - Visual Resources
Chapter 4.9 - Public Health & Safety
Chapter 4.10 - Air Quality
Chapter 4.11 - Recreation/Special Designations
Chapter 4.12 - Socioeconomics and Social Justice
Chapter 4.13 - Cultural Resources
Chapter 4.14 - Native American Trust Assets
Chapter 4.15 - Cummulative Impacts

Chapter 5 - Consultation & Coordination

Chapter 6 - References

Chapter 7 - List of Acronyms

Figure 1-1 Site Location
Figure 2-1 Proposed Action Site Map
Figure 2-2 Proposed Well Pad rev
Figure 3-1 Geologic Map
Figure 3-2 Potential Wash Points

USFWS List of Nevada's Endangered, Threatened, Proposed & Candidate Species by County