BLM Nevada News
ELY DISTRICT OFFICE NO. 2009-19
FOR RELEASE:  Friday, Jan. 2, 2009
CONTACT:  Chris Hanefeld, (775) 289-1842; chris_hanefeld@nv.blm.gov

BLM Seeks Public Comment on Ely Energy Center DEIS

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ely District Office has released the Ely Energy Center Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for public comment.

The BLM has scheduled four public comment meetings in Nevada from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Dates and locations are:
• Thursday, Feb. 5, Airport Plaza Hotel, 1981 Terminal Way, Reno
• Tuesday, Feb. 10, Sahara West Library, 9600 West Sahara, Las Vegas
• Wednesday, Feb. 11, Bristlecone Convention Center, 150 6th Street, Ely
• Thursday, Feb. 12, Red Lion Hotel, 2065 Idaho Street, Elko

The 90-day formal public comment process concludes at 5 p.m., Friday, April 3, 2009.  Interested individuals should address all written comments to the BLM Ely District Office, HC 33 Box 33500, Ely, NV 89301-9408 Attn: EEC Project Manager.  E-mail comments to EEC_DEIS@blm.gov.

The DEIS evaluates impacts that a proposed 1,500-megawatt coal-fired power plant and associated facilities would have on human, natural and cultural resources, and identifies measures to mitigate or reduce the impacts.  The electric power generating facility, proposed by NV Energy (formerly Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific Power), would be located in the Steptoe Valley Hydrographic Basin, north of Ely, in White Pine County, Nev.  The project proposal includes two 500 kV transmission lines, of approximately 250 miles each, that would connect NV Energy’s southern and northern electrical transmission systems.  BLM will ultimately decide whether to issue the rights-of-way necessary for the proponent to construct and operate the power plant, transmission lines and other associated facilities; and subsequently sell the 2,500-acre power plant site to the proponent.

The DEIS and associated documents are available for review at the White Pine County Library, 950 Campton Street, Ely; Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas; University of Nevada-Reno, Getchell Library, Government Publication Department, Reno; and Washoe County Library, 301 South Center Street, Reno.  The DEIS is also available at the following BLM offices:  Ely District Office, 702 North Industrial Way, Ely; Elko District Office, 3900 Idaho Street, Elko; Southern Nevada District Office, 4701 North Torrey Pines, Las Vegas; Nevada State Office, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Reno; and Washington Office of Public Affairs, 18th and C Street, NW, Washington, DC.  The DEIS may be downloaded at: http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/ely_field_office/blm_programs/energy/egan_energy_projects/ely_energy_center/ely_energy_center.html.

Click here to view the Public Notice Flyer

For more information, contact BLM Project Manager Joe Incardine at (801) 524-3833.

-BLM-