Southern Nevada District/Pahrump Field Office
| Contacts: | Hillerie C. Patton | , 702-515-5046 | , hillerie_c_patton@blm.gov |
BLM Opens Scoping for Abengoa Solar Inc. Energy Project near Big Dune
Las Vegas, NV – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking comments on a solar energy project proposed near Big Dune in the Amargosa Valley south of Beatty, Nev. A Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the project, published in the Federal Register on, July 15, 2010 opening a 60-day public comment period that will end on September 12. Scoping meetings will be held in Amargosa Valley, Beatty, Pahrump, and Las Vegas.
The public is being asked to comment on Abengoa Solar, Inc.’s proposal to construct, operate, and maintain a parabolic-trough, dry-cooled concentrated solar power generation project on 5,336 acres of public land. The project will also contain a small photovoltaic facility for Abengoa’s use. Preliminary identification of issues includes impacts to off-highway vehicle use and desert tortoise habitat. Water use at the project will be limited to human consumption, dust suppression, and solar panel cleaning.
Public meetings are scheduled in southern Nev. on August 10, 11, and 12, 2010 in Beatty, Amargosa Valley, Pahrump, and Las Vegas from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.:
- Tuesday, August 10: Beatty Community Center Hall, 100 S. A Avenue, Beatty;
- Wednesday, August 11: Amargosa Valley Community Center, 821 E. Amargosa Farm Road, Amargosa Valley;
- Thursday, August 12: Pahrump Library, 701 East Street, Pahrump;
- Tuesday, August 17: BLM Southern Nevada District Office, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas.
The scoping meetings will be held in an open house format. During the first half hour, the public will be able to view displays describing the area and elements of the project and ask questions followed by a public comment session.
Written comments may be mailed to the BLM, Southern Nevada District, Renewable Energy Projects Manager, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130, or emailed to lwse_EIS@blm.gov. For more information, please call Greg Helseth at 702-515-5173.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Southern Nevada District/Pahrump Field Office 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive Las Vegas, NV 89130