Carson City District
| Contacts: | Lisa Ross | , 775-885-6107 | , lross@blm.gov |
BLM Seeking Public Comments on the Tungsten Mountain Geothermal Exploration Projects Environmental Assessment
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City District-Stillwater Field Office, is seeking public comments on an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Tungsten Mountain Geothermal Exploration Project proposed by Ormat Technologies Inc., in Edwards Creek Valley, Churchill County, about 36 miles west of Austin, Nev. The BLM will accept public comments on the EA through close of business on February 28, 2012.
The proposed geothermal exploration project consists of approximately 4,880 acres of public lands within the lease area. Ormat would limit geothermal exploration activities to a smaller area (referred to as the project area) within the lease area. The project area is approximately 610 acres. The EA analyzes potential impacts from the proposed exploration and testing activities proposed by Ormat. The primary objective of the project is to further evaluate the characteristics of the geothermal resources in the Tungsten Mountain Project Area.
The proposed activities include:
• Construction of a new access roads
• Upgrading existing access roads and mineral material pits
• Constructing of up to 27 well pads
• Drilling exploration, temperature gradient and observation wells
• Two water supply wells
• Production wells may be drilled if commercial potential is present
• A total of 27 geothermal wells and one or more water supply wells at one or more drill sites
The EA is available on-line at: www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/carson_city_field/blm_information/nepa.html. Written comments should be addressed to Steve “Chip” Kramer, Planning & Environmental Coordinator, BLM-Stillwater Field Office, 5665 Morgan Mill Road, Carson City, NV 89701. Comments may also be sent via e-mail to skramer@blm.gov.
For more information, please call Steve Kramer at 775-885-6005.
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.
Carson City District 5665 Morgan Mill Road Carson City, NV 89701