phoenix — The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comments to inform the development of an environmental analysis for the proposed Lane Gras Plain solar power project in western La Paz County, Arizona. If approved, the project is expected to generate up to 700 megawatts of renewable energy.
“Public input during the scoping period will be critical in developing planning standards for alternatives and environmental impact statements,” said William Mack, Colorado River District Manager. “The public, tribes, partners, agencies and stakeholders are all invited to provide input for consideration during the planning process.”
Once the BLM receives initial public and stakeholder feedback on the project, the agency will prepare a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) that evaluates the potential impacts of the proposed project and potential alternatives to the proposal. Create. These issues include tribal issues. Impact on endangered, endangered, and sensitive species. Socioeconomic impact. environmental justice. more.
The DEIS will be subject to additional public review and comment, and will also analyze mitigation measures to reduce environmental impacts and ensure that alternative measures do not result in unnecessary or unreasonable degradation of public lands. It is expected to be.
To preserve the status quo in the project area while this proposal was evaluated, BLM withdrew approximately 4,763 acres of public land from new claims under the Mining Act of 1872 for two years. This withdrawal does not affect existing mineral rights within the area.
A notice of intent published in the Federal Register on Thursday is scheduled to begin a 30-day public comment period that ends on Dec. 11, 2023. BLM will hold virtual scoping meetings in the following ways: zoom We will be collecting comments and providing information about the proposed project on November 30th from 6-7:30 p.m. More information, including maps and how to submit comments, is available at: BLM National NEPA Registration.
BLM manages vast tracts of public land that have the potential to significantly contribute to the nation's renewable energy portfolio. To advance clean energy goals, BLM provides green renewable energy development sites on public lands and new transmission routes to connect to the electric grid. These efforts to bring renewable energy from our nation's public lands support the Biden-Harris administration's goal of a carbon-free electricity sector by 2035 and the goal of authorizing 25 gigawatts of solar and wind power. It supports Congressional direction in the Energy Act of 2020. and start geothermal production on public lands by 2025 at the latest.
For more information, please contact Project Manager Derek Eysenbach at deysenbach@blm.gov or (602) 417-9505.
