BLM NEWS RELEASE
CARSON CITY — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City District Office-Sierra Front Field Office, in cooperation with Great Basin Wind LLC, anticipates beginning the environmental impact statement (EIS) process for proposed New Comstock Wind Energy Project during mid 2011. The proposed wind energy project, first proposed in 2008 and still considered in the scoping phase, would be located in the Virginia Range north of Carson City, Nevada
Great Basin Wind LLC is currently conducting a third year of environmental studies for the proposed project and is also revising their right-of-way application by altering the specific BLM-administered lands proposed to be used for the wind energy development and the number/location of specific wind turbines. This is being done primarily to address concerns raised by the public during early project scoping in late 2008 – early 2009. This revised proposal (including a revised project map) will be presented to the public and cooperating agencies during mid 2011 (meeting sites/locations are yet to be determined).
During mid 2011, the BLM anticipates selecting a third party EIS contractor to prepare an EIS to analyze the impacts (direct, indirect, and cumulative) resulting from construction of the project and address issues brought forth through scoping. A range of alternatives and mitigating measures will be considered to evaluate and minimize environmental impacts and to assure that the proposed actions do not result in undue or unnecessary degradation of public lands.
Federal, State, and local agencies and other individuals or organizations that may be interested in or affected by the BLM decision on the New Comstock Wind Energy Project are being urged to participate in the EIS process. It is important that those interested in the proposed activities participate in the scoping and commenting processes of the EIS.
For further information, visit the project website at http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/carson_city_field/blm_programs/planning/new_comstock_wind.html or to have your name added to the New Comstock Wind Energy Project EIS mailing list, please contact [email protected] at 775-885-6000, or alternate e-mail to [email protected].
