NEPA Number: DOI-BLM-WO-WO3500-2012-0001-RMP-EIS
Project Name: Solar Energy Development Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

Project Information 

  • NEPA Number
    DOI-BLM-WO-WO3500-2012-0001-RMP-EIS
  • Project Name
    Solar Energy Development Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
  • Project Type
    RMP Amendment - EIS
  • NEPA Status
    Completed - Completed
  • Lead Office
    WO-350
  • Last Updated


Project Description

What's New

Background
                     

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S Department of Energy (DOE) have jointly prepared this programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) to evaluate actions that the agencies are considering taking to further facilitate
utility-scale solar energy development in six southwestern states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah).  For the BLM, this includes the evaluation of a new Solar Energy Program applicable to solar development on BLM-administered lands. For DOE, it includes the evaluation of developing new guidance to further facilitate utility-scale solar energy developmentt and maximize the mitigation of associated environmental impacts. This Solar PEIS evaluates the potential environmental, social, and economic effects of the agencies’ proposed actions and alternatives in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality’s regulations for implementing NEPA (Title 40, Parts 1500–1508 of the Code of Federal Regulations [40 CFR Parts 1500–1508]), the DOI and DOE regulations for implementing NEPA (43 CFR Part 46 and 10 CFR Part 1021, respectively), and applicable BLM and DOE authorities.

The BLM Solar Energy Program establishes right-of-way authorization policies and design features applicable to all utility-scale solar energy development on BLM-administered lands. It identifies categories of lands to be excluded from utility-scale solar energy development and specific locations well suited for utility-scale production of solar energy where the BLM would prioritize development (i.e., solar energy zones or SEZs). The proposed action would also allow for responsible utility-scale solar development on lands outside of priority areas.

Up-to-date information on the implementation of solar energy development on public lands is available through the BLM's Solar Energy Program (Western Solar Plan) Web site at http://blmsolar.anl.gov/
 
Home
The Solar Energy Development Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement consists of the following documents.

Record of Decision (ROD)
Final Solar Energy Development Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Solar PEIS)
Solar Energy  Development Draft PEIS (Draft Solar PEIS)
Supplement to the Draft Solar PEIS

These documents are also located at http://solareis.anl.gov/

 
Contact Information
For questions and answers, please contact the nearest Bureau of Land Management office in your area.

Draft EIS Publication

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Final EIS Publication

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Project Location

City State/Territory Zip Code County(ies)
Sedona Arizona 86336

Application Information

Project Dates

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  • FONSI Date
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Notice of Intent Publication

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Record of Decision Publication

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Project Office Information

  • Lead Office
    WO-350
  • Offices
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  • Cooperating Agencies
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Contacts