News Release

For Release:  February 1, 2008                                                     
Contact:  Stephen Razo 951-697-5217; email: srazo@ca.blm.gov
 CA-CDD-08-22

BLM Releases Final EIS for Truckhaven Proposed Geothermal Project

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is announcing the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), analyzing the proposed leasing of approximately 14,731 acres of BLM-managed public lands for geothermal exploration and development in the Truckhaven area in western Imperial County.

The Truckhaven Geothermal Leasing Area is located north of State Route 78 and west and south of County Highway S-22.  According to El Centro Field Manager Vicki Wood, the main issues addressed in the Final EIS are geothermal resource leasing, recreation, and special status species.  Three alternatives are analyzed in the FEIS:  1) No action, which would not lease any geothermal resources; 2) leasing only lands with existing noncompetitive lease applications; and 3) the proposed action, which would offer all BLM managed lands within this area for lease, subject to certain stipulations and mitigation measures to be applied at the development stage.

Public comments on the Draft EIS received were incorporated into the FEIS through corrections, clarifying text, and the addition of new data used in the analysis of impacts.   The FEIS analyzes the impacts of long-range decisions for the use and management of geothermal resources in the planning area and management of other resources and uses potentially affected by geothermal resource management decisions.

Wood said the BLM will now prepare a Record of Decision for this project that will address only BLM’s decisions for public lands and resources administered by BLM.

A copy of the FEIS has been sent to affected Federal, State and local government agencies and interested parties.  The document is available electronically at http://www.ca.blm.gov/elcentro.  Copies of the FEIS are available for public inspection at the following BLM locations: California State Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1834, Sacramento, CA  95825; El Centro Field Office, 1661 S. 4th Street, El Centro, CA  92243 BLM’s California Desert District, 22835 Calle San Juan De Los Largos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553

Additional  information can be obtained from John Dalton, Truckhaven Geothermal Leasing Area EIS Project Manager, at (951) 691-5200, Bureau of Land Management, 22835 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA  92553; john_dalton@ca.blm.gov.

-BLM-

California Desert District Office – 22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553- (951) 697-5217