News Release

For Release: March 14, 2008                                                              
Contact:  Stephen Razo 951-697-5217; email: srazo@ca.blm.gov
CA-CDD-08-29

BLM Releases US Gypsum Environmental Impact Report/Statement

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the US Gypsum Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) / Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

Imperial County, the lead State agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and BLM, the lead Federal agency under the NEPA, jointly published the Final EIS/EIR. 

The US Gypsum facilities consist of the Plaster City plant, which produces wallboard and related gypsum products, located 18 miles west of El Centro; an 8.5 mile water supply line extending from a well field near the community of Ocotillo; the Plaster City quarry, located about 26 miles north of the Plaster City plant; and a 3.5 mile water pipeline and power cable between  a proposed well and the quarry  The project entails expanded and upgraded facilities at the plant to increase wallboard production capacity with related increases in water supply.  BLM’s involvement consists of responding to right-of-way applications for replacement of the existing 8.5 mile water supply line and amendment to the tram road right-of-way authorizing a water pipeline and power cable from a well on their property to the quarry.
 
The public assisted Imperial County and BLM in identifying key issues in this area through a formal scoping process conducted in 2002.  The draft EIR/EIS was released in April, 2006 with over 550 public comments received by the comment deadline. Publication of the availability initiates the 30-day appeal period.

Paper and digital (compact disk) copies of the FEIR/FEIS are available at the BLM El Centro Field Office, 1661 S. 4th Street, El Centro, CA and at the California BLM State Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA  95825.  The document is also available online at www.ca.blm.gov/elcentro.

For further information, contact Erin Dreyfuss, BLM El Centro Field Office, (760) 337-4436.

-BLM-

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