OVERVIEW
FINAL EIS NOW AVAILABLE
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposed action submitted by the Lincoln County Water District (LCWD) in 2005 to obtain rights-of-way across land managed by the BLM. If granted, the rights-of-way would authorize LCWD to construct groundwater facilities and ancillary utility infrastructure designed to pump and convey groundwater that has been permitted or may be permitted in the Clover Valley to Tule Desert Hydrographic Basins for use by LCWD customers. Specifically, the groundwater would be used to support residential, municipal, and industrial users in or near the Lincoln County Land Act (LCLA) development area north of Mesquite, NV. In addition, Southwest Gas Corporation is proposing to construct and operate a natural gas line and metering facility within the southernmost portion of the project corridor to serve planned development in the LCLA area. Project Construction is estimated to require between 18 and 24 months, and would begin upon completion of the NEPA process and acquisition of necessary permits and approvals. The proposed facilities and phases associated with this project are described below:
Water Facilities
Pipelines: Approximately 75 miles of transmission pipeline (main water line) and well field collection pipelines.
Wells: Up to 15 groundwater production wells in Clover Valley and up to 15 groundwater production wells in Tule Desert, for a total of up to 30 wells. Eighteen production or monitoring wells are currently used to monitor groundwater levels in the Tule Desert Hydrographic Basin. Additional monitoring wells may be constructed per terms and conditions associated with future water rights or Stipulated Agreements between the National Park Service and LCWD.
Storage Tanks: Two 100,000-gallon storage tanks in Clover Valley, one 300,000-gallon storage tank in Tule Desert, one 500,000-gallon storage tank near the proposed Toquop Power Plant, and one 4,000,000-gallon storage tank in the LCLA development area.
Booster Stations: Up to four booster stations, each including an above ground-set forebay storage tank with a capacity of up to 200,000 gallons and aboveground piping and pumping equipment contained within a booster station building.
Power Facilities
Power Lines: Approximately 23.5 miles of 138 kilovolt (kV) double-circuit overhead power lines located between the exiting Mesa Substation located north of Mesquite and the proposed Tule Substation; approximately 20 miles of 22.8 kV double-circuit overhead power lines located from the proposed Tule Substation to groundwater facilities in the Clover Valley; 22.8 kV and 4.16 kV overhead distribution lines to provide electric service to wells within the Tule Desert and Clover Valley Hydrographic Basins; 22.8 kV - 4,160/480-volt aboveground substations at each well site.
Electrical Substations: one substation in the Tule Desert
Natural Gas Facilities
Up to 16-inch natural gas pipeline between the proposed Toquop Energy Project and the LCLA development area
A new natural gas metering station (tie-in to the existing Kern River Natural Gas pipeline) located immediately east of the proposed Toquop plant site.
Ancillary Project Components
Fiber Optics Line installed within the pipeline trench
Extra Work Space: Up to 50 acres (temporary). Typical dimensions of 60 feet by 200 feet and 150 feet by 150 feet, located approximately every mile along the pipeline ROW. Some larger 1- to 2-acre extra work space areas may be designed to facilitate material storage or temporary offices.
- Construction Staging Areas: Up to 100 acres (temporary)
- Temporary and permanent access roads
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