Solar Energy Development Programmatic EIS Schedule

Preparation of the Solar Energy Development Programmatic EIS (PEIS) is a multistep process.

Preparation of the Solar Energy Development Programmatic EIS (PEIS) is a multistep process. The process will include:

• public and agency scoping;
• coordination and consultation with Federal, State, and local agencies and tribal governments;
• publication of a draft PEIS;
• public review of the draft PEIS; and
• publication of a final PEIS.

The availability of the draft PEIS and dates for public meetings soliciting comments on it will be announced in the Federal Register, local media, and this Web site. Comments on the draft PEIS will be considered in preparing the final PEIS.

PEIS Schedule Update

The release of the Draft Solar Energy Development Programmatic EIS was originally scheduled for spring of 2009. The Bureau of Land Management and the Department of Energy have agreed to postpone completion of the Draft EIS in order to more closely align the proposed alternatives in the Draft EIS with Secretarial Order No. 3285 (issued March 11, 2009 by the Secretary of the Interior), which announced a policy goal of identifying and prioritizing specific locations best suited for large-scale production of solar energy. The BLM has announced the availability of maps that identify 24 tracts of BLM-administered land for in-depth study for solar development, and is requesting public comment on those study areas. The schedule for release of the draft PEIS will be determined after the evaluation of comments from the current scoping period addressing the solar energy study areas.

Public Involvement in the Solar EIS Process Public Scoping Draft Programmatic EIS Final Programmatic EIS Record of Decision What Happens: Gather Public Issues and Comments on Scope Consider Public Comments What Happens: Publish Draft Programmatic EIS Public Examination and Comment Period Consider Public Comments What Happens: Revise Draft Programmatic EIS Publish Final Programmatic EIS What Happens: Write and Publish Record of Decision May 2008–July 2008 July 2009–September 2009 To be determined. To be determined. To be determined. Public Involvement Activities: Public Scoping Meetings Submit Public Comments via Mail, Web, or in Person at Meetings Public Involvement Activities: Public Meetings Submit Public Comments via Mail, Web, or in Person at Meetings Public Involvement Activities: Public Distribution of Final EIS Public Involvement Activities: Public Distribution of Record of Decision