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What Will Be in the Solar Energy Development Programmatic EIS
The Solar Energy Development Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) will evaluate potential impacts associated with the development and implementation of agency-specific programs for utility-scale solar energy development in six western states. Currently, two alternatives are planned for consideration in the PEIS.
What is the scope of the analysis in the Draft PEIS?
The proposed action in this PEIS is for the Agencies to develop and implement agency-specific programs that would facilitate environmentally responsible utility-scale solar energy development by establishing environmental policies and mitigation strategies related to solar energy development in six western states (Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah). The study area has been limited to these six states because they encompass the most prospective solar energy resources suitable for utility-scale development over the next 20 years.
Agency-Specific Programs
Through this PEIS, the BLM is considering whether to establish a Bureau-wide solar energy development program to supplement or replace the existing policy, and to amend land use plans in the six-state study area to adopt the new program. In addition, the BLM expects to identify BLM-administered land that may be environmentally suitable for solar energy development and land that would be excluded from such development. The PEIS will also consider whether designation of additional electricity transmission corridors on BLM-administered lands is necessary to facilitate utility-scale solar energy development.
Similarly, through this PEIS the DOE is considering developing a solar energy deployment program of environmental policies and mitigation strategies that would provide guidance applicable to the deployment of all solar energy projects that are DOE-funded. Policies and mitigation measures adopted as part of the proposed solar energy deployment program would identify for the DOE, industry, and stakeholders the best practices for deploying solar energy and ensuring minimal impact to natural and cultural resources on BLM-administered lands or other Federal, State, tribal, or private lands.
Lands Excluded from the PEIS
Public lands withdrawn or set aside for use by another Federal agency over which the BLM does not have administrative jurisdiction will not be considered by BLM to authorize solar energy development. The PEIS will not include lands within the National Landscape Conservation System, such as National Conservation Areas, National Monuments, Wilderness Areas, Wilderness Study Areas, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and National Historic and Scenic Trails. The PEIS also will not include lands that the BLM has previously identified in its land use plans as environmentally sensitive, such as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern or other special management areas, that are inappropriate for or inconsistent with extensive, surface- disturbing uses.
Site-Specific Environmental Review
The intention of the PEIS is not to eliminate the need for site-specific environmental review for individual utility-scale solar energy development proposals. Site-specific environmental reviews are expected to be tiered to the PEIS and to be more effective and efficient because of the PEIS.
For the 24 solar energy study areas, the BLM intends to complete as much of the site-specific upfront environmental analysis as possible in order to determine whether these areas are appropriate for designation as solar energy zones.
What alternatives will be analyzed in the Solar Energy Development PEIS?
Concurrent with the addition of analysis of study areas to the PEIS, the alternatives to be analyzed have been revised. Currently two alternatives are planned for consideration in the PEIS, a no action alternative and a program development alternative.
No Action Alternative
The PEIS will address the no action alternative of:
- for the DOE, not establishing a program of environmental policies and mitigation strategies that would be applicable to solar energy deployment funded by its programs and
- for the BLM, not establishing a Bureau-wide solar energy development program, not amending its land use plans, and not identifying land that is environmentally suitable for solar energy development or land that would be excluded from such development.
Under the no-action alternative, the DOE and the BLM would continue to evaluate solar energy projects on a case-by-case basis (and, for the BLM, in accordance with the requirements of the Solar Energy Development Policy, Instruction Memorandum No. 2007-097).
Program Development Alternative
The PEIS will evaluate a program development alternative (proposed action) that includes the establishment of
- for the DOE, a solar energy deployment program of environmental policies and mitigation strategies that would be applicable to solar energy development funded by the DOE and
- for the BLM, a Bureau-wide solar energy program and the amendment of individual BLM land use plans to address future development of solar energy resources on BLM-administered lands.
For this alternative, the Agencies will create a reasonably foreseeable development (RFD) scenario to define the potential for future utility-scale solar energy development activities over a 20-year study period. For the BLM, this process will identify which BLM land use plans might be amended. Examples of possible amendments to land use plans include the (1) adoption of stipulations (e.g., wildlife management guidelines) applicable to solar energy development projects, and (2) identification of lands with high solar energy development potential, including the designation of lands where a competitive process for authorizing solar energy development may be applicable. This alternative includes the designation of some areas as solar energy zones.
What solar energy technologies will be evaluated in the Solar Energy Development PEIS?
The PEIS will analyze potential environmental impacts associated with the development, operation, and decommissioning of utility-scale solar energy projects; i.e. solar energy projects that can generate 10 MW or more of electricity to be put directly into the electricity transmission grid. The following technologies will be included in the PEIS analysis:
- Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)
- trough (including with Fresnel lens)
- dish
- tower
- Photovoltaic (PV) - flat panel and concentrating
See the Utility-Scale Solar Energy and Electric Transmission Guide for more information about these utility-scale solar energy technologies.
What impacts and issues will be addressed in the Solar Energy Development PEIS?
Preliminary issues and management concerns have been identified by Agency personnel, other agencies, and in meetings with individuals and user groups as significant issues associated with utility-scale solar energy development.
As currently envisioned, the PEIS will evaluate direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts to:
- Land Use (such as proximity to wilderness or other special management areas)
- Soil and Geological Resources
- Water Resources
- Air Quality and Climate
- Acoustic Environment
- Ecological Resources (including threatened, endangered, and sensitive species)
- Visual Resources
- Paleontological and Cultural Resources
- Socioeconomic Resources
- Environmental Justice
- Transportation
- Hazardous Materials and Waste Management
- Health and Safety
What are land use plans?
A land use plan is a set of decisions that establish management direction for land within a BLM administrative area, as prescribed under the planning provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA); it is an assimilation of land-use-plan-level decisions developed through the planning process outlined in 43 CFR 1600, regardless of the scale at which the decisions were developed. The term includes both resource management plans (RMPs) and management framework plans (MFPs). Land use plan decisions establish desired outcomes and actions needed to achieve them. Decisions are made using the planning process defined in 43 CFR 1600.
The land use planning process is the key tool used by the BLM to protect resources and designate the BLM uses on BLM-administered lands. These plans help ensure that the public lands are managed in accordance with applicable laws and regulations under the principles of multiple use and sustained yield; recognizing the Nation's need for domestic sources of minerals, food, timber, and fiber while protecting the quality of scientific, scenic, historical, ecological, environmental, air and atmospheric, water, and archaeological values.
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