Bureau of Land Management's Decision Record and Environmental

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Jersey Valley Geothermal Development Project Environmental Assessment: NV063-EAO8-09 1 utilize the hot springs within the Jersey Valley Unit Area as there would be no affect on the quality or quantity of the surface or ground waters in the Unit Area (see Section 3.9.2) or the surrounding environment. The Project does not propose any activity which would prevent continued access by recreational users to the public lands within the Jersey Valley Unit Area and proposed transmission line corridor. Project operations should also not impact the ability of hunters to access previous hunting grounds, or impact the abundance of game animals. Air quality impacts to recreation users could include dust from vehicle traffic on unpaved roads and exhaust from construction vehicles. As discussed in Section 3.2.2, these would be short-term and temporary. Ormat has also stated that water would be applied to the disturbed ground during the construction activities as necessary to control dust (see Section 2.1.11). Project-generated noise and traffic could cause some recreational users within the Jersey Valley Unit Area and proposed transmission line corridor to stay away during the Project construction and drilling activities. These indirect effects would be temporary and short-term. The Project should have no residual impacts on recreation. 3.13.2.2 Alternative 1 The impacts of Alternative 1 to Recreation would not be different from that of the Proposed Action. 3.14 VISUAL RESOURCES 3.14.1 Affected Environment The BLM initiated the visual resource management (VRM) process to manage the quality of landscapes on public land and to evaluate the potential impacts to visual resources resulting from development activities. VRM class designations are determined by assessing the scenic value of the landscape, viewer sensitivity to the scenery, and the distance of the viewer to the subject landscape. These management classes identify various permissible levels of landscape alteration, while protecting the overall visual quality of the region. They are divided into four levels (Classes I, II, III, and IV). Class I is the most restrictive and Class IV is the least restrictive (BLM 1986). The entire Jersey Valley Unit Area and proposed transmission line corridor are located in a VRM Class IV area (BLM, MLFO 2006b). The objective of Class IV is to provide for management activities that require major modification of the existing landscape character. The level of change to the characteristic landscape can be high. Management activities may dominate the view and be the major focus of viewer attention. Every attempt, however, should be made to minimize the impact of these activities through careful location, minimal disturbance, and repeating the basic landscape elements (BLM 1986). - 78 -
Jersey Valley Geothermal Development Project Environmental Assessment: NV063-EAO8-091 3.14.2 Environmental Consequences 3.14.2.1 Proposed Action During the 45-day drilling operations the drill rig may extend up to about 175 feet above ground level. These operations will be 24-hour per day, 7 days per week. During drilling operations, the rig will be visible at distances of greater than one mile from the respective drill sites, and lights used when drilling at night would increase rig visibility. Impacts to visual resources from drilling operations would primarily affect the elements of line and color. Drilling operations will be temporary and short-term. The following mitigation measure is recommended to reduce visual impacts during drilling operations. Mitigation Measure All drill rig and well test facility lights would be limited to those required to safely conduct the operations, and would be shielded and/or directed in a manner which focuses direct light to the immediate work area. Most power plant facilities will be single story and will not be visible at a distance from the power plant site(s). The tallest permanent structure on each power plant site will be the air-cooled condensers estimated to be about 35± feet tall. Within the transmission line corridor the single poles would be up to 70 feet tall and would be spaced about 3 00-400 feet apart. The proposed transmission line generally parallels an existing distribution line or the existing County Road. The transmission line will be visually apparent in the foreground to travelers along the County Road. The transmission line will add an extended linear feature to the landscape. Project activities would be consistent with the Class IV classification of the area. The following mitigation measures are recommended to reduce the visual impacts to permanent project related facilities within the Jersey Valley Unit Area. Mitigation Measure Permanent project facilities within the Jersey Valley Unit Area would be painted a color, subject to approval by the authorized officer, which would blend with the landscape (likely covert green). Prior to painting, Ormat would contact the Mount Lewis Field Office project lead. Permanent project facilities within the Jersey Valley Unit Area would be limited to those required to safely conduct the operations, and would be shielded and/or directed in a manner which focuses direct light to the immediate work area. - 79 -
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In Reply Refer To: N-881 18 3200 (N
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The BLM MLFO has determined that in
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APPEAL PROVISIONS Decisions may be
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Al. Vicinity Map A2. Unit Map A3. R
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tsgend Al Unit Map • B. sflpa Wta
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ATFACHMENT B ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSME
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Ormat Nevada, Inc. Jersey Valley Ge
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Jersey Valley Geothermal Developmen
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Figure 3: Jersey Valley Unit Area a
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LEGEND I Jersey Valley Staging Area
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The EA’s mitigation and permit ap
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Form 2800- Issuing Office 14 (Augus
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I Table 1: Legal Description of Tra
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Jersey Valley Master Title Plat and
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— Figure 12: Jersey Valley Unit A
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9. The Holder shall comply with all
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shall be supported by a stipulation
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Form 2800- 14 (August 1985) UNITED
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Table 1: Legal Description of Trans
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Buffalo Valley (NVN-83484X) E Jerse
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May 10, 2010 N-87409 EXHIBIT B 1.0
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approved in writing by the Authoriz
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May 10, 2010 N-88390 EXHIBIT B 1.0
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shall be supported by a stipulation
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Form 2800- 14 (August 1985) UNITED
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The Authorized Officer must approve
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Attachment E CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
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Migratory Birds Attachment E CONDIT
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Migratory Birds Attachment E CONDIT
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Lands & Realty Attachment E CONDITI
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ATTACHMENT F EA COMMENT RESPONSES T
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for increased patrols to the Jersey
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