Bureau of Land Management's Decision Record and Environmental

Jersey Valley Geothermal Development Project
Environmental Assessment: NV063-EAO8-091
these activities would be “lost” until reclaimed. General human activity and generated noise
could also keep some animals away from habitat not directly affected by surface disturbance.
The amount of this direct and indirect surface disturbance expected from the cumulative projects
is a small portion of the CESA. There is comparable wildlife habitat in the vicinity and region,
and wildlife should be able to move away from small areas of direct disturbance and into
adjacent suitable habitat. Reclamation of disturbed areas, as proposed by the Project, could
reestablish habitat for wildlife.
Threatened and Endangered Species
As the proposed Project would have no effect on threatened and endangered species, there would
be no cumulative impacts.
Special Status Species
The activities associated with the RFFAs would not be allowed in areas where there would be a
negative impact on special status species. Implementation of mitigation measures, as identified
for the proposed Project, could help to reduce the potential for adverse effects if also
implemented for the other actions.
Migratory Birds
The amount of surface disturbance which may be created within the CESA by the RFFAs would
be a very small portion of the CESA. Mitigation measure(s) requiring inventories for migratory
bird nests and limiting ground disturbing activities, if conducted during the migratory bird
nesting season, would help to reduce the potential adverse effects if also implemented for the
other actions.
4.4.5 Invasive, Nonnative Species
Past and present actions may and have the potential to introduce and contribute to the spread of
noxious weeds, invasive and nonnative species (seed and vegetative plant parts) within the
CESA, and the same may be expected from the RFFAs. Ongoing mineral exploration activities
would cause the most extensive surface disturbance and would present the greatest opportunity
for noxious weed, invasive and nonnative species introduction and proliferation. The number and
size of construction vehicles and construction activities could lend themselves to transporting
noxious weeds, invasive and nonnative species (seed and vegetative plant parts) to areas where
they had not previously existed.
Mitigation measures include the inventory and treatment of newly disturbed areas and the
washing of construction vehicles and workers’ boots to help reduce the potential effects.
Additionally, impacts would be reduced when reclamation (reseeding/re-vegetation) activities
commence.
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