Bureau of Land Management's Decision Record and Environmental

Jersey Valley Geothermal Development Project
Environmental Assessment: NV063-EAO8-091
4.4.6 Soils
Additional impacts to soils could be expected to occur from additional mineral exploration and
other activities within the CESA. Additional roads could be constructed and mineral exploration
holes drilled. Each of these activities would disturb the soils in the affected areas, which would
be “lost” until reclaimed following completion of the Project. Mitigation measure(s) requiring
the salvaging of topsoil could help reduce the potential effects if implemented for the other
actions.
4.4.7 Vegetation
Each of the cumulative activities would disturb and/or remove vegetation in the CESA.
Mitigation measure(s) requiring timely reclamation and re-seeding of disturbed areas, as
proposed by the Project, would reduce impacts to vegetation. The contribution of the proposed
Project to these cumulative effects on vegetation would be minimal.
4.4.8 Water Quality and Quantity
Impacts to water quality could be expected to occur from additional mineral exploration and
other activities within the CESA. Additional roads could be constructed and mineral exploration
holes drilled. Each of these activities would have the potential to degrade surface water quality in
the affected areas, although measures requiring the implementation of best management practices
for erosion and sedimentation could help reduce the potential effects if implemented for the other
actions. None of the past, present or reasonably foreseeable future actions would add any
potential for impacts to the hot springs identified for the Proposed Action.
4.4.9 Wastes (Hazardous and Solid)
The transportation, use, storage and disposal of hazardous materials and wastes are subject to
numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations which are intended to protect the public
and the environment, and which are applicable to all of these past, present and RFFAs.
Hazardous materials are expected to be used by both the mineral exploration and activities
proposed under the Plan of Operations project, including petroleum fuels (principally diesel
fuel), hydraulic fluid, lubricants and drilling chemicals and materials. Additional non-hazardous
solid waste and liquids would also be generated by the reasonably foreseeable future projects.
Proper handling, storage and disposal of the proposed action hazardous materials, hazardous
wastes and solid wastes in conformance with federal and state regulations would ensure that no
soil, ground water or surface water contamination would occur from the proposed action. Thus,
the potential for cumulative impacts from the hazardous or solid wastes produced by the
proposed action would be minimal.
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