Bureau of Land Management's Decision Record and Environmental

Finding of No Significant Impact
For
Jersey Valley Geothermal Development Project
DOI-BLM-NV-063-EAO8-091
Environmental Assessment (EA), DOI-BLM-NV-063-EAO8-091. dated April, 2010, has been
reviewed through the interdisciplinary team process; as well as being sent to the Nevada State
Clearinghouse and the public for a 15 day comment period. The EA was sent to 99 individuals,
groups and companies, including the County Commissioners for Lander and Pershing Counties;
and the Lander County Public Land Use Advisory Committee (PLUAC) that had stated an
interest in the project. After consideration of the environmental effects of the Bureau of Land
Management’s (BLM’s) preferred alternative (proposed action) described in the EA and
supporting documentation, it has been determined that the proposed action identified in the EA is
not a major Federal action and will not significantly affect the quality of the human environment;
individually or cumulatively with other actions in the general area. No environmental effects
meet the definition of significance in context or intensity as described in 40 CFR 1508.27.
Therefore, preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not required as per section
102(2) (c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Land Use Plan Conformance
It has been determined that the proposed action is in conformance with the Winnemucca
District’s Sonoma-Gerlach Management Framework Plan dated July, 1982.
The Jersey Valley area is subject to the BLM Winnemucca District Office’s Sonoma-Gerlach
Management Framework Plan (MEP), dated July 9, 1982. Objective M-5 of the MFP states
“Make energy resources available on all public lands and other lands containing federally owned
minerals.” The MFP provides for the development of geothermal resources in noncompetitive
areas and all Known Geothermal Resource Areas (KGRAs) except those which are areas of
significant environmental conflict or have historical and/or cultural significance.
It has been determined that the proposed action is in conformance with the approved Shoshone
Eureka Resource Management Plan of March, 1986.
The northern half of the proposed transmission line is administered by the BLM through the
Mount Lewis Field Office (MLFO). The transmission line area is subject to the BLM
Shoshone-Eureka Resource Management Plan (RMP), which was approved in 1986.
Part II, Section E, “Management Actions Not Expressly Addressed by the Resource Management
Plan,” of the RMP includes the section “Minerals Objectives and Management Decisions,”
brought forward unaltered from the earlier BLM “Management Framework Plan” (Record of
Decision, page 29). Minerals Objectives 1, 2 and 3 lead to Management Decision #2 (Leaseable
Minerals - Geothermal Steam). The three objectives are:
FONS
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