Bureau of Land Management's Decision Record and Environmental

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In June 2007, Ormat created the Jersey Valley Federal Geothermal Unit (NVN-83483X), which is comprised of federal geothermal leases NVN-74881, NVN-74883, NVN-77481, NVN-77482 and NVN-77483, and is in Pershing and Lander Counties, Nevada. In November 2008, the BLM, HRFO approved an EA for the Jersey Valley II Geothermal Exploration Project, also for the drilling and testing of observation and full-sized wells and access road construction, as appropriate. In March 2010, pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding for the management of this project with the HRFO, Ormat submitted the Utilization Plan for the Jersey Valley geothermal power plant and the Plan of Developments (POD) for the power line and road to the BLM MLFO. In March 2010, Ormat submitted a draft Environmental Assessment for the Jersey Valley geothermal power plant, and right-of-ways for the transmission line and the road to the BLM MLFO. Environmental Assessment (EA), DOI-B LM-NV-063-EAO8-09 1, 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 individual interest groups and companies, including the County Commissioners for Lander and Pershing Counties and the Lander County Public Land Use Advisory Committee (PLUAC). Following the comment period, the MLFO received comments from the Nevada Department of Wildlife and Mike and Barb Stremler. The comment responses are included in Appendix F Comment Responses. There were no significant changes to the EA based on comments. Bonding is required (43 CFR 3273.19) in order to ensure that the operator performs all obligations of the lease contract, including but not limited to; royalty obligations, plugging wells, surface reclamation, and cleanup of abandoned operations. BLM may increase the required bond amount that was determined to be $100,000 for the Geothermal Power Plant and $1,175,000 for the ROW’s. Ormat Nevada Inc. relinquished the leases for the Buffalo Valley Geothermal Leases in May, 2010. The references and statements to the Buffalo Valley geothermal power plant have been withdrawn from the EA, DOI-BLM-NV-0630EA08-09 1. The withdrawing of the Buffalo Valley power plant from the EA will result in fewer impacts to resources (127 acres of total permanent disturbance with the Buffalo Valley Plant versus 82 acres of permanent disturbance minus the Buffalo Valley Plant). As a result, the MLFO amended the EA to reflect this revision to the analysis as well as incorporate public comments. The EA is attached for reference (Attachment B). DECISION I have concluded that the interests of the public would be best served by selecting the proposed action, of EA DOI-BLM-NV-063-EAO8-091 (Attachment B), dated April, 2010. 2
The BLM MLFO has determined that installation, construction, and operation of the Jersey Valley Geothermal Plant would not result in significant impacts to the environment and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not required based on the Environmental Assessment (EA) DOI-BLM-NV-063-EAO8-091(Attachment B) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) (Attachment C). Therefore, it is my decision to: 1. Approve Ormat Nevada Inc. Utilization Plan and Operations Plan for the Jersey Valley Geothermal Project with the required conditions of approval specified in Attachment E. We received Ormat’s Utilization Plan to construct, operate and maintain the Jersey Valley Geothermal Development Project (Jersey Valley Project) in March 2010. The Project includes the construction and operation of a geothermal power generating facility, geothermal well fields, geothermal production and injection pipelines, access roads and ancillary support facilities (Attachment A and B). The Jersey Valley geothermal project is located within the Jersey Valley geothermal unit, and encompasses approximately 8,470 acres of public and private lands in Sections 15-16, 20-22, 27- 29 and 32-34, Township 27 North, Range 40 east (T.27N. R.40E.), Mount Diablo Baseline and, Meridian (MDB&M), and the entirety of Section 3 and portions of Sections 4 and 5, T.26N. R.40E., MDB&M (Attachment A). The regulations, 43 CFR 3270 through 3279 cover the permitting and operating procedures for the utilization of geothermal resources. 2. Approve the issuance of the Site License, Commercial Use Permit and Construction Permit for the Ormat Nevada Inc. Jersey Valley Geothermal Project. BLM received the Site License application for the Jersey Valley geothermal power plant from Ormat on April 28, 2010. Enclosed in the application were the site plan drawing and legal description for the proposed power plant. The regulation, 43 CFR 3273 provides direction and guidance for Site License. - The Commercial Use Permit has not been received and must be submitted and approved prior to the commencement of operation of the GEOT power plant. The regulations at, 43 CFR 3274 provides direction and guidance for the Commercial Use Permit submission. The Construction Permit was submitted on May 14, 2010 and is approved in accordance with 43 CFR 3272. 3
Page 1: In Reply Refer To: N-881 18 3200 (N
Page 5 and 6: APPEAL PROVISIONS Decisions may be
Page 7: Al. Vicinity Map A2. Unit Map A3. R
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Page 48 and 49: LEGEND I Jersey Valley Staging Area
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I-i Figure 9: Jersey Valley Unit Ar
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Figure 10: Recommended Construction
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NOTES 1 HEAVY ANGLE STRUCTURES WILL
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Jersey Valley Geothermal Developmen
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LEGEND Soil Association Symbol 1340
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LEGEND • Construction Waler Sourc
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Appendix A: Geothermal Lease Stipul
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Finding of No Significant Impact Fo
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The “wetlands” potentially impa
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The EA’s mitigation and permit ap
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• •., •• ‘t! •: •*
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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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Form 2800- Issuing Office 14 (Augus
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____________ Buffalo Valley Jersex
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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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