Bureau of Land Management's Decision Record and Environmental

Jersey Valley Geothermal Development Project
Environmental Assessment: NV063-EAO8-091
responsibility by both the federal Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the State of
Nevada to regulate air pollution and emissions of air pollutants in all areas of the State, other
than Clark and Washoe Counties.
Air quality in Lander and Pershing Counties has been designated as “attainment/unclassified”
(which means it either meets, or is assumed to meet, the applicable federal ambient air quality
standards) for all standard (“criteria”) air pollutants [ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide,
sulfur dioxide, inhalable particulate matter (PM
and hydrogen sulfide] (U.S. EPA 2009).
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), fine particulate matter (PM
25
), lead particles
Neither the Jersey Valley Unit Area nor the transmission line corridor are located in or adjacent
to any mandatory Class I (most restrictive) Federal air quality areas, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Class I air quality units, or American Indian Class I air quality lands.
3.2.2 Environmental Consequences
3.2.2.1 Proposed Action
The primary pollutant of concern during construction activities would be particulates in the form
of fugitive dust. Fugitive dust would be generated from earth-moving activities and travel on
unpaved roads during power plant, drill pad, pipeline, road construction and drilling activities.
Based on implementation of environmental protection measures specified by Ormat, water and
gravel would be applied to the ground as necessary to control dust (see Section 2.1.11). Each of
the well pads, access roads and the power plant site would be surfaced with aggregate to
minimize dust. This would minimize fugitive dust emission during construction activities.
The dust which could be generated when drilling with air would be controlled by a
separator/muffler, and only the air and water vapor would be discharged to the air.
An NDEP-BAPC Surface Area Disturbance Permit, documenting the areas of proposed
disturbance and the best practical dust control methods to be used, will be required for the
Project because the surface disturbed by the Project would be greater than 5 acres. Best practical
dust control methods applicable to the project activities include use of water trucks to spray
water on disturbed areas on a regular basis; pre-watering of areas to be disturbed; graveling of
roadways, storage areas and staging areas; posting and limiting vehicle speeds to 10 to 15 miles
per hour, and use of wind fences to reduce wind impacts. Implementation of the applicable best
practical dust control methods, through compliance with the Surface Area Disturbance Permit,
would minimize fugitive dust emissions during construction, operation and decommissioning of
the project.
Combustion emissions of criteria air pollutants [nitrogen dioxide (NO
2), sulfur dioxide (SO
2),
carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter less than or equal to 10 microns in diameter
(PM
)], criteria air pollutant precursors [volatile organic compounds (VOCs)] and air toxics
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(small quantities of diesel PM, acetaldehyde, benzene, and formaldehyde) would be released
during well drilling and construction activities from the diesel engines used.
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