Bureau of Land Management's Decision Record and Environmental

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Jersey Valley Geothermal Development Project Environmental Assessment: NV063-EAO8-091 with native oral history can reveal information pertaining to past cultural activities and associated social practices, trade routes, subsistence activities, environmental changes, etc. Roads leading to project activities, can experience further use by members of the public to access formerly inaccessible locations. If members of the general public increasingly utilize Project roads, the cultural/traditional/spiritual integrity of any adjacent Native use site may be compromised. Also, the act of drilling wells (regardless of the data being sought) is often viewed by traditional practitioners and believers as being harmful to “mother earth” due to impacts to underground and surface waters, which are considered the “life blood of the Earth and all who dwell upon it.” Other than consumption by people, wildlife, and plant species, certain hot and cold spring locations are also used for healing and spiritual purposes. For this specific Project to date, contemporary traditional/cultural uses have not been identified within or near the Project boundaries. However, continued consultation may reveal otherwise. During the Project activities, if any cultural properties, items, or artifacts (stone tools, Projectile points, etc...) are encountered, it must be stressed to those involved in the proposed Project activities that such items are not to be collected. Cultural and Archaeological resources are protected under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.s.c 470ii) and the Federal Land Management Policy Act (43 U.S.C. 1701). The above language is applicable to previously identified artifacts and site locations, surface artifacts possibly missed during the original survey, and any subsurface artifacts (below ground). Though the possibility of disturbing Native American gravesites within most Project areas is extremely low, inadvertent discovery procedures must be noted. Under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, section (3)(d)(l), it states that the discovering individual must notify the land manager in writing of such a discovery. If the discovery occurs in connection with an authorized use, the activity, which caused the discovery, is to cease and the materials are to be protected until the land manager can respond to the situation. If any traditional cultural properties or artifacts are identified before or during development activities, a protective “buffer zone” may be acceptable, where physical avoidance is an issue, and if doing so satisfies the needs of the BLM, the proponent, and affected Tribe. The size of any “buffer zone” would be determined through coordination and communication between all participating entities. All NRHP-eligible and unevaluated cultural sites that were identified during the cultural resources inventory would be avoided. 3.4.2.2 Alternative 1 The impacts to Native American Religious Concerns from the construction, operation, maintenance and reclamation of Alternative 1 would be the same as those described for the Proposed Action. - 42 -
Jersey Valley Geothermal Development Project Environmental Assessment: NV063-EAO8-091 3.5 WILDLIFE (INCLUDING THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES, SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES AND MIGRATORY BIRDS) 3.5.1 Affected Environment A biological survey of portions of the Jersey Valley Unit Area and the entire transmission line corridor was conducted by Great Basin Ecology in May 2008 (GBE 2008). Subsequent to the May 2008 biological survey, additional areas of proposed surface disturbing activities were identified at the transmission line substation area. A survey of this area was conducted on April 22, 2009. Similar wildlife species are likely to be found within the Jersey Valley Unit Area and transmission line corridor. These species include a variety of small mammals, raptors, reptiles and insects and are identified and described below. Common mammalian species include the black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus calfornicus), kangaroo rats (Dipodomys sp.), coyote (Canus latrans), badger (Taxidea taxus), and a variety of other small mammals (i.e. mice, voles, ground squirrels, etc) (GBE 2008). The Jersey Valley Unit Area does not have any known raptor nests nor does it provide suitable nesting habitat. One previously active prairie falcon nest and one previously active burrowing owl nest exist within 1 mile of the proposed transmission corridor and will be addressed further in the Special Status Species Section. No other known raptor nests or suitable habitat exists within the transmission corridor. Foraging habitat for raptors such as golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), common raven (Corvus corax), prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus), ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis), and northern harrier (Circus cvaneus) may be found within the Jersey Valley Unit Area and along the transmission line corridor. A variety of reptiles have the potential to occur within the Jersey Valley Unit Area and transmission line corridor. Such species include the western whiptail lizard (Cnemidophorus tigris), leopard lizard (Gambemia wislizenii) and western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis). The Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) is likely to occur in the broken rocks and brush habitats on the east side of the Jersey Valley Unit Area. The BLM identified mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) and pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana) habitat as potentially occurring within portions of the Jersey Valley Unit Area and/or the transmission line corridor, as described below. Mule deer Mule deer move between various zones from the forest edges at higher elevations to the desert floor, depending on the season. While the mule deer occupies almost all types of habitat within its range, it seems to prefer arid, open areas and rocky hillsides. Seasonal movements involving - 43 -
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In Reply Refer To: N-881 18 3200 (N
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The BLM MLFO has determined that in
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APPEAL PROVISIONS Decisions may be
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Al. Vicinity Map A2. Unit Map A3. R
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tsgend Al Unit Map • B. sflpa Wta
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Page 48 and 49: LEGEND I Jersey Valley Staging Area
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Jersey Valley Geothermal Developmen
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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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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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