BLM Releases Draft Environmental Document for 33-MW Geothermal Project Near Mammoth Lakes
Release Date: Nov 16, 2012 Bishop, CA
Contact(s): Nancy Upham

The Bureau of Land Management today issued a Draft Joint Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIS/EIR) analyzing a proposal to develop additional geothermal resources near Mammoth Lakes in Mono County, California.

A 60-day public comment runs through Jan. 15, 2013. Public meetings will be held Wednesday Dec. 5 at the Mammoth Lakes Community Center, 1000 Forest Trail, Mammoth Lakes and Thursday Dec. 6, at the Crowley Lake Community Center, 458 South Landing Road, Crowley Lake. Both meetings run from 6 to 8 p.m.

The proposed 33-megawatt Casa Diablo IV Geothermal Development Project would be built on the Inyo National Forest within existing federal geothermal leases and private lands. It would include construction of a new geothermal power plant and substation, up to 16 new production/injection wells, multiple pipelines and access roads. A 650-ft long transmission line is proposed to interconnect the new power plant to the existing Southern California Edison substation at Substation Road. The proposed Casa Diablo IV plant, substation, access roads, well pads, pipelines and transmission line would occupy approximately 80 acres.

The agency preferred Alternative 3 differs from the applicant's proposal in pipeline alignments and the location of one well.

The Draft EIS/EIR may be reviewed at the BLM Bishop Field Office at 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 100, Bishop, CA 93514, and the Mono County Library at 400 Sierra Park Road, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546. Additionally, CD-ROM versions of the Draft EIS/EIR may be obtained by contacting the Bishop Field Office. The document is also available on the Internet at: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/bishop.html.

Written comments should be submitted to: BLM, Bishop Field Office, 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 100, Bishop, CA 93514; Attn: Casa Diablo IV Geothermal Development Project Draft EIS/EIR, c/o Collin Reinhardt, Project Manager; by facsimile: (760) 872-5050; or by e-mail: cabipubcom@ca.blm.gov; Subject: Casa Diablo IV Geothermal Development Project Draft EIS/EIR. To ensure comments will be considered, the BLM must receive them by Jan. 15.

Oral comments may be submitted to Margie DeRose at the Inyo National Forest, Supervisor’s Office by calling (760) 873-2424, or in person at, 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 200, Bishop, CA 93514, or at a public meeting.

Additional information regarding the project can be obtained from Reinhardt at (760) 872-5024, email creinhardt@blm.gov.