The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is asking for the public's input in the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Ely Energy Center, a coal-fired power-generating facility.
The BLM has scheduled five public scoping meetings in Nevada, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a presentation scheduled at 6 p.m. Dates and locations are: Monday, Feb. 5, BLM Las Vegas Field Office, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas; Tuesday, Feb. 6, Alamo Ambulance Barn, 10 Airport Road, Alamo; Wednesday, Feb. 7, Bristlecone Convention Center, 150 6th Street, Ely; Thursday, Feb. 8, BLM Elko Field Office, 3900 East Idaho Street, Elko; and Friday, Feb. 9, BLM Nevada State Office, 1340 Financial Blvd., Reno.
The EIS will evaluate any potential impacts that two 750 megawatt (MW) coal-fired generating units, two 500 MW integrated gasification combined-cycle generating units, and other related facilities would have on human, natural and cultural resources, as well as determine what measures would be necessary to mitigate or reduce any impacts. Related facilities include, and are not limited to, a rail loop and possible new rail line, coal unloading, handling and storage facilities, a solid waste disposal facility, water storage, pipelines and treatment facilities, an evaporation pond, cooling towers, electric switchyard and substation, and support buildings. The plant and facilities would be located on 2,500 acres of public land about 30-35 miles north of Ely in White Pine County which would be sold to the proponent. Ancillary facilities would include wells, water pipeline(s) and related facilities in Steptoe, Butte, and Jakes valleys, a rail spur, and access roads.
The EIS will assess the potential impacts of granting the rights-of-way (ROW), granting a conveyance, or issuing a commercial lease for a proposed power-generating facility and granting a ROW for the proposed transmission line, substation and associated facilities in White Pine County, Lincoln, Nye, and Clark counties in Nevada.
The project would also include up to two high voltage (500-kV) transmission lines interconnecting the electric transmission systems of Sierra Pacific and Nevada Power, (between the proposed EEC and the existing Harry Allen substation in Clark County (Apex Valley) northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada) and accommodations for an interconnection of the 500-kV system to the existing 345-kV transmission system along the existing Falcon-Gonder corridor.
The proposed system may include a new substation constructed at Robinson Summit, near Ely, expansion of the existing Harry Allen substation in Clark County, and possible expansion of the Gonder substation in White Pine County.
The formal public scoping period concludes at 5 p.m., Monday, Feb. 26, 2007. Interested individuals should address all written comments to the Assistant Field Manager for Nonrenewable Resources, BLM Ely Field Office, HC 33 Box 33500, Ely, NV 89301.
