BLM to prepare Borderlands Wind Project Environmental Impact Statement and Resource Management Plan Amendment
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SOCORRO, N.M. – The Bureau of Land Management will be processing an application to locate the proposed Borderlands Wind Project on public lands in western New Mexico with an environmental impact statement and an associated Amendment to the Socorro Field Office Resource Management Plan. Publication of a Notice of Intent in today’s Federal Register begins a 30-day scoping period during which the BLM will take public comments on issues and resource information will be analyzed. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until Dec. 10, 2018.
Borderlands Wind, LLC (a subsidiary of NextEra Energy), is proposing a wind-powered electrical generation facility in western Catron County, New Mexico. The Borderlands Wind Project would be built near Quemado, New Mexico, and the Arizona–New Mexico border on 40,348 acres of land south of U.S. Highway 60. Approximately 28,917 acres of the proposed project area are public lands administered by the BLM Socorro Field Office. The remaining lands in the project area are managed by the State of New Mexico (5,185 acres) and by private landowners (6,246 acres). Ancillary facilities would include access roads, underground collection lines, fiber-optic communication, electrical transmission distribution lines, and a substation/switchyard in support of the 40 turbines that would generate up to 100 megawatts of power. The maximum overall height of the turbines would be 499 feet above the ground surface with a blade diameter of 417 feet.
Subject to the BLM’s approval, construction of the Borderlands Wind energy generation facility would commence in 2019, with generation and delivery of electricity to the grid by the end of 2020. When completed, the wind energy facility would operate year-round for up to 35 years.
In order to be considered, public comments must be submitted by Dec. 10, 2018. You may submit comments or resource information related to the project by any of the following methods:
- Online: www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/plans-in-development/new-mexico/proposed-borderlands-wind-project
- Mail: Jim Stobaugh, National Project Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Nevada State Office, Borderlands Wind Project, 1340 Financial Blvd., Reno, NV 89520
All comment must include the commenter’s name and street address. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
To provide an opportunity to review the proposal and project information, the BLM expects to hold one public meeting in New Mexico during the scoping period. The BLM will announce the exact dates, times, and locations for these meetings at least 15 days prior to the event.
For further information and/or to have your name added to our mailing list, contact Virginia Alguire at 575-838-1290, or email to valguire@blm.gov.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.