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LAS VEGAS – The Bureau of Land Management today released a draft analyzing the environmental impacts of the proposed Yellow Pine Solar Project to be located on BLM-administered land 10 miles southeast of Pahrump and approximately 32 miles west of Las Vegas in Clark County, Nevada. The agency is also opening a 45-day public comment period and will hold a series of public meetings to discuss the project and its anticipated impact on BLM-managed public lands and resources.

“The BLM actively supports the Department of the Interior’s America First Energy Plan, an ‘all of the above’ strategy which supports energy development on public lands” said Acting BLM Southern Nevada District Manager Gera Ashton. “We look forward to receiving public input on the Yellow Pine Solar Project as we continue to evaluate this project.”

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Yellow Pine Solar Project addresses two separate but connected applications that have been submitted to the BLM Las Vegas Field Office. First, Yellow Pine Solar, LLC has applied for a right-of-way on public land to construct, operate, and maintain a proposed solar energy generation station and ancillary facilities including battery storage, known as the Yellow Pine Solar Facility. Second, GridLiance West, LLC has applied for a right-of-way on public land to construct, operate, and maintain a 230-kilovolt (kV) Trout Canyon Substation and associated 230-kV transmission line. These two applications are collectively known as the Yellow Pine Solar Project.

The Yellow Pine Solar Project would be located on approximately 3,000 acres of BLM managed public lands. The Notice of Availability opens a 45-day public comment period that will end on May 4, 2020. The project’s construction workforce over 24 months would average 200 to 300 workers, with up to 400 workers at peak construction. Following completion, the facility would be staffed by up to 10 operations personnel during the site’s daytime working hours.

In addition to the Proposed Action and No Action Alternative, two alternative actions (Alternative Action 1 – Modified Layout, and Alternative Action 2 – Mowing Alternative) were identified in response to issues raised by the public during scoping and agency considerations.  The BLM has identified the Proposed Action layout using the Mowing Alternative construction method as the preferred alternative.

Public meetings may be held; alternative ways to provide comment are also currently being explored. The BLM will announce details of these meetings at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, mailings and on the BLM website: https://go.usa.gov/xQF3z

The Draft EIS and other relevant documents have been made available at https://go.usa.gov/xQF3z. Comments can be submitted in the following ways:

• Email: blm_nv_sndo_yellowpine@blm.gov 
• Fax: 702-515-5023
• Mail:   Yellow Pine Solar Project

Attn: Herman Pinales

BLM Las Vegas Field Office

4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive

Las Vegas, NV 89130

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail 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 request to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, no guarantees can be made that we will be able to do so.

For more information, please contact, Herman Pinales, Energy & Infrastructure Project Manager, at 702-515-5284. 

-BLM-