Federal and State Agencies Announce Public Meetings for Draft Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), California Energy Commission (CEC) and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced today the dates and locations of several public meetings for the draft Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS).
Public meetings will be held throughout the DRECP planning area and surrounding population centers between Oct. 20 and Nov. 13. The meetings are designed to help the public understand the draft DRECP EIR/EIS and to facilitate public comments. Meetings will include a presentation, information stations and an opportunity to submit recorded verbal and written comments.
The draft DRECP is an innovative renewable energy and conservation plan covering more than 22 million acres of land in Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. The draft is the result of collaboration among the BLM, FWS, CEC, CDFW and other stakeholders.
The draft proposes to protect areas in the California desert that are important for wildlife, recreation, cultural and other uses while also facilitating the timely permitting of solar, wind and geothermal energy projects and associated transmission in appropriate areas. The draft plan presents six alternative approaches for meeting renewable energy and conservation goals through 2040. Each alternative proposes a different conservation design and configuration of lands available for more efficient and predictable renewable energy project review. The draft plan also includes an analysis of the potential environmental impacts of these alternatives.
Public meetings will be held at the locations, dates and times listed below. Some of these meetings will also be broadcast by WebEx to allow for remote attendance. Please visit www.drecp.org to confirm meeting details and WebEx availability.
Monday, October 20, 4:00-6:30 p.m.
Imperial Irrigation District
Board Room
1285 Broadway Ave.
El Centro, CA 92243
Tuesday, October 21, 6:30-9:00 p.m.
Hilton San Diego Mission Valley
901 Camino Del Rio South
San Diego, CA 92108
Monday, October 27, 4:00-6:30 p.m.
Statham Hall
138 Jackson St.
Lone Pine, CA 93545
Tuesday, October 28, 4:00-6:30 p.m.
Kerr McGee Community Center
100 W. California Ave.
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
Wednesday, October 29, 4:00-6:30 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn
12603 Mariposa Rd.
Victorville, CA 92395
Monday, November 3, 4:00-6:30 p.m.
Lancaster City Hall
Council Chambers
44933 N. Fern Ave.
Lancaster, CA 93534
Wednesday, November 5, 4:00-6:30 p.m.
Palo Verde Community College
Room CL 101
1 College Dr.
Blythe, CA 92225
Thursday, November 6, 6:30-9:00 p.m.
Ontario Convention Center
2000 E. Convention Center Way
Ontario, CA 91764
Friday, November 7, 4:00-6:30 p.m.
UC Riverside, Palm Desert Center
Auditorium
75080 Frank Sinatra Dr.
Palm Desert, CA 92211
Thursday, November 13, 2:00-4:30 p.m.
California Energy Commission
Hearing Room A
1516 9th St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
A recorded informational webinar to help the public navigate the DRECP documents is available at www.drecp.org. The webinar may be viewed online, and will also be broadcast on Oct. 9 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at locations listed on the website. The website also contains instructions for providing written comments on the draft document.
The DRECP's formal public comment period runs through Jan. 9, 2015.
The draft DRECP EIR/EIS is available for review and download at www.drecp.org, and at local libraries and agency offices. A DVD will be provided upon request. To request a DVD, please send an email request to drecp.info@energy.ca.gov or call (866) 674-9996 and provide a mailing address. For a list of local area libraries and agency offices that have the document on file (most are on DVD), please visit www.drecp.org/draftdrecp.
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.