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DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA |
Applicant | Terra-Gen Power LLC + |
---|---|
CompletionNotes | Data entry complete. This EA does not distinguish mitigation from applicant-proposed measures. I used my judgment to parse them out as seemed to make sense. 8/15 added NEPA doc name + |
EnergyTechnology | Geothermal energy + |
EnvironmentalAnalysisType | EA + |
ExplorationTechnique | Downhole Techniques + , Well Testing Techniques + , Drilling Techniques + , Exploration Drilling + |
GeothermalArea | Dixie Valley Geothermal Area + |
GeothermalDevelopmentPhases | Geothermal/Exploration + |
LeadAgency | Bureau of Land Management + |
ManagingDistrictOffice | BLM Carson City District Office + |
ManagingFieldOffice | BLM Stillwater Field Office + |
MineralManager | Bureau of Land Management + |
NEPA-Name | EA at Coyote Canyon and Dixie Meadows for Geothermal/Exploration Drilling and Well Testing + |
NEPA ApplicationDate | September 15, 2009 + |
NEPA Application Type | POO + |
NEPA Completion Notes | Data entry complete. This EA does not distinguish mitigation from applicant-proposed measures. I used my judgment to parse them out as seemed to make sense. 8/15 added NEPA doc name + |
NEPA Consultant | CH2M Hill Ltd + |
NEPA DecisionDocumentDate | June 7, 2010 + |
NEPA FONSI | Media:TGP CCDM FONSI DR June 2010.pdf + |
NEPA FinalEA-EISDate | May 31, 2010 + |
NEPA LeadAgencyDocNumber | DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA + |
NEPA Proposed Action |
This Environmental Assessment (EA) analyze … This Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzes the potential impacts associated with the proposed construction and testing of geothermal exploration wells, access roads, and ancillary facilities in Dixie Valley, Churchill County, Nevada (see links in column to the right).
TGP Dixie Development Company (TGP) proposes to explore the geothermal resource potential of the Coyote Canyon (CC) and Dixie Meadows (DM) lease areas in Dixie Valley, which are located primarily on federal lands managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The BLM is the lead agency for this EA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts 1500-1508). The purpose of the geothermal exploration is to confirm that sufficient reservoir capacity is available to allow long-term production. This EA analyzes potential impacts from the proposed exploration and testing activities at the CC and DM sites. Because both geothermal drilling projects have similar timing, geography, and types of actions, BLM has determined that the two proposals would be analyzed in one EA. The exploration activities are referred to as the Proposed Actions. The geothermal leases held by TGP for the CC exploration project contain 7,681 acres (CC lease area). The geothermal leases held by TGP for the DM exploration project contain 3,960 acres. The Proposed Action for DM also includes an area known as the Lamb Mineral Interests (760 acres). TGP owns the mineral rights for this land, along with the right to surface use in exercise of mineral rights. The U.S. Navy owns the land surface. Although the BLM does not have any jurisdiction to permit any surface activities, and no BLM action is required for exercise of these mineral rights, information on project activities there is included in this EA because they are part of the overall project described for Dixie Meadows.
TGP proposes to conduct geothermal exploration in a portion of each lease area called the project area. Figures 2 and 3 show the lease areas and project areas for each site. An Operations Plan to drill and test up to 15 explorations wells at the CC project area and to drill and test up to 15 exploration wells at the DM project area was submitted to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Stillwater Field Office (SFO) in September 2009. A revised Operations Plan was submitted in October 2009. In addition to the exploration drilling program, mineral material sales contracts would be required for aggregate material obtained from BLM-managed gravel pits. These contracts (one for CC and one for DM) would be for less than 50,000 cubic yards of aggregate and less than 5 acres of subsurface disturbance each.
Individual Geothermal Drilling Permits (GDPs) would be issued separately from this document. d be issued separately from this document. +
|
NEPA Resource Analysis - Present, Potentially Affected | Geothermal/Air Quality + , Geothermal/Cultural Resources + , Geothermal/Floodplains + , Geothermal/Invasive, Nonnative Species + , Geothermal/Migratory Birds + , Geothermal/Native American Concerns + , Geothermal/Wastes Hazardous or Solid + , Geothermal/Wetlands and Riparian Zones + , Geothermal/Visual Resources + , Geothermal/Paleontological Resources + , Geothermal/Soils + , Geothermal/Vegetation + , Geothermal/Geology and Minerals + , Geothermal/Range Resources + , Geothermal/Wildlife Resources + , Geothermal/Special Status Species + , Geothermal/Lands and Realty + , Geothermal/Water Quantity + |
NEPA Resource Applicant Mitigation |
• Clean construction equipment prior to pr … • Clean construction equipment prior to project work (may be washed in Fallon prior to deployment)
• Avoid or treat existing weed infestations prior to disturbance.
• Any areas that become infested with weeds during construction would be mapped and treated. construction would be mapped and treated. +
, Management practices, described in Section … Management practices, described in Section 2 and including development of a spill plan, use of secondary containment structures, and worker training, would be used to prevent the release of
hazardous wastes to the environment. Solid wastes would be transported offsite to a
landfill. Implementation of these procedures would prevent or minimize potential impacts
on the environment due to generation of hazardous or solid wastes. o generation of hazardous or solid wastes. +
, To prevent a release of geothermal fluids to surface water features, drilling muds and
geothermal fluids would be contained in the reserve pit or trucked to the existing sumps at
the Dixie Valley geothermal power plant when quantities dictate. +
|
NEPA Resource Imposed Mitigation |
To minimize air pollution emissions from c … To minimize air pollution emissions from construction activities and construction and drill
rig diesel engines, the following BMPs for fugitive dust and diesel exhaust would be
implemented during operational activities:
• Surfacing access roads with aggregate materials, wherever appropriate
• Using dust abatement techniques, such as watering on unpaved, unvegetated surfaces to
minimize airborne dust, as needed (The source of water to be used for dust abatement is
described in Section 2.1.8.)
• Posting and enforcing speed limits to reduce fugitive dust (speed limit of 15 miles per
hour, as necessary)
• Applying dust abatement techniques (such as watering, requiring loader buckets to be
emptied slowly, minimizing drop heights, etc.) to earth-moving, excavating, trenching,
and grading activities
• Minimizing equipment and vehicle idling times during construction activities dling times during construction activities +
, A thirty meter buffer will be placed around historic properties identified within the APE. In the event that any construction overlaps this buffer an archaeological monitor will be on site during the construction. +
, A noxious weed control program consisting of monitoring and eradication for species listed
on the Nevada Designated Noxious Weeds List (NRS 555.010) would be implemented. +
, If active nests are present within these a … If active nests are present within these areas to be disturbed, TGP would coordinate with BLM to develop appropriate protection measures for these sites, which may include avoidance, construction constraints, and/or the establishment of buffers.
Habitat for migratory birds would be eliminated within areas of proposed disturbance prior to the
nesting season. In the event this elimination measure is not implemented, if ground disturbing
activities do take place during the migratory bird nesting season, migratory bird
nest surveys would be conducted early in the nesting season by a qualified biologist
acceptable to BLM. This survey would be conducted to identify either breeding adult birds
or nest sites within the specific areas to be disturbed. If active nests are present within these
areas to be disturbed, TGP would coordinate with BLM to develop appropriate protection
measures for these sites, which may include avoidance, construction constraints, and/or the
establishment of buffers.
To minimize impacts to migratory birds and other wildlife, in addition to the management
practices described above, well pads and roads would be recontoured and reseeded
following completion of the Proposed Actions as described in Section 2.1.10. Erosion-control
measures would be implemented as described in Section uld be implemented as described in Section +
, Disturbance to marsh vegetation would be avoided to the extent possible. +
, All drill rig and well test facility lights would be limited to those required to safely conduct the
operations and would be shielded and/or directed in a manner that focuses direct light to
the immediate work area. +
, Coyote Canyon
<p>
Construction acti … Coyote Canyon
<p>
Construction activities that include surface disturbance of the immediate
subsurface at one well pad (Well 61-15) would have the potential to impact paleontological
resources because subfossil wood occurs in the immediate vicinity (PFYC = 4). Prior to
construction at this site, this impact would be mitigated by moving the location of Well 61-
15 to the west away from this resource, staking for avoidance that area within Sections 14 and 15 where subfossil wood exists, subsequent avoidance of the area during construction,
and by worker education that would include the importance of paleontological resources
avoidance.
<p>
Of the 25 well sites in the CC area, only one possesses high (PFYC Class 4) paleontological
sensitivity (Well 61-15), because of the presence of subfossil wood on the surface in the
immediate vicinity. The subsurface potential of all well pads in the CC area is considered to
be low (PFYC Class 2) because they are located at sites underlain by alluvium or oxidized
playa sediments. Impacts to paleontological resources from project development in the CC
area would therefore not occur because the one area designated PFYC Class 4 (high
sensitivity) will be avoided by relocation of the well pad, and by educating workers on
paleontological resources avoidance.
<p>
Dixie Meadows
<p>
The area possessing unknown potential with the possibility of fossils occurring at depth (PFYC Class 3b) lies to the east of the well sites and their associated access roads. In this area deep, relatively unweathered lacustrine sediment and spring discharge deposits occur, and theses sediments have yielded scientifically important paleontological resources in other portions of the Great Basin. A north-south segment of access road is the only portion of the Dixie Valley project area to cross sediments that have unknown potential (PFYC Class 3b). This would be mitigated by assuring that the roadway in that area is not bladed, but instead would consist of material
imported to create a roadbed elevated above potentially sensitive sediments. ted above potentially sensitive sediments. +
, • Excavation into native soil during const … • Excavation into native soil during construction of well pad reserve pits would be
minimized to the maximum extent possible.
• Wells and roads not required for development purposes would be re-contoured to blend
with the surrounding topography, in accordance with lease stipulations.
• Topsoil would be salvaged and reused whenever possible and in a timely manner.
• Temporarily disturbed areas would be reseeded where previously vegetated using a
BLM-approved seed mixture.
• Erosion control measures, including but not limited to silt fencing, diversion ditches,
water bars, temporary mulching and seeding, and application of gravel or rip rap,
would be installed where necessary immediately after completion of construction
activities to avoid erosion and runoff.
• Access roads would follow existing contours to the maximum extent possible. In areas
where new access roads must be constructed across slopes, erosion control measures
would be installed as necessary, in accordance with Gold Book standards (BLM, 2007a).
• An average of 6 inches of gravel would be used as road surface because roads would be
used during all seasons. Up to 3 feet of gravel may be used on some sections of road,
and no gravel would be used on road sections where the natural surface is adequate.
• Additional gravel would be laid down when ground conditions are wet enough to cause
rutting or other noticeable surface deformation and severe compaction. As a general rule, if vehicles or other project equipment create ruts in excess of 4 inches deep, a gravel
surface would be installed prior to additional use.
• When construction occurs in areas of very soft soils, up to 3 feet of aggregate would be
used.
• An NDEP BAPC Surface Area Disturbance documenting the BMPs to be used would be
required for the project because the surface disturbed would be greater than 5 acres.
• Overland route corridors may be used for infrequently accessed locations. used for infrequently accessed locations. +
, Impacts to vegetation would be minimized b … Impacts to vegetation would be minimized by reseeding all areas of access roads and well
pads not required for subsequent energy production using a BLM-approved native seed
mixture. Topsoil would be salvaged whenever possible and reused in a timely manner. er possible and reused in a timely manner. +
, • When permanent new access roads must cro … • When permanent new access roads must cross ephemeral washes, rolling dips would be
installed. The rolling dips would be designed to accommodate flows from at least a
25-year storm event. Culverts may be used wherever rolling dips are not feasible.
• Drill pad reserve pits would be compacted during construction and settled bentonite
clay from drilling mud would accumulate on the bottom of the drill pad reserve pit to
act as an unconsolidated clay liner, reducing the potential for drilling fluid to percolate
to groundwater.
• TGP would obtain necessary working in waters and/or groundwater discharge permits
and provide a Notice of Intent to NDEP prior to well pad construction.
• Wetland boundaries would be avoided to the extent possible.
• A BLM-approved grouting and casing program for construction of slim well and/or
exploration wells would be implemented to prevent water quality effects on
groundwater during or after well installation.
• Borehole geophysics analyses (cement bond logs) would be conducted to document that
well-casing grouting activities provide an effective seal, isolating the geothermal aquifer
from shallow alluvial aquifers and therefore minimizing potential impacts on surface
washes, springs, seeps, or floodplains.
• BMPs would be implemented to ensure that any geothermal fluid encountered during
the drilling does not flow uncontrolled to the surface. These include the use of “blowout”
prevention equipment during drilling and the installation of well casing cemented
into the ground.
• A hydrologic evaluation plan will be submitted to the BLM for approval prior to
drilling. to the BLM for approval prior to
drilling. +
|
NEPA Resources | Geothermal/Air Quality + , Areas of Critical Environmental Concern + , Geothermal/Cultural Resources + , Geothermal/Environmental Justice + , Geothermal/Prime or Unique Farmlands + , Geothermal/Floodplains + , Geothermal/Invasive, Nonnative Species + , Geothermal/Migratory Birds + , Geothermal/Native American Concerns + , Geothermal/Threatened and Endangered Species + , Geothermal/Wastes Hazardous or Solid + , Geothermal/Wetlands and Riparian Zones + , Geothermal/Wild and Scenic Rivers + , Geothermal/Wilderness + , Geothermal/Visual Resources + , Geothermal/Paleontological Resources + , Geothermal/Noise + , Geothermal/Soils + , Geothermal/Vegetation + , Geothermal/Geology and Minerals + , Geothermal/Range Resources + , Geothermal/Wildlife Resources + , Geothermal/Special Status Species + , Geothermal/Lands and Realty + , Geothermal/Water Quantity + |
NEPA RevisedApplicationDate | October 15, 2009 + |
Name | DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA + |
OpenEI/PageDescription | : NEPA document related to geothermal resource areas + |
OpenEI/PageKeyword | Geothermal + , Dixie Valley Geothermal Area + |
Place | Nevada: Energy Resources + |
ProposedAction |
This Environmental Assessment (EA) analyze … This Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzes the potential impacts associated with the proposed construction and testing of geothermal exploration wells, access roads, and ancillary facilities in Dixie Valley, Churchill County, Nevada (see links in column to the right).
TGP Dixie Development Company (TGP) proposes to explore the geothermal resource potential of the Coyote Canyon (CC) and Dixie Meadows (DM) lease areas in Dixie Valley, which are located primarily on federal lands managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The BLM is the lead agency for this EA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts 1500-1508). The purpose of the geothermal exploration is to confirm that sufficient reservoir capacity is available to allow long-term production. This EA analyzes potential impacts from the proposed exploration and testing activities at the CC and DM sites. Because both geothermal drilling projects have similar timing, geography, and types of actions, BLM has determined that the two proposals would be analyzed in one EA. The exploration activities are referred to as the Proposed Actions. The geothermal leases held by TGP for the CC exploration project contain 7,681 acres (CC lease area). The geothermal leases held by TGP for the DM exploration project contain 3,960 acres. The Proposed Action for DM also includes an area known as the Lamb Mineral Interests (760 acres). TGP owns the mineral rights for this land, along with the right to surface use in exercise of mineral rights. The U.S. Navy owns the land surface. Although the BLM does not have any jurisdiction to permit any surface activities, and no BLM action is required for exercise of these mineral rights, information on project activities there is included in this EA because they are part of the overall project described for Dixie Meadows.
TGP proposes to conduct geothermal exploration in a portion of each lease area called the project area. Figures 2 and 3 show the lease areas and project areas for each site. An Operations Plan to drill and test up to 15 explorations wells at the CC project area and to drill and test up to 15 exploration wells at the DM project area was submitted to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Stillwater Field Office (SFO) in September 2009. A revised Operations Plan was submitted in October 2009. In addition to the exploration drilling program, mineral material sales contracts would be required for aggregate material obtained from BLM-managed gravel pits. These contracts (one for CC and one for DM) would be for less than 50,000 cubic yards of aggregate and less than 5 acres of subsurface disturbance each.
Individual Geothermal Drilling Permits (GDPs) would be issued separately from this document. d be issued separately from this document. +
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SurfaceManager | Bureau of Land Management + |
Has query "Has query" is a predefined property that represents meta information (in form of a subobject) about individual queries and is provided by Semantic MediaWiki.
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DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA + |
Has processing error "Has processing error" is a predefined property provided by Semantic MediaWiki and represents errors that appeared in connection with improper value annotations or input processing.
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DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA + |
Categories | NEPA Doc , Geothermal energy |
Modification date "Modification date" is a predefined property that corresponds to the date of the last modification of a subject and is provided by Semantic MediaWiki.
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21:46:25, 22 March 2016 + |
Has subobject "Has subobject" is a predefined property representing a container construct and is provided by Semantic MediaWiki.
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DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Air_Quality + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Areas_of_Critical_Environmental_Concern + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Cultural_Resources + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Environmental_Justice + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Prime_or_Unique_Farmlands + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Floodplains + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Invasive,_Nonnative_Species + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Migratory_Birds + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Native_American_Concerns + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Threatened_and_Endangered_Species + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Wastes_Hazardous_or_Solid + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Wetlands_and_Riparian_Zones + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Wild_and_Scenic_Rivers + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Wilderness + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Visual_Resources + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Paleontological_Resources + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Noise + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Soils + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Vegetation + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Geology_and_Minerals + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Range_Resources + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Wildlife_Resources + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Special_Status_Species + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Lands_and_Realty + , DOI-BLM-NV-C010-2010-0010-EA#NEPAImpact_with_Water_Quantity + |
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