Crimson Solar Project

Crimson Solar Project

This Draft Environmental Impact Statement(EIS)/Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Draft Plan Amendment (PA) addresses a possible United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area Plan of 1980, as amended; a possible decision to issue a right-of-way (ROW) grant for construction, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of a solar electricity generation facility on SLM-administered public land; and possible CDFW approval of a Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement and issuance of an Incidental Take Permit. The Draft EIS/EIR/PA analyzes four alternatives. Alternative A, the Applicant's Proposed Alternative and the proposed Project under CEQA, would develop a 350 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) energy plant and related facilities on approximately 2,500 acres of SLM-administered public lands in unincorporated Riverside County, California. Alternative B would modify Alternative A to include three Design Elements that minimize grading during site preparation and maintain more of the native vegetation (DE-1 ), avoid or limit trenching by placing electrical wiring above-ground (DE-2), and place transformer inverter and energy storage systems on elevated support structures (DE-3). Alternative C would reduce the size of the project by approximately 300 acres, reducing ground disturbance within key areas containing sensitive vegetation, sand dune habitat, and cultural resources. Alternative Dis the No Action/No Project alternative where BLM would not amend the COCA or grant the ROW, and the CDFW would not issue a Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement or Incidental Take Permit for the Project.

Blythe

Riverside

California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Department of Conservation (DOC), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), California Department of Transportation, District 8 (DOT), California Energy Commission, California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Highway Patrol (CHP), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Natural Resources Agency, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Colorado River Basin Region 7 (RWQCB), Colorado River Board, Office of Historic Preservation, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water

Power (Solar PV)(Megawatts 350)

LSAA/ITP

Aesthetics, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Cumulative Effects, Drainage/Absorption, Economics/Jobs, Flood Plain/Flooding, Geology/Soils, Growth Inducement, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Noise, Population/Housing, Public Services, Recreation, Schools/Universities, Septic System, Solid Waste, Transportation, Vegetation, Wetland/Riparian, Wildfire