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  2012 Solar Energy Development Programmatic EIS  
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About the Solar PEIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Prepared the Solar PEIS?

The U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management have prepared the Solar Energy Development Programmatic EIS, with assistance from Argonne National Laboratory, using an interdisciplinary approach.

About the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

The mission of the DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is to strengthen America's energy security, environmental quality, and economic vitality in public-private partnerships that: enhance energy efficiency and productivity; bring clean, reliable and affordable energy technologies to the marketplace; and make a difference in the everyday lives of Americans by enhancing their energy choices and their quality of life.

EERE leads the Federal government’s research, development, and deployment efforts in energy efficiency. EERE's role is to invest in high-value research and development that is critical to the Nation's energy future and would not be sufficiently conducted by the private sector acting on its own.

Program activities are conducted in partnership with the private sector, state and local government, DOE national laboratories, and universities.  EERE also works with stakeholders to develop programs and policies to facilitate the deployment of advanced clean energy technologies and practices.

About the BLM

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), an agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior, administers millions of acres of America's public lands. The BLM sustains the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

The BLM is responsible for carrying out a variety of programs for the management and conservation of resources on approximately 245 million surface acres, as well as 700 million acres of subsurface mineral estate. These public lands make up about 13 percent of the total land surface of the United States and more than 40 percent of all land managed by the Federal government.

Most of the public lands are located in the Western United States, including Alaska, and are characterized predominantly by extensive grassland, forest, high mountain, arctic tundra, and desert landscapes. The BLM manages multiple resources and uses, including energy and minerals; timber; forage; recreation; wild horse and burro herds; fish and wildlife habitat; wilderness areas; and archaeological, paleontological, and historical sites.

In addition to its minerals management responsibilities noted above, the BLM administers mineral leasing and oversees mineral operations on Federal mineral estate underlying state, private, or other Federally-administered land. The BLM also supervises operational activities on 3,700 Indian oil and gas leases, and provides advice on leasing and operational matters to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Tribes, and Indian mineral owners.

About Argonne

Argonne National Laboratory is one of the U.S. Department of Energy's largest research centers. It is also the nation's first national laboratory, chartered in 1946. The Environmental Science Division of Argonne National Laboratory conducts applied research, assessment, and technology development in such areas as risk and waste management, natural resources, integrated assessments, restoration, pollution prevention environmental policy analysis and planning, and environmental management.

The Solar PEIS Team

To consider the variety of resource issues and concerns identified, the Agencies are using an interdisciplinary approach to develop the Solar PEIS. Specialists with expertise in the following disciplines are involved in the assessment process: solar energy, wildlife and special status species, vegetation, air quality, outdoor recreation, landscape architecture, archaeology, paleontology, hydrology, soils, sociology, and economics.

For More Information

For general questions about the Solar PEIS Web Site or the Solar PEIS, contact the Webmaster at: [email protected]

For further information on the Solar PEIS, you may also contact:

Jeremy Bluma
Bureau of Land Management
Headquarters
[email protected]
Phone: (208) 789-6014