Getting Involved
There are several ways to participate in the Solar Energy Development Programmatic EIS (PEIS) process. You can provide information and comments about the scope of the PEIS, comment on the Draft PEIS when it is published, attend public meetings, read the PEIS and related documents, and learn about the PEIS on this Web site.
Public Scoping Comments
Public comments received during the scoping phase, including individual letters, comments received electronically, and oral comments presented at scoping meetings, are now available on this Web site, under Search Scoping Comments.
Public Scoping Process
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy; and the Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior; (The Agencies) invite interested Federal and State agencies, organizations, Native American tribes, and members of the public to submit comments or suggestions to assist in identifying significant environmental issues and in determining the scope of this PEIS. The public scoping period started with the publication of the Notice of Intent in the Federal Register and ended July 15, 2008.
During the public scoping period, the Agencies worked collaboratively with interested parties to identify the management decisions that are best suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns. Early participation helps determine the content of each Agency's solar energy program and the future management of the Federal, State, tribal or private lands used for utility-scale solar energy projects.
How Comments Were Submitted
There were three ways to submit comments or suggestions on the scope of the Solar Energy Development PEIS:
- Electronically, using the online comment form.
- Regular mail
- Public scoping meetings (written or oral comments - see below)
Written comments or suggestions on the scope of the PEIS could also be mailed to:
Solar Energy PEIS Scoping
Argonne National Laboratory
9700 S. Cass Ave. – EVS/900
Argonne IL 60439
Comment Consideration
Written and oral comments will be given equal weight, and the Agencies will consider all comments that were received or postmarked by July 15, 2008, in defining the scope of this PEIS. Comments received or postmarked after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.
Public Scoping Meetings
Public scoping meetings for the Solar Energy Development PEIS were held in eleven cities in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah in June and July 2008, on the dates and times indicated under Public Meetings.
Transcripts of the scoping meetings, as well as materials presented at the scoping meetings, including agency presentations, technical summaries prepared by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and a project factsheet, are available on the Documents and Public Meetings pages.
Cooperating Agencies
The Agencies invite any Federal, State, or local agency or tribal government with jurisdiction by law or special expertise in solar energy development to be a cooperating agency. The California Energy Commission, California Public Utilities Commission, and California Department of Fish and Game have already indicated that they plan to participate as cooperating agencies. Other agencies or governments may become cooperating agencies at a later date.
Future Public Involvement Opportunities
Scoping is one phase of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis process. It is intended to give interested parties the chance to comment on a proposed action and to offer suggestions about the issues to be considered in the EIS analyses. Scoping is the earliest, but not the last, opportunity for people to provide input on the Solar Energy Development PEIS. The public and other interested parties will be invited to provide comments on the Draft PEIS when it is published.
For More Information
For more information on public participation in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, please consult the following publications:
For further information on the Solar Energy Development Programmatic EIS, please contact:
Lisa Jorgensen
Department of Energy
Golden Field Office
lisa.jorgensen@go.doe.gov
Phone: (303) 275-4906
or
Linda Resseguie
Bureau of Land Management
Washington Office
linda_resseguie@blm.gov
Phone: (202) 452-7774
|
E-mail this page
Print version