West Chocolate Mountain EIS, Imperial Valley, California

For the BLM’s California Desert District Office, E & E is preparing an EIS addressing issuance of solar and wind energy ROWs and geothermal leasing within the West Chocolate Mountains Renewable Energy Project Area.  Located in Imperial County, this planning area has high-potential solar, wind, and geothermal energy resources.  The EIS will provide an evaluation of the impacts of leasing public land for geothermal energy development and the granting of ROW applications for solar and wind energy projects.  E & E has conducted public scoping meetings for this project in Calipatria, California; prepared a Class I cultural resource report, prepared interim visual resource management classifications, and is currently preparing the Draft EIS.