Comments invited on Washington Cty., Utah, wind measurement towers

Source: U.S. Bureau of Land Management | Action alerts, Announcements, Environment, Utah

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United States Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
St. George Field Office
345 East Riverside Drive
St. George, Utah 84790
http://www.blm.gov

IN REPLY REFER TO:
2200
UTU-86055
(UT-100)

September 25, 2008

Dear Interested Party;

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), St. George Field Office is inviting comments on a proposal from Mormon Mesa Power Partners to erect up to twenty-three anemometer towers and appurtenant components to test the wind resource on various parcels of public land throughout Washington County, Utah. The towers would be approximately 200 ft. tall and would be authorized for a period of three years with an option for renewal for an additional three year term. The tower sites are located on BLM lands under the jurisdiction of the St. George Field Office and are shown on the enclosed map. The project proposal includes accessing, erecting, operating, and ultimately decommission[ing] the anemometer towers that are designed to measure wind in the area. Data collected by the towers could facilitate the development of a wind energy generation and transmission project at a later date.

The St. George Field Office is preparing an environmental analysis (EA) to analyze and disclose the environmental impacts and potential safety concerns that could result from erecting the anemometer towers. The findings of the EA will assist BLM in its decision-making process and will satisfy federal legal mandates related to this proposal, including the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, and the Endangered Species Act. Based on the EA analysis, BLM will either issue a decision to authorize the project as proposed, recommend the Applicant modify the proposed action, or deny the project due to its unacceptable impacts to the environment.

You are invited to submit written comments on the proposed wind testing project and to identity issues that should be analyzed in the EA. [emphasis added] Please submit your comments in writing to the address shown above, during the 30 day public scoping period that will end on October 30, 2008. Electronic mail will also be accepted and should be sent to UT_SGFO_Comments@blm.gov with Mormon Mesa Wind Testing Project inserted in the subject line.

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your written comments, you should be aware that your entire comment including your personal identifying information may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. For more information concerning this project, please contact Shered Mullins, St. George Field Office Realty Specialist at (435) 688-3225.

Jimmy Tyree
~~~
St. George Field Office Manager

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