The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is continuing work to establish a solar energy program in six southwestern states including Nevada. The next phase involves conducting a regional mitigation pilot for the proposed Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone (SEZ), in Clark County, Nev.

On Aug. 29 and 30, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Tuscany Suites and Casino, 255 East Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, the BLM will share information about the solar energy program and will hold discussions on developing regional mitigation plans as outlined in the Final Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement that was released July 24. We will ask participants to provide thoughts and ideas about mitigation for the Dry Lake SEZ, as well as future environmental monitoring and adaptive management plans for the SEZ.

The Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone

is located in an undeveloped rural area in Dry Lake Valley, north of Las Vegas. The zone is bounded on the west by Arrow Canyon Range and on the southeast by the Dry Lake Range.

Comments on both the Draft Solar Programmatic EIS and the Supplement to the Draft Solar Programmatic EIS showed significant public interest in working cooperatively to develop regional mitigation plans for solar energy zones and for developing a long-term and scientifically-based environmental monitoring and adaptive management plan for solar energy development on BLM-administered lands.

If you are interested in attending and are interested in providing comments on the upcoming Dry Lake Mitigation Workshop, please RSVP and send comments to: drylakemitigation@blm.gov.

Additional information, including a map, draft workshop agenda, and other documents will be available on the BLM Nevada website at: www.blm.gov/nv.