Developer asked to mitigate environmental issues  

Credit:  Lassen County Times | www.lassennews.com 21 June 2012 ~~

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has yet to approve Invenergy’s Horse Lake Wind Farm project, and has asked the developer to mitigate several environmental concerns.

Ken Collum, field manager for the BLM’s Eagle Lake office, said the agency sent Invenergy a letter in May requesting a development alternative that is completely outside of Sage-Grouse habitat.

Moving the project to the north and the east would eliminate some habitat areas.

The Sage-Grouse may be listed as threatened or endangered species in 2015, so BLM asked Invenergy to develop an alternative.

Collum said the BLM also has asked the developer to do additional studies on the impact the project will have on golden and bald eagles “to determine the use and extent of their range within the project area.”

He said that study is expected to take another season or a year to complete.

“The notice of intent to begin the environmental impact statement is prepared,” Collum said, “but it will not be issued or signed until these additional studies are complete.”