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New Mexico meetings on planned geothermal leasing

New Mexico meetings on planned geothermal leasing Santa Fe National Forest, NM (Source: Flickr, CC, By: Artotem)
Alexander Richter 27 May 2015

The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) has scheduled two public meetings to solicit input on the potential effects of geothermal energy development on land within Forest boundaries.

Interested individuals are invited to learn more about the geothermal leasing proposal by attending the public scoping meetings scheduled on the following dates:

Monday, June 1, 2015
5:00 p.m.
Cuba Ranger Station
04b County Road 11
Cuba, NM  87013
575.289.3264

Tuesday, June 2, 2015
5:00 p.m.
Santa Fe National Forest Headquarters
11 Forest Lane
Santa Fe, NM 87509
505.438.5300

The U.S. Geological Survey has identified approximately 195,000 acres within the boundaries of the SFNF with “significant geothermal potential,” and the Bureau of Land Management has received expressions of interest in leasing approximately 46,000 acres of SFNF land for geothermal exploration and development.

The Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed geothermal leasing project as part of the decision-making process on whether to open SFNF lands to geothermal leasing.  The EIS will include issues raised at the public meetings and in public comments received through June 12, 2015.

Written comments may be sent via email to comments-southwestern-santafe@fs.fed.us, via facsimile to 505.438.5390, or via postal service to:

Geothermal EIS Project
Santa Fe National Forest
11 Forest Lane
Santa Fe, NM  87508

The public meetings will include a brief presentation on the proposed geothermal leasing project and will give the public an opportunity to view maps and discuss the proposed action with Forest Service personnel.

Additional information on the geothermal leasing proposal and project documents are posted on the Schedule of Proposed Actions, and information on the public meetings is posted on the SFNF website under Alerts and Notices.

Source: Press Release by the USDA