What Happened
On January 17, 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced the release of its draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for utility-scale solar energy projects on public lands across the western region. Following a year-long engagement initiative, BLM crafted the draft PEIS to address solar development on public lands spanning 11 western states.
Read more in the full Regulatory Alert.
What to Watch
On Friday, January 19, 2024, BLM initiated the formal 90-day comment period for the draft PEIS by publishing the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. This period, which closes on April 18, 2024, allows stakeholders to submit written feedback or participate in virtual or in-person scoping meetings. Subsequently, BLM will develop a final PEIS and Record of Decision to amend BLM’s land use plans based on the comments received.
SWCA Lens
SWCA’s BLM solar energy and land development experts stand ready to help you evaluate potential impacts on your development plans, draft public comments in response to this draft PEIS, and navigate regulatory changes as they take shape. For more information, reach out to your SWCA project manager or one of our experts.
