3The Solar PEIS ROD will recognize all previously approved solar projects. As of

4 May 31, 2012, the BLM had approved 11 utility-scale solar projects on public lands and 5 linear

5ROWs that enabled development of projects on private lands. Each approval was based on a

6site-specific EIS and announced through a Federal Register Notice and press release

7accompanied by a project fact sheet and map. These documents are available at http://www.blm.

10this Final Solar PEIS. Three of the approved public land projects in California will require

11additional case processing and environmental review to consider post-authorization requests to

12change technology.

13

14Seven of the approved public land projects are located in the California Desert District

15planning boundary of the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan. The CDCA Plan

16requires that all sites associated with power generation or transmission not already identified in

17that Plan be considered through the BLM’s land use plan amendment process.7 As a result, prior

18to approval of these seven projects, the BLM had to specifically amend the CDCA Plan to allow

19each solar project. The approved amendments revise the Plan to allow for utility-scale solar

20energy development on the specified tracts of land. The BLM intends to amend the CDCA Plan

21as part of the Solar PEIS ROD to designate proposed SEZs as additional areas appropriate for

22solar energy generation and related transmission. This amendment will help streamline future

23project approvals in SEZs in the CDCA planning area. Projects within the CDCA planning area

24that are subject to the variance process (see Section 2.2.2.3.1) would still require a plan

25amendment until further amended by a subsequent planning process (e.g., the California Desert

26Renewable Energy Conservation Plan [DRECP]; see Section 2.2.2.2.6). Variance projects in the

27DRECP planning area will require additional review by the California Renewable Energy Action

28Team (REAT) to ensure consistency with the DRECP’s goals and objectives

29(see Section 1.6.2.3).

30

31

32 1.3.4 BLM Land Use Planning Process

33

34The FLPMA requires the BLM to develop land use plans, also called Resource

35Management Plans (RMPs), to guide the management of the public lands it administers. An

36RMP typically covers public lands within a particular BLM field office. The BLM’s Land

37Use Planning Handbook (H-1601-1; BLM 2005a) provides specific guidance for preparing,

38amending, and revising land use plans.

39

7The CDCA Plan, in addition to requiring that sites not previously associated with power generation or transmission be considered through a plan amendment process, also describes four multiple use classes (Class C, Class L, Class M, and Class I). Under the current CDCA Plan, solar energy projects can be sited on Class L, M, and I lands, provided that NEPA requirements are met. The BLM does not expect to change this regime in the Solar PEIS ROD, but may clarify that solar energy development is consistent with these Class L, M, and I designations in any SEZ or variance lands within the CDCA, provided that NEPA requirements are met.