Public Involvement

Opportunities for public involvement in the Wind Energy Programmatic EIS (PEIS) process were provided during scoping, after issuing the Draft PEIS, and during the 30-day protest period following issue of the Final PEIS. The Final Programmatic EIS was released on June 24, 2005. The project and public involvement activities are now complete. Information on past public involvement is provided below.

Release of the Final Programmatic EIS

A Notice of Availability (NOA) announcing the release of the Final PEIS was published in the Federal Register on June 24, 2005. The proposed action analyzed in the Final PEIS would implement a Wind Energy Development Program, establish policies and best management practices for wind energy right-of-way authorizations, and amend 52 BLM land use plans.

The Final PEIS includes proposed amendments to 52 BLM land use plans in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, as described in Appendix C of the Final PEIS. BLM land use planning regulations (43 CFR 1610.5-2) state that any person who participated in the planning process, and has an interest that may be adversely affected, may protest. The protest must be filed within 30 days of the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. Instructions for filing of protests are described in the “Dear Reader” letter in the front of Volume 1 of the Final PEIS.

Public Review of the Draft Programmatic EIS

The public was given the opportunity to provide comments on the Draft Programmatic EIS. The Draft Programmatic EIS public comment period began Sep. 10, 2004, and ended Dec. 10, 2004. Draft Programmatic EIS comments have been incorporated into Volume 3 of the Final Programmatic EIS

Prior to the public comment period, a Notice of Availability (NOA) was published in the Federal Register announcing the distribution of the Draft Programmatic EIS, announcing a public comment period, and describing how the public could submit comments. Comments were provided by mail and through the Web.

Public Scoping Process

Scoping is one phase of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis process. It is intended to give interested parties the chance to comment on a proposed action and to offer suggestions about the issues to be considered in the EIS analyses. Scoping was the earliest, but not the last, opportunity for people to provide input on the Wind Energy Programmatic EIS.

The public scoping comment period for the Wind Energy Development Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) began on Oct. 17, and closed on Dec. 19, 2003. Public meetings for the Wind Energy Development Programmatic were held in five Western states during November 2003. Comments were also provided by mail, through the Web, and by fax.