PALM SPRINGS, Calif. –  Today the Bureau of Land Management helped Unleash American Energy by approving the Sapphire gen-tie transmission line and facilities project on approximately 40 acres of public lands in eastern Riverside County. EDF Renewables Development, Inc., is authorized to construct, operate, maintain, and eventually decommission a transmission line and associated facilities connecting the planned Sapphire Solar photovoltaic and storage facility on private lands to the electric grid.

“The Bureau of Land Management supports American Energy Dominance that prioritizes needs of American families and businesses,” said BLM California State Director Joe Stout.

The Sapphire Solar project aligns with Secretary’s Order 3417 to address the national energy emergency by supporting the integrity of the electrical grid while creating jobs and economic prosperity for Americans.

The associated Sapphire Solar project is planned for construction on private lands and represents a nearly $262 million infrastructure investment in the community that will create 250 construction jobs followed by 12 operational positions to run the facility. Once operational, the project will transmit and store up to 117 megawatts of solar energy daily.

Sapphire’s transmission line and facilities will be constructed on lands in the Development Focus Area-designated lands in the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, a landscape-level plan that streamlines renewable energy development, while conserving unique and valuable desert ecosystems and providing outdoor recreation opportunities. Additional information and associated documents are available at the BLM National NEPA Register.

For additional information, please contact project manager Matt Toedtli at blm_ca_pssc_sapphire@blm.gov.

MORENO VALLEY, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in partnership with the Department of Interior (DOI) and Team Rubicon, is conducting a wildland firefighter training session Jan. 22 – Jan. 25 at the Victor Valley College Regional Public Safety Training Center in Apple Valley, Calif., for military veterans. The training, one of several sessions taking place throughout the country, will train veterans in wildland fire suppression tactics, including communication techniques, fireline construction, equipment operation and other critical wildland firefighting skills.

In April 2015, DOI and BLM formed a partnership with Team Rubicon, a veteran-led disaster response nonprofit organization, to take advantage of veteran skills acquired in the military that can translate to wildland firefighting such as teamwork, decisive leadership, risk mitigation and management, logistics and emergency medicine.

Last year, newly trained Team Rubicon wildland firefighters responded to wildfires in Alaska, Nevada, California, Oregon and Washington during one of the most severe fire seasons in history.

“It just makes sense to match our veterans’ skills with wildland firefighting,” states Ron Dunton, Director of BLM Fire and Aviation. “They already understand critical aspects of the wildland fire program such as our Incident Command System and they have the work ethic we need in wildland fires.” 

By engaging veterans in disaster response, Team Rubicon seeks to provide veterans with a sense of purpose, community and identity often missing following their military service.

Several Marines founded Team Rubicon in response to the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake. Since then, the organization has responded to floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes and other severe weather damage, helping disaster survivors all over the globe.

For further information regarding the Team Rubicon program, contact Pat Ross, membership@teamrubiconusa.org or Stephen Razo, srazo@blm.gov.

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comment on the Control-Silver Peak project proposal to update existing transmission lines in Inyo and Mono counties to increase safety and reliability.

Southern California Edison proposes to replace and consolidate structures to increase ground clearance on two existing 55-kilovolt transmission lines, along approximately 61 miles of the Control-Silver Peak lines, which would meet California Public Utility Commission standards and bring the lines into compliance.

“This project ensures the safety and reliability of existing transmission lines and will improve energy transmission generation on public land,” said Shelly Lynch, BLM California Desert District Manager.

The proposed project would support approximately 350 construction jobs and would rebuild components of the existing transmission system to ensure reliability and delivery of clean energy to more than 25,000 people in the surrounding communities.

The Notice of Intent in the Federal Register opens a public comment period until Feb. 12, 2024. The public can help identify issues, suggest alternatives, or provide information for potential consideration in the Environmental Impact Statement.

As part of the scoping process, the Bureau of Land Management will hold one virtual and two in-person public meetings on the following dates/times at the BLM Bishop Field Office – USFS Inyo National Forest Office, 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 100, Bishop, CA 93514.

• In-person: Tuesday, January 16, from 2 – 4 p.m. and Wednesday, January 17, from noon – 2 p.m.
• Virtual: Wednesday, January 24, from noon – 2 p.m. The public must register to participate in the virtual public meeting. Registrants will receive a link and phone number to join the meeting.

Public comments can be submitted in the following ways:

• Email comments to: BLM_CA_CA_TLRR_ControlSilverPeak@blm.gov   
• Mail or hand deliver comments in an envelope labeled “Control-Silver Peak Project EIS” to Joan Patrovsky, Project Manager, Bureau of Land Management, California Desert District Office, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262.
• Fax: 760-833-7199

The Control-Silver Peak line western terminus is the Control Substation, approximately five miles west of Bishop in Inyo County, and the eastern terminus is at Fish Valley Substation, approximately six miles west of the California-Nevada border. For more information contact Joan Patrovsky, Bureau of Land Management Project Manager, 951-214-1775, or visit the Control Silver Peak Project BLM’s .