Coso Geothermal Development
California Energy Company, Inc.
RMT'S ROLE:
Prepared over 20 environmental documents, including PEAs, EAs, EISs, and joing federal/state documents for nine 25-MW power plant units, two transmission lines, and three exploration and development well fields. RMT performed the following services for the Coso Geothermal Development:
- Coordinated involvement of three federal and four state permitting and responsible agencies
- Prepared and facilitated consensus in interagency agreements to define and streamline permitting process
- Prepared Plans of Exploraton, Development, Utilization, and Injection
- Participated in power plant engineering and design studies to ensure environmental compliance and protection
- Prepared transmission line routing alternatives studies
- Developed and successfully implemented baseline data collection programs on over 16,000 acres
- Collected baseline meteorological data
- Prepared Field Environmental Compliance Manual
- Prepared California Energy Commission Small Power Plant Exemption Application environmental sections, responded to data requests, and testified at public workshops and hearings
- Assisted in air and water quality permitting
- Developed and implemented successful fast-track permitting strategy
- Conducted environmental audits of the geothermal field for the client and for China Lake Naval Weapons Center, verifying compliance with and effectiveness of operational conditions and mitigation measures
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES:
The project involved:
- Permitting under accelerated schedules
- Multiple agency coordination
- Air quality
- Application of new technology
- Public educatoin
- Effects on cultural resources
- Effects on hot springs
- Effects on threatened species
- Land use conflicts
- Native American concerns
