Agency Milestone Date of 08/08/2025 for Section 106 consultation concluded (Agency Action) has passed by 1 business days
Nevada
Description:
In accordance with Section 106 of the NHPA, federal agencies are required to consider the effects of their undertakings on historic properties listed in or eligible for listing in the NRHP. The regulations also specify the need for meaningful consultation with State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPOs), Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPOs), Native American Tribes, and other interested parties during all phases of Section 106 compliance.
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) implementing regulations for Section 106 of the NHPA (36 CFR Part 800) encourage federal agencies to coordinate compliance with the procedural requirements of Section 106 of the NHPA with the NEPA requirements. Consistent with the Section 106 regulations, the BLM, as the lead federal agency chose to fulfill its obligations under Section 106 by using the process outlined in 36 CFR 800.8(c), otherwise known as “NEPA Substitution.” This substitution process allows a federal agency officials to use the process and documentation required for the preparation of an environmental assessment or an EIS to comply with Section 106 in lieu of procedures set forth in 36 CFR 800.3 through 36 CFR 800.6 (36 CFR 800.8(c)). Federal agencies’ statutory obligations under NEPA and NHPA are independent, but integrating the processes creates efficiencies and supports a broad discussion of effects to the human environment. For the Bonanza Solar Project, the BLM complied with the standards set forth in 36 CFR 800.8(c)(1)(i)-(iv) following the advanced notification to the SHPO/THPO and ACHP of its intention to use NEPA Substitution.
Consultation is on-going under the NHPA Substitution regulations located at 36 CFR 800.8(c). Pursuant to 36 CFR Part 800 and as the lead federal agency for the undertaking, the BLM initiated Section 106 consultation and participated in ongoing consultation throughout the project. The BLM is committed to continued consultation during implementation of the Historic Properties Treatment Plan (HPTP) until all adverse effects are resolved. The Section 106 consultation letters and meeting materials are included in Appendix H of the Draft EIS/RMPA with additional details about how the BLM is meeting its obligations under the 36 CFR 800.8(c) process.
The BLM sent notifications of its intent to use NEPA Substitution to the Nevada SHPO, THPOs, ACHP, and Native American Tribes in September 2022 and August 2023 consistent with 36 CFR 800.8(c). Notification correspondence is included in Appendix H of Draft EIS/RMPA.
Milestones:
PROJECT WEBSITE: Bonanza Solar Project
All dates below are specific to the schedule of the Environmental Review and Permitting processes for this project.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING STATUS
IN PROGRESS
ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING
01/07/2026
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING PROCESSES
COMPLETED
SECTOR
Renewable Energy Production
CATEGORY
Project Category
FAST-41 Covered Projects
LEAD AGENCY
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
View FAST-41 Postings by Agencies
Other Agencies with Actions or Authorizations:
Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service
Description:
Bonanza Solar, LLC proposes to construct, operate, and decommission a 300 MW solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage system electrical generation plant and associated facilities on approximately half of the 5,133 acre "application area". The proposed project site is entirely on land administered by the Bureau of Land Management, Southern Nevada District. The proposed project would be on Solar Variance lands as identified in the 2012 Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Solar Energy Development in Six Southwestern States (Solar PEIS).
6/13/2025 Update:
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) missed the June 5, 2025 milestone to publish the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).
Per 42 U.S.C.§ 4370m-2(c)(2)(F), BLM is required to provide an alternative completion date and an initial explanation for the missed completion date by June 13, 2025. BLM has provided the initial explanation for the missed date, but has not yet provided the required alternative completion date.
The Executive Director is working directly with BLM leadership to ensure an alternative completion date is determined and represented on the permitting timetable as soon as possible.
The DOI-BLM internal review and briefing process is occurring during a transition period for new Bureau and Department leadership. As such, the review of the project is requiring enhanced coordination that has affected the timeline for this project.