Department Of Interior

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Office of the Secretary
John Wright
For Immediate Release:October 31, 2003
202-208-6416


Interior Dept. Schedules Local Meetings to Gain
Public Input on Development of Wind Energy

WASHINGTON-Secretary of the Interior Gale A. Norton announced today that as part of ongoing efforts to implement the President's National Energy Policy and increase the use of renewable and alternative energy sources, the Bureau of Land Management has scheduled 10 public scoping meetings in five western states to gain input on the development of wind energy.

"The current contribution of wind energy resources to America's total electricity supply is relatively small, but there is tremendous potential for growth," said Norton. "The wind energy program we are initiating will help America realize that potential."

Increasing America's use of renewable and alternative energy is a part of the President's National Policy. Renewable and alternative energy supplies will help to diversify the country's energy portfolio with little or no environmental impacts. "Tapping into and using the abundant, naturally occurring sources of energy such as the sun, the wind, geothermal heat and biomass will help to reduce our reliance on foreign imports and reduce some of our dependency on fossil fuels," Norton said.

The public scoping process is the first step in the development of a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS), which the BLM announced in a Notice of Intent published in the Federal Register of October 17, 2003. An official web site for the Wind Energy PEIS is online at windeis.anl.gov.

The PEIS will evaluate issues associated with increased development of wind energy and consider them in land-use plans throughout the western region. Preparation of the PEIS is a multi-step process that will take about 24 months to complete and will include publication of a draft PEIS, a final PEIS and a Record of Decision.

The public scoping meetings are scheduled for the locations and dates indicated below:

November 3, 2003 - Sacramento, California
Red Lion Hotel; 1401 Arden Way, Sacramento, CA 95815
Interior officials participating: Patricia Morrison, principal deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management and BLM State Director Mike Pool
Time:1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. [all times local]
For more information: 916-922-8041

November 5, 2003 - Salt Lake City, Utah
Marriott City Center; 220 South State, Salt Lake City, UT 84111;
Interior officials participating: Dan Garza, deputy director for Intergovernmental and External Affairs and BLM State Director, Sally Wisely
Time: 1 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. [all times local]
For more information: 801-961-8700

November 12, 2003 - Cheyenne, Wyoming
Holiday Inn; 204 West Fox Farm Road; Cheyenne, WY 82007
Interior officials participating: Kit Kimball, director for Intergovernmental and External Affairs and BLM State Director Bob Bennett
Time:1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. [all times local]
For more information: 307-638-4466

November 18, 2003 - Las Vegas, Nevada
Crowne Plaza; 4255 South Paradise Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89109
Interior officials participating: Rebecca Watson, assistant secretary for Land and Minerals Management and BLM State Director Bob Abbey
Time:1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p..m. to 10 p.m. [all times local]
For more information: 702-369-4400

November 20, 2003 - Boise, Idaho
Location: Boise Center on the Grove; 850 W. Front St., Boise, Idaho 83702
Interior officials participating: Kathleen Clarke, director of the Bureau of Land Management and BLM State Director K. Lynn Bennett
Time:1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p..m. to 10 p.m. [all times local]
For more information: 208-336-8900

"The participation of citizens and the local communities are vital to this process," Norton said. "I encourage everyone to attend these meetings and get their views and concerns heard."

The Interior Department manages one in every five acres of land in the United States and produce about 30 percent of the nation's energy supply. Approximately, one-third of the country's natural gas, coal, and oil, one-half of geothermal, 17 percent of hydropower and 20 percent of wind power are produced in areas managed by the Interior Department.



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