Picuris Pueblo Community Solar Array Award Number: DE-IE0000033 CX(s) Applied: A9, B5.16 Office of Indian Energy Date: 12/13/2016 Location(s): NM Office(s): Golden Field Office
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
December 13, 2016
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Picuris Pueblo Community Solar Array
Award Number: DE-IE0000033
CX(s) Applied: A9, B5.16
Office of Indian Energy
Date: 12/13/2016
Location(s): NM
Office(s): Golden Field Office
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to provide funding to the Northern Pueblos Housing Authority (NPHA) for the Picuris Pueblo Community Solar Array Project. This project consists of design, permitting, construction, and commissioning of a 1MW single axis, ground mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) array that would occupy approximately seven acres of a ten-acre parcel of Tribal trust land in northern New Mexico. DOE completed a previous NEPA Determination for preliminary design and pre-construction activities (GFO-0000033-001; CX A9; 06/10/16). This NEPA review is specific to the remaining DOE funded activities only and analyzes the potential impacts associated with the project activities not covered by GFO-0000033-001 (i.e. the construction and surface disturbance associated with installation of the PV array).
As part of Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) requirements for the approval of a lease for development, an Environmental Assessment (EA) was completed in November 2012 by Pueblo of Picuris for the BIA to analyze the impacts of commercial development (gas station, RV park, and convenience store) at the proposed site. A revised EA titled “Environmental Assessment, Solar Generation Facility Project, Pueblo of Picuris, Taos County, New Mexico,” is being completed to analyze the installation of the PV array instead of the originally considered commercial development because approval of a lease for development of the property may be needed. If a lease is needed, completion of the revised EA and the issuance of the lease by the BIA would be required prior to beginning work on installation of the PV array.