Welcome to the Environmental and Construction Compliance Monitoring Program website for the Ocotillo Wind Energy Project (OWEF). The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued a Record of Decision approving the project on May 11, 2012 and issued the right-of-way (ROW) grant on May 11, 2012.
An Environmental and Construction Compliance Monitoring Program (ECCMP) was prepared for the project. The plan addresses the requirement to develop an environmental and construction monitoring plan for the project covering both construction and operation. This site has been established to track construction and monitor progress and completion of the mitigation goals established in the project's Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and stipulations in the ROW grant.
Quick Links
Operations and Maintenance Updates
Contact Information During Construction
Construction Progress and Environmental and Construction Compliance Reporting
Background
Ocotillo Express (OE) LLC submitted an application for a ROW authorization to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission, an approximate 12,484-acre, up to 465-megawatt (MW) wind energy facility in western Imperial County on October 8, 2009. The application included up to 155 wind generating turbines, a substation, switchyard, administration, operations and maintenance facilities, transmission, and temporary construction lay down areas.
On May 11, 2012, the BLM issued a ROW grant to OE LLC to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission an up to 315 MW wind energy project (Ocotillo Wind Energy Facility Project) and its ancillary facilities on 10,151 acres of public lands near the town of Ocotillo, Imperial County, California. The project components to be developed on public lands include up to 112 wind turbines, a project substation/switchyard, an operations and maintenance building, access roads, underground collector cable system, and onsite permanent radar and up to three meteorological towers. Also included are the following temporary construction facilities: parking/staging area/connex storage areas, construction laydown area, and a temporary pond.
Operations and Maintenance Updates
Notice of Temporary Suspension of Operations – November 22, 2016
Notice of Temporary Suspension of Operations – September 20, 2021
Acceptance of Return to Service Plan
Notice of Lifting of Temporary Suspension of Operations – January 27, 2023
Eagle Take Permit
Contact Information During Construction
BLM El Centro Field Office: 760-337-4400
Imperial County Air Pollution Control District: 760-482-4606
Imperial County Planning & Development Services: 760-482-4236
Project email: ocotillowindfacility@dudek.com
(Please note that email and attachment size limit is 10MB)
Construction Notices
Notice of Intent to Commence Construction - May 4, 2012
Notice of Intent to Commence Construction - Update - May 21, 2012
Construction Progress and Environmental Compliance Reporting
The BLM, in conjunction with OE LLC drafted an Environmental and Construction Compliance Monitoring Plan (ECCMP) to ensure compliance with mitigation measures approved in the Final EIS/EIR, as well as with the terms and conditions associated with the BLM ROW grant. Although changes may be made to the document as construction progresses, a current version of the ECCMP document and attachments is found here. The regional vicinity map and project location map depict the location of the project.
Notice to Proceeds (NTP's)
Issuance of NTPs will be contingent upon OE LLC’s compliance with pre-construction requirements as specified by the approved mitigation measures and responsible agency permitting requirements. Approved pre-compliance reports, permit applications, and other documents are available in their final form here. NTPs that have been issued to OE LLC are noted in the table below.
| Notice to Proceed | Construction Activities | NTP Request Submitted | NTP Issued |
| 1 |
Construction of the following components:
|
April 27, 2010 | May 14, 2012 Figure 1. NTP-1 conditions |
| 2 |
Construction of the following facilities:
|
June 8, 2012 | June 27, 2012 |
| 3 | Commercial Operation
|
November 27, 2012 | December 21, 2012 |
Environmental Monitoring Reports
A BLM Environmental Monitor (EM) will monitor construction activities to ensure that they are conducted in accordance with the approved mitigation measures and permit conditions. Monthly reports documenting construction status and compliance activities are posted here.
Variance Requests
As defined by the ECCMP, at various times throughout project construction, the need for extra workspace or additional access roads may be identified. Similarly, changes to the project requirements (e.g., mitigation measures, specifications, etc.) may be needed to facilitate construction or provide more effective protection of resources (e.g., installation of additional erosion control outside of approved disturbance areas). The BLM Project Manager, along with the BLM EMs, will implement the variance procedures defined in the ECCMP to evaluate each proposed project variance for its potential for creating adverse environmental effects to determine whether supplemental NEPA review is required. Variance requests are posted here.
Approval Documents
For Additional Information
For inquiries or to request additional information or to be added to the mailing list, please contact us by phone, fax, or email as follows:
BLM El Centro Field Office: 760-337-4400
Imperial County Air Pollution Control District: 760-482-4606
Imperial County Planning & Development Services: 760-482-4236
Project email: ocotillowindfacility@dudek.com
(Please note that email and attachment size limit is 10MB)
BLM Project Manager:
| Carrie Sahagun Bureau of Land Management El Centro Field Office 1661 S. 4th Street El Centro, CA 92243 Phone: 760-337-4437 Email: csahagun@blm.gov |
