Mammoth Pacific - Basalt Canyon Geothermal Pipeline Project

Basalt Canyon Geothermal Pipeline Project

The pipeline route was chosen to minimize visibility
and potential environmental impacts.

PROJECT:In order to allow sufficient time for a thorough public review process, Mammoth Pacific is proceeding on a parallel track to its exploration efforts, working to permit a pipeline to bring new geothermal fluid to our existing power plants. The proposed pipeline would connect production wells developed under the Basalt Canyon Exploration Project and/or the Upper Basalt Exploration Project to the existing pipeline system, should the geothermal resource prove sufficient for energy production. This pipeline would support approximately 4,000 gallons per minute of geothermal fluid flow. This flow would optimize electrical production at the existing facilities and enable aging, less efficient wells to be shut down.

The pipeline route was carefully chosen in order to reduce visibility and minimize any potential environmental impacts. The project is expected to have no significant environmental impacts.

STATUS: The proposal was submitted in April 2003 and a public tour of the project was conducted on July 26, 2003 by the various agencies. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and Mono County will now prepare an Environmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Statement on the Basalt Canyon Geothermal Pipeline Project in conformance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the California Environmental Quality Act. The proposal solicited scoping comments again in February 2004 for the potential connection of the pipeline to Upper Basalt wells. The Pipeline was approved by Mono County Planning Commission on 10/13/2005 and by the BLM and USFS on 10/14/2005. Construction started in December 2005.

At Mammoth Pacific, we welcome the public’s involvement and believe that the project will be found to have no significant impacts. As is our general practice, Mammoth Pacific will utilize best management practices and implement various mitigation measures to ensure that the project achieves our standards of excellence in addition to meeting all regulatory requirements.

As part of the environmental mitigation measures Mammoth Pacific has instituted a noise monitoring program to monitor noise levels at the pipeline sites. The program is also designed to respond to noise complaints or inquiries. Questions or complaints about noise can be lodged at 760-934-4893 ext. 277-- 24 hours a day