Silver Rock Transmission Line would cross Utah and Nevada public lands

Issues on the record, awaiting the decision

• PendingThe notice states the BLM 'anticipates signing a Record of Decision in the summer of 2028,' but provides no explanation of how that schedule is consistent with the complexity of a 330-mile, two-state,

  The notice states the BLM 'anticipates signing a Record of Decision in the summer of 2028,' but provides no explanation of how that schedule is consistent with the complexity of a 330-mile, two-state, multi-agency project requiring ESA consultation, Section 106 review, and government-to-government Tribal consultation. Announcing a fixed ROD date before scoping is complete creates pressure to compress analysis and limit the range of alternatives studied. The BLM should clarify that the 2028 ROD date is tentative and will not constrain the adequacy of the EIS analysis.

  A hole PLAN found in the agency’s own notice, quote verified against the text

• PendingThe notice lists only three alternative routes assessed by the applicant as contingency options, but provides no information about what criteria were used to screen them, what geographic areas they co

  The notice lists only three alternative routes assessed by the applicant as contingency options, but provides no information about what criteria were used to screen them, what geographic areas they cover, or why they are reasonable. The notice states these routes were 'assessed by Silver Rock Transmission, LLC, as contingency options,' meaning the applicant -- not the BLM -- drove the initial alternatives screening. NEPA requires the agency to independently develop a reasonable range of alternatives. The BLM should explain in the EIS what methodology it used to independently identify and screen alternatives, and should solicit public nominations of additional routes before narrowing the field, not after analysis is underway.

  A hole PLAN found in the agency’s own notice, quote verified against the text

• PendingThe notice lists 'wildfire' nowhere in the preliminary issues or the interdisciplinary team disciplines, even though a 600-kilovolt transmission line crossing hundreds of miles of arid Great Basin veg

  The notice lists 'wildfire' nowhere in the preliminary issues or the interdisciplinary team disciplines, even though a 600-kilovolt transmission line crossing hundreds of miles of arid Great Basin vegetation creates a well-documented ignition risk. The omission is especially notable given that the project traverses BLM-managed rangeland. The BLM should add wildfire risk and vegetation management to the EIS scope and to the interdisciplinary team's analytical responsibilities.

  A hole PLAN found in the agency’s own notice, quote verified against the text

• PendingThe 'Summary of Expected Impacts' section omits water resources entirely.

  The 'Summary of Expected Impacts' section omits water resources entirely. A 330-mile transmission corridor crossing Millard, Beaver, Iron, Lincoln, and Clark Counties would cross or approach numerous water bodies, irrigation systems, and groundwater recharge areas. Neither surface water, groundwater, wetlands, nor floodplains appear in the preliminary issues list. The BLM should add water resources -- including effects on wells, springs, stock water, and jurisdictional waters -- to the EIS scope before analysis begins.

  A hole PLAN found in the agency’s own notice, quote verified against the text

• PendingThe notice states all scoping meetings will be held virtually, with up to three meetings total for a project spanning 330 miles across five counties and two states.

  The notice states all scoping meetings will be held virtually, with up to three meetings total for a project spanning 330 miles across five counties and two states. Rural communities along the corridor -- including ranchers, water users, and Tribal members -- may lack reliable internet access. Holding no in-person meetings in affected communities limits meaningful participation. The BLM should hold in-person meetings in at least the major affected counties in Utah and Nevada and should not restrict public engagement to virtual formats alone.

  A hole PLAN found in the agency’s own notice, quote verified against the text

• PendingThe notice identifies Executive Order 14154, 'Unleashing American Energy,' as part of the legal basis for the project's need, alongside FLPMA and the Reclamation Act.

  The notice identifies Executive Order 14154, 'Unleashing American Energy,' as part of the legal basis for the project's need, alongside FLPMA and the Reclamation Act. Citing an executive order as a statutory basis for need could improperly foreclose the no-action alternative or weight the EIS toward approval, because it frames denial as contrary to presidential policy. The BLM should clarify in the EIS that the no-action alternative will be given full and unbiased consideration and that Executive Order 14154 does not predetermine the outcome.

  A hole PLAN found in the agency’s own notice, quote verified against the text

• PendingThe notice omits air quality, noise, and climate from the preliminary issues list, despite the fact that construction of up to two 600-kilovolt lines across 330 miles would generate substantial heavy

  The notice omits air quality, noise, and climate from the preliminary issues list, despite the fact that construction of up to two 600-kilovolt lines across 330 miles would generate substantial heavy equipment emissions, fugitive dust, and long-term electromagnetic field concerns for nearby residents. The BLM should include air quality, noise, and greenhouse gas emissions in the EIS scope and explain why these topics were not listed as preliminary issues.

  A hole PLAN found in the agency’s own notice, quote verified against the text

• PendingThe scoping comment deadline is October 5, 2026, only 30 days after the September 3, 2026 publication date.

  The scoping comment deadline is October 5, 2026, only 30 days after the September 3, 2026 publication date. The project covers 330 miles across five counties in two states, involves Bureau of Reclamation lands, and requires coordination with multiple Tribal Nations. A 30-day window for a project of this geographic scale and complexity is inadequate for affected communities, particularly Tribal governments that have government-to-government consultation obligations that cannot be fulfilled in that timeframe. The BLM should extend the scoping period to at least 60 days to allow meaningful participation.

  A hole PLAN found in the agency’s own notice, quote verified against the text

• PendingThe notice states the BLM's purpose and need is simply 'to respond to the ROW application submitted by Silver Rock Transmission, LLC.' Defining agency purpose solely by what the applicant requested is

  The notice states the BLM's purpose and need is simply 'to respond to the ROW application submitted by Silver Rock Transmission, LLC.' Defining agency purpose solely by what the applicant requested is a recognized NEPA defect because it eliminates from consideration any alternative that does not serve the applicant's specific proposal. The BLM should revise the purpose and need statement in the EIS to reflect a broader public-interest framing that does not automatically foreclose alternatives such as a no-action route, smaller-scale transmission, or different terminal points.

  A hole PLAN found in the agency’s own notice, quote verified against the text