The workshop featured discussion about the proposed geothermal project, which will be located in Fernley and Churchill County. Representatives from Citizens for Smart Geothermal Growth appeared to have made headway regarding concerns about such issues as monitoring wells and issues about total dissolves solids in agriculture soil.
The Fernley Planning Commission will discuss a SUP for Patua geothermal project at its March 14 meeting.
Ken Bonin of Patua Project LLC reported the company was no longer considering a power plant site in Fernley as well as interconnection lines associated with that power plant.
The project in Fernley will include two temperature gradient holes; 13 new well pads and associated geothermal fluid pipe lines and access roads.
Mark Rupert, resident, supported the project saying he lives near Phase II, adding, “This project is important to our community. We can’t go backwards we have to go forwards.”
Gino Borges of CFSG spoke on behalf of about 80 other citizens and talked about the need for a baseline data concerning the underground watershed, noting that 26 wells have already been drilled and there was a potential for 13 more well pads.
He asked if the city has data concerning its water supply and noted, “You have none in terms of this project,” and asked how the city will know if the watershed is damaged.
“What are you going to do if all of a sudden the underground water supply is threatened? You should have a plan in advance before you penetrate the watershed,” said Borges.
He noted the city has water modeling concepts supplied by Gradient Resources, but the city has not discussed mitigation plans if domestic wells, livestock wells, or municipal wells are impacted.
City Engineer Cody Black reported the city obtained a ruling from the State Engineer’s Office that Gradient will be drilling through impermeable rock and won’t disrupt the layers that would impact Fernley’s groundwater. Further, Black said there was no significant impact on the city’s water resources.
He noted, though, that the city would advocate for water quality monitoring, and the city would have to reach out to the public to allow the municipality to monitor private wells. Black also indicated the city would work with Churchill County on the issue.
Churchill County Manager Brad Goetsch remarked in Churchill County to conduct water quality testing on private property an entities would have to get permission, but there is a liability issue that needs to be addressed. If the test result in not favorable and it is published, “I just devalued their property,” he said.
Goetsch suggested city staff discuss the issue of water quality testing with the city attorney office to determine if the test results could be disclosed.
He continued saying that he does support baseline testing of groundwater, but agencies such as the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection and the State Engineer’s Office and the Department of Mining need to be involved. He noted that Churchill County will say to the state that there are gaps in the data and further studies are needed.
“We need a baseline on what happened in the past study,” said Goetsch. Funding though is an issue and at times Churchill County requires the applicant to fund the project.
Concerning salt levels in the fields, Borges noted the issue of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in agriculture land must be addressed. He noted some farmers in Stillwater have lost their ag land due to the Stillwater Geothermal project.
Interim City Manager Fred Turnier noted the company will be required to conduct soil testing for the pads they construct. He added the responsibility of soil disruption lies with the state for dust mitigation and storm water pollution control.
Black remarked he had never heard about TDS in soils and noted the issue possibly could be addressed with the groundwater study. But he emphasized the city would need to address monitoring soil sites.
