Imperial County Lithium Valley Specific Plan

Imperial County Lithium Valley Specific Plan

On June 30, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 125 authorizing the state to assist in developing Imperial County’s lithium resource in an area that is a part of the Salton Sea Known Geothermal Resource Area, known as Lithium Valley. SB 125 appropriated funding to develop a Lithium Valley Specific Plan (LVSP) and PEIR, and adopted a lithium excise tax to fund Salton Sea restoration efforts and to fund affected communities. The LVSP facilitates renewable energy development, lithium extraction, associated infrastructure, commercial, and related manufacturing industries, which provide quality local jobs, while minimizing adverse effects on the environment and public health. The LVSP would serve as the land use and zoning regulations on the southeastern side of the Salton Sea. The Project would change the permissible land uses, to include Green Industrial (e.g. geothermal energy, lithium/mineral extraction), Manufacturing (e.g. lithium batteries), Logistics, Renewables, Community Opportunity Areas, Solar, Playa Restoration, Floodplains, and Conservation, with an Agricultural Overlay. This Project would be a pivotal step for Imperial Valley towards a more sustainable and localized economy and support the nations’ ability to produce sustainable energy and technologies. The Project also includes amendments to the County General Plan and Zoning Ordinance /Map.

Brawley, Calipatria, Niland

Imperial

Countywide

California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy (CVMC), California Department of Conservation (DOC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Habitat Conservation Planning (CDFW), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Inland Deserts Region 6 (CDFW), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), California Department of Transportation, District 11 (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation Planning (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Energy Commission, California Fish and Game Commission (CDFGC), California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Highway Patrol (CHP), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Natural Resources Agency, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Colorado River Basin Region 7 (RWQCB), California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Lahontan Victorville Region 6 (RWQCB), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Office of Historic Preservation, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Rights, State Water Resources Control Board, Divison of Financial Assistance

Other (Specific Plan)

Specific Plan

Aesthetics, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Cumulative Effects, Drainage/Absorption, Energy, Flood Plain/Flooding, Geology/Soils, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Growth Inducement, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Mineral Resources, Noise, Population/Housing, Public Services, Recreation, Schools/Universities, Septic System, Sewer Capacity, Solid Waste, Transportation, Tribal Cultural Resources, Utilities/Service Systems, Vegetation, Wetland/Riparian, Wildfire