Imperial County, CA — February 27, 2026 — The County of Imperial announced today that it is extending the public review period for the Lithium Valley Specific Plan (LVSP) and accompanying Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) to provide stakeholders more time to review and submit comments.
The decision follows requests from a wide range of interested parties, including environmental justice organizations, tribal representatives, state agencies, industry stakeholders, and community groups. The County recognizes the depth of public interest in the initiative and the importance of ensuring meaningful participation in this milestone planning effort.
“Lithium Valley represents one of the most significant economic, environmental, and infrastructure initiatives in Imperial County’s history,” said Chairwoman Peggy Price. “We have been listening carefully to feedback from all organizations and individuals. Extending the review period reflects our commitment to ensuring everyone has a meaningful opportunity to participate in shaping the future of this initiative.”
The LVSP and PEIR together outline a comprehensive framework to guide future development in the region, including geothermal energy production, critical mineral recovery, manufacturing, infrastructure, workforce development, and community investment strategies. Because of the breadth of issues addressed, the County determined that extending the review period supports transparency, strengthens the planning process, and allows stakeholders to participate more fully.
The extended review period will now remain open until April 17, 2026, at 5PM, after which the County will compile and respond to all written comments on significant environmental issues, received in conformance with the Notice of Extended Comment Period/Notice of Availability. The County encourages residents, organizations, and agencies to continue reviewing the documents and providing input during this extended timeframe.
The following information is available for review on the County’s website or the County Planning and Development Department:
- Copies of the Draft PEIR, Draft PEIR Appendices A-1 through L-2 (excluding Confidential Tribal Consultation Appendix K), documents incorporated by reference, requested Draft PEIR references, the revised December 2025 LVSP, LVSP Appendices A through C, the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance/Map Amendments, and the Construction Workforce Ordinance. The Draft PEIR Executive Summary Chapter and the LVSP Executive Summary have also been translated into Spanish and previously made available on the County’s website. Copies of the Draft PEIR are also available at Imperial County Free Library, Calipatria Branch, at 105 S Lake Ave, Calipatria, CA 92233.
To review the files online or for information on how submit comments (included in the Notice of Extended Comment Period/Notice of Availability), please visit https://imperialcounty.org/lvsppeir/