Among entities that filed protests related to the solar plan were Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, or PEER, which along with some others raised concerns about threats from solar development to the Old Spanish National Historic Trail. That route runs from Santa Fe to Los Angeles and passes through the Grand Junction area. PEER and some others recently sued the BLM over its alleged failure to meet legal requirements to protect the trail, including from potential oil and gas development in the Grand Junction area.
The BLM says it has complied with pertinent statutes and regulations related to management of the trail.