Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact; Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) and Draft Land Use Plan Amendments/for the Proposed Sunrise Powerlink Project, 2062-2063 [E8-280]

Download as PDF 2062 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 8 / Friday, January 11, 2008 / Notices identifying information may be publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Robert A. Bennett, State Director. [FR Doc. E8–279 Filed 1–10–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–22–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CACA–47658, CA–670–5101–ER–B204] Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact; Statement/ Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) and Draft Land Use Plan Amendments/ for the Proposed Sunrise Powerlink Project Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability. ebenthall on PRODPC61 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), together with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), has prepared a Draft EIS/EIR (which includes draft land use plan amendments) for the proposed Sunrise Powerlink Project proposed by San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E), and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period. The BLM is the lead Federal agency for the preparation of this EIS in compliance with the requirements of NEPA. The CPUC is the lead agency for the State of California for the preparation of this EIR in compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). DATES: To assure that they will be considered, the BLM/CPUC must receive written comments on the Draft EIS/EIR within 90 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes their Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. Future meetings or hearings and any other public involvement activities will be announced at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media news releases, Internet Web sites, and/ or mailings. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments in a variety of ways: (1) By U.S. mail, (2) by electronic mail, (3) by fax, or (4) by attending a public meeting and VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:33 Jan 10, 2008 Jkt 214001 submitting written comments at the meetings. By Mail: Please use first-class postage and be sure to include your name and a return address. Please send written comments to: Billie Blanchard, CPUC/ Lynda Kastoll, BLM, c/o Aspen Environmental Group, 235 Montgomery Street, Suite 935, San Francisco, CA 94104–3002. By Electronic Mail: E-mail communications are welcome; however, please remember to include your name and return address in the e-mail message. E-mail messages should be sent to sunrise@aspeneg.com. By Fax: You may fax your comments to (866) 711–3106. Please remember to include your name and return address in the fax, to write legibly, and use black or blue ink. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information concerning the Draft EIS/ Plan Amendment may be obtained from Lynda Kastoll, Project Manager for the BLM, at (760) 337–4421, or e-mail at lkastoll@ca.blm.gov. Information concerning the EIR process may be obtained from Billie Blanchard, Project Manager for the CPUC, at (415) 703– 2068 or on the CPUC Internet Web site at https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/environment/ info/aspen/sunrise/sunrise.htm. A copy of the Draft EIS/EIR for the Proposed Sunrise Powerlink Project is available for review at: • BLM—El Centro Field Office, 1661 South 4th Street, El Centro, CA 92243, (760) 337–4421; • BLM—Palm Springs/South Coast Field Office, 690 West Garnet Avenue, North Palm Springs, CA 92258, (760) 251–4849; • CPUC—Los Angeles Office, 320 West 4th Street, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90013, (213) 576–7000; • CPUC—Headquarters Office, 505 Van Ness Avenue, Room 2103, San Francisco, CA 94102, (425) 703–2074; or • CPUC Internet Web site at https:// www.cpuc.ca.gov/environment/info/ aspen/sunrise/sunrise.htm; • Several public libraries in Imperial, San Diego and Riverside Counties, California. • Electronic (on CD–ROM or DVD) or paper copies may also be obtained by contacting the BLM or the CPUC at the aforementioned addresses and phone numbers. SDG&E proposes to construct a new 91-mile, 500-kilovolt (kV) electric transmission line from Imperial Valley Substation (in Imperial County, near the City of El Centro) to a new Central East Substation (in central San Diego County, southwest of the intersection of County Highways SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 S22 and S2) and a new 59-mile 230-kV line that includes both overhead and underground segments from the new Central East Substation to SDG&E’s ˜ existing Penasquitos Substation (in the City of San Diego). Portions of the proposed 500-kV line transmission line would traverse approximately 35 miles of Federal lands managed by the BLM within the California Desert Conservation Area in Imperial County, and approximately 1 mile in San Diego County. Depending on which alternative is selected (exclusive of the No Action Alternative), the project would require an amendment to one or both of the following land use plans: the BLM’s California Desert Conservation Area Plan (as amended) and the Eastern San Diego County Planning Unit Management Framework Plan because the route alignments would deviate from BLM designated utility corridors in several areas under these alternatives. The remainder of the proposed project would cross lands owned by various entities including State of California, local governments, and private parties. The proposed transmission lines would utilize structures ranging in height from 120 to 170 feet, spaced approximately 700 to 1,600 feet apart, and would occupy rights-of-way of approximately 60 to 300 feet in width (subject to local conditions and restrictions). Existing disturbed corridors would be utilized to the extent feasible, to minimize potential environmental impacts. Where possible, SDG&E anticipates locating new facilities within or along existing rightsof-way. The Draft EIR/EIS evaluates and presents the environmental impacts that are expected to result from construction and operation of the proposed project, and presents recommended mitigation measures that would avoid or minimize many of the significant environmental impacts identified. In accordance with CEQA and NEPA, the Draft EIR/EIS identifies alternatives to the proposed project (including the No Action Alternative) that could avoid or minimize significant environmental impacts associated with the project as proposed by SDG&E, and evaluates the environmental impacts associated with these alternatives. The Draft EIR/EIS reflects input by government officials, agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and concerned members of the public during the two public scoping periods following the CPUC’s publication of the Notice of Preparation of an EIR/EIS on September 15, 2006, and the BLM’s publication of the Notice of Intent in the Federal Register on August 31, 2006. E:\FR\FM\11JAN1.SGM 11JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 8 / Friday, January 11, 2008 / Notices During those periods, several public involvement activities were completed, such as: establishment of an Internet Web page and a telephone hotline, 15 public scoping meetings (seven in October 2006 and eight in February 2007), and several meetings with a number of affected local jurisdictions. Consultation with agencies and tribal governments also continued after the formal scoping ended. In addition, notices regarding alternatives to be evaluated in the EIR/EIS were mailed to interested parties in March and May of 2007. Comments received may be published as part of the EIS/EIR process. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. J. Anthony Danna, Deputy State Director, Natural Resources (CA–930). [FR Doc. E8–280 Filed 1–10–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–40–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [NV–912–1640–PH; 08–08807; TAS: 14X1109] Notice Public Meetings: Sierra Front Northwestern Basin Resource Advisory Council, Nevada Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Announcement of meetings. ebenthall on PRODPC61 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Sierra FrontNorthwestern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will meet as indicated below. DATES AND TIMES: The RAC will meet twice in fiscal year 2008: April 29–30 at the BLM Carson City Field Office, 5665 Morgan Mill Road, Carson City, Nevada; and July 15–16 at Bruno’s Country Club ´ Cafe, 445 Main Street, Gerlach, Nevada, with a field trip to the Black Rock-High Rock National Conservation Area. All meetings are open to the public. VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:33 Jan 10, 2008 Jkt 214001 Meeting times are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will include a general public comment period, where the public may submit oral or written comments to the RAC. Each public comment period will begin at approximately 3 p.m. unless otherwise listed in each specific, final meeting agenda. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Struble, (775) 885–6107, E-mail: mark_struble@nv.blm.gov. The 15member Council advises the Secretary of the Interior, through the BLM, on a variety of planning and management issues associated with public land management in Nevada. Topics for discussion will include, but are not limited to: April 29–30, (Carson City)—SNPLMA Round 9 (review of R9 proposals and RAC-hosted public comment time for development of tri-RAC recommendations to the Executive Committee), Pine Nut Mountains Resource Management Plan Amendment, Sand Mountain implementation of Conservation Strategy, grazing for fuels management, wind and geothermal energy proposals, wild horse and burro issues. July 15–16, (Gerlach)—Winnemucca Resource Management Plan update, Black Rock National Conservation Area and wilderness areas planning (field tour), drought issues related to springs/ water sources for wild horses, livestock and wildlife (field tour), tour of Friends of Black Rock facility in Gerlach, overnight at Soldier Meadows. Managers’ reports of field office activities will be given at each meeting. The council may raise other topics at either of the two planned meetings. Final agendas with any additions/ corrections to agenda topics, locations, field trips and meeting times, will be posted on the BLM Web site at: https:// www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/ carson_city_field.html, and sent to the media at least 14 days before each meeting. Individuals who need special assistance such as sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodations, or who wish to receive a copy of each agenda, should contact Mark Struble no later than 10 days prior to each meeting. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dated: January 7, 2008. Don Hicks, Carson City Field Office Manager. [FR Doc. E8–346 Filed 1–10–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 2063 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [ID–210–1220–MA] Notice of Emergency Closure of Certain Public Lands to Motorized Vehicles in Twin Falls and Owyhee Counties, ID and Elko County, NV, Under Murphy Complex Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation Plan Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Closure-Emergency/ Safety. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Jarbidge Field Office is implementing an emergency closure in order to protect cultural and natural resources and stabilization treatments as recommended in the Department of the Interior’s Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation Plan for the Murphy Complex Fire. The closure allows motorized vehicle traffic (e.g. All-Terrain Vehicles, pickups, motorcycles, sport utility vehicles, etc.) on established roads within the fire perimeter, legal boundaries and transportation routes (please refer to supplementary information for description of closure area). The purpose of the closure is to restrict offroad vehicle use while providing continued public access to and through the area. Vehicles traveling crosscountry in a burned area may damage reemerging plants, increase erosion and spread noxious weeds. Closure signs will be posted at main entry points to this area. Maps of the closure area may be obtained at the address listed below. DATES: This closure is effective upon publication in the Federal Register, and will remain in effect for two years from January 11, 2008. It may be lifted sooner if BLM determines that revegetation and stabilization efforts have resulted in successful re-growth of desired vegetation, as described below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Max Yingst, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Jarbidge Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, 2536 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, Idaho, 83301–7975, or call (208) 736–2362. ADDRESSES: Copies of the closure and a map of the closed area may be obtained at the BLM, Jarbidge Field Office, 2536 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301, telephone (208) 736–2350. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In July 2007, the Murphy Complex Fire consumed 496,760 acres in the Idaho BLM Twin Falls District, Jarbidge Field Office. This closure order applies to E:\FR\FM\11JAN1.SGM 11JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 8 (Friday, January 11, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2062-2063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-280]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CACA-47658, CA-670-5101-ER-B204]


Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact; Statement/
Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) and Draft Land Use Plan 
Amendments/for the Proposed Sunrise Powerlink Project

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM), together with the California Public Utilities 
Commission (CPUC), has prepared a Draft EIS/EIR (which includes draft 
land use plan amendments) for the proposed Sunrise Powerlink Project 
proposed by San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E), and by this 
notice is announcing the opening of the comment period. The BLM is the 
lead Federal agency for the preparation of this EIS in compliance with 
the requirements of NEPA. The CPUC is the lead agency for the State of 
California for the preparation of this EIR in compliance with the 
requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

DATES: To assure that they will be considered, the BLM/CPUC must 
receive written comments on the Draft EIS/EIR within 90 days following 
the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes their Notice of 
Availability in the Federal Register. Future meetings or hearings and 
any other public involvement activities will be announced at least 15 
days in advance through public notices, media news releases, Internet 
Web sites, and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments in a variety of ways: (1) By U.S. 
mail, (2) by electronic mail, (3) by fax, or (4) by attending a public 
meeting and submitting written comments at the meetings.
    By Mail: Please use first-class postage and be sure to include your 
name and a return address. Please send written comments to: Billie 
Blanchard, CPUC/Lynda Kastoll, BLM, c/o Aspen Environmental Group, 235 
Montgomery Street, Suite 935, San Francisco, CA 94104-3002.
    By Electronic Mail: E-mail communications are welcome; however, 
please remember to include your name and return address in the e-mail 
message. E-mail messages should be sent to sunrise@aspeneg.com.
    By Fax: You may fax your comments to (866) 711-3106. Please 
remember to include your name and return address in the fax, to write 
legibly, and use black or blue ink.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information concerning the Draft EIS/
Plan Amendment may be obtained from Lynda Kastoll, Project Manager for 
the BLM, at (760) 337-4421, or e-mail at lkastoll@ca.blm.gov. 
Information concerning the EIR process may be obtained from Billie 
Blanchard, Project Manager for the CPUC, at (415) 703-2068 or on the 
CPUC Internet Web site at https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/environment/info/
aspen/sunrise/sunrise.htm.
    A copy of the Draft EIS/EIR for the Proposed Sunrise Powerlink 
Project is available for review at:
     BLM--El Centro Field Office, 1661 South 4th Street, El 
Centro, CA 92243, (760) 337-4421;
     BLM--Palm Springs/South Coast Field Office, 690 West 
Garnet Avenue, North Palm Springs, CA 92258, (760) 251-4849;
     CPUC--Los Angeles Office, 320 West 4th Street, Suite 500, 
Los Angeles, CA 90013, (213) 576-7000;
     CPUC--Headquarters Office, 505 Van Ness Avenue, Room 2103, 
San Francisco, CA 94102, (425) 703-2074; or
     CPUC Internet Web site at https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/
environment/info/aspen/sunrise/sunrise.htm;
     Several public libraries in Imperial, San Diego and 
Riverside Counties, California.
     Electronic (on CD-ROM or DVD) or paper copies may also be 
obtained by contacting the BLM or the CPUC at the aforementioned 
addresses and phone numbers.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SDG&E proposes to construct a new 91-mile, 
500-kilovolt (kV) electric transmission line from Imperial Valley 
Substation (in Imperial County, near the City of El Centro) to a new 
Central East Substation (in central San Diego County, southwest of the 
intersection of County Highways S22 and S2) and a new 59-mile 230-kV 
line that includes both overhead and underground segments from the new 
Central East Substation to SDG&E's existing Pe[ntilde]asquitos 
Substation (in the City of San Diego). Portions of the proposed 500-kV 
line transmission line would traverse approximately 35 miles of Federal 
lands managed by the BLM within the California Desert Conservation Area 
in Imperial County, and approximately 1 mile in San Diego County. 
Depending on which alternative is selected (exclusive of the No Action 
Alternative), the project would require an amendment to one or both of 
the following land use plans: the BLM's California Desert Conservation 
Area Plan (as amended) and the Eastern San Diego County Planning Unit 
Management Framework Plan because the route alignments would deviate 
from BLM designated utility corridors in several areas under these 
alternatives. The remainder of the proposed project would cross lands 
owned by various entities including State of California, local 
governments, and private parties.
    The proposed transmission lines would utilize structures ranging in 
height from 120 to 170 feet, spaced approximately 700 to 1,600 feet 
apart, and would occupy rights-of-way of approximately 60 to 300 feet 
in width (subject to local conditions and restrictions). Existing 
disturbed corridors would be utilized to the extent feasible, to 
minimize potential environmental impacts. Where possible, SDG&E 
anticipates locating new facilities within or along existing rights-of-
way.
    The Draft EIR/EIS evaluates and presents the environmental impacts 
that are expected to result from construction and operation of the 
proposed project, and presents recommended mitigation measures that 
would avoid or minimize many of the significant environmental impacts 
identified. In accordance with CEQA and NEPA, the Draft EIR/EIS 
identifies alternatives to the proposed project (including the No 
Action Alternative) that could avoid or minimize significant 
environmental impacts associated with the project as proposed by SDG&E, 
and evaluates the environmental impacts associated with these 
alternatives.
    The Draft EIR/EIS reflects input by government officials, agencies, 
non-governmental organizations, and concerned members of the public 
during the two public scoping periods following the CPUC's publication 
of the Notice of Preparation of an EIR/EIS on September 15, 2006, and 
the BLM's publication of the Notice of Intent in the Federal Register 
on August 31, 2006.

[[Page 2063]]

During those periods, several public involvement activities were 
completed, such as: establishment of an Internet Web page and a 
telephone hotline, 15 public scoping meetings (seven in October 2006 
and eight in February 2007), and several meetings with a number of 
affected local jurisdictions. Consultation with agencies and tribal 
governments also continued after the formal scoping ended. In addition, 
notices regarding alternatives to be evaluated in the EIR/EIS were 
mailed to interested parties in March and May of 2007.
    Comments received may be published as part of the EIS/EIR process. 
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other 
personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware 
that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

J. Anthony Danna,
Deputy State Director, Natural Resources (CA-930).
 [FR Doc. E8-280 Filed 1-10-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P
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