Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed China Mountain Wind Project, 21362-21363 [E8-8511]

Download as PDF 21362 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 77 / Monday, April 21, 2008 / Notices Amendment within the 45-day statutory time frame. Dated: March 25, 2008. Carl J. Artman, Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs. [FR Doc. E8–8494 Filed 4–18–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–4N–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [ID–210–5101–ER–D050, IDI–35183/NVN– 84663] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed China Mountain Wind Project Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Jarbidge Field Office, Twin Falls District, Idaho, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed China Mountain Wind Project, located on 30,700 acres of public, state, and private lands in the Jarbidge Foothills, southwest of the town of Rogerson in Twin Falls County, Idaho, and west of the town of Jackpot in Elko County, Nevada. The EIS will analyze the potential environmental impacts of the construction and operation of a proposed wind power generation facility, associated transmission facilities, and access roads. The EIS will be prepared in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) (43 U.S.C. 1701), as amended; the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321), as amended; and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508). This notice initiates the public scoping process to identify relevant issues associated with the proposed project. DATES: The scoping period will commence with the publication of this notice. The formal scoping period will end 60 days after the publication of this notice. Comments regarding issues relative to the proposed project should be received on or before June 20, 2008 using one of the methods listed below. The BLM will announce public scoping meetings through local news media, newsletters, and the BLM Web site: https://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/fo/ jarbidge.html at least 15 days prior to the first meeting. VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:59 Apr 18, 2008 Jkt 214001 transmission line. The transmission line would be supported by single steel or double wood poles with a distance of 400 to 500 feet between poles. Other required facilities would include one or two fenced, graveled switching stations of approximately 2 acres each; one or more Operations and Maintenance buildings; approximately 40 miles of new access roads; approximately 30 miles of improved existing road; and a temporary concrete batch plant. This plant would be centrally located on the site, occupying an area of approximately 5 acres, and would operate during project construction. The proposed project would disturb up to 540 acres on a temporary basis and up to 180 acres on a permanent basis, following reclamation of construction disturbance. Approximately 60% of both the temporary and permanent impacts would be on lands under the administration of the BLM and approximately 40% would be on State of Idaho and private lands. The proposed project would operate yearround for a minimum of 30 years. The purpose and need for the proposed project are: (1) Construct a wind power generation facility that utilizes wind energy resources in an environmentally sound manner to meet existing and future electricity demands in Idaho and Nevada. (2) Provide for renewable energy resources as encouraged by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and consistent with the BLM’s Wind Energy Development Policy, as described in the Record of Decision for the Final Programmatic EIS on Wind Acres Administrating ownership (rounded) Energy Development on BLMAdministered Lands in the Western BLM—Jarbidge Field Office, United States (December 2005). Twin Falls District, Idaho ........ 15,300 Public Participation: The purpose of BLM—Wells Field Office, Elko District, Nevada ....................... 4,700 the public scoping process is to State of Idaho ............................. 2,000 determine relevant issues that will Private ......................................... 8,700 influence the scope of the environmental analysis and EIS Total ..................................... 30,700 alternatives. General concerns in the following categories have been The turbines proposed for the project identified to date: Tribal concerns; would have tower heights ranging from wildlife (including birds and bats); 200 to 250 feet and rotor diameters vegetation (including noxious and ranging from 250 to 300 feet. Each invasive weeds); threatened, endangered turbine would be set on a large concrete and sensitive plants and animals, foundation. Turbines would be including sage grouse; public safety; connected by underground electrical public access; recreational cable to one or two substations. Each opportunities; visual resources; cultural substation would be sited on a 2-acre resources; rangeland resources; geology area and would consist of a graveled, and soils; water quality; climate change fenced area containing transformer and and variability; hazardous materials; air switching equipment and an area to quality; noise; fire management and park utility vehicles. Up to 15 miles of socioeconomics. You may submit new 3-phase 138 kV or 345 kV overhead comments on issues in writing to the transmissions circuit would be BLM at any public scoping meeting, or constructed from each substation to a you may submit them to the BLM using switching station at the point of one of the methods listed in the interconnection with an existing ADDRESSES section above. E-mailed You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • E-mail: id_chinamtn_eis@blm.gov. • Fax: (208) 736–2375 or (208) 735– 2076. • Mail: Project Manager, China Mountain EIS, Jarbidge Field Office, 2536 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301. Comments can also be hand delivered to the Jarbidge Field Office at the address above. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Jarbidge Field Office. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: China Mountain Wind Project Manager, Jarbidge Field Office, 2536 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301, telephone (208) 732–7413. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: China Mountain Wind, LLC, has submitted a right-of-way application to BLM to build a commercial wind power generation facility capable of generating up to 425 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Up to 185 wind turbines, each having a generating capacity between 2.3 and 3.0 MW, would be installed on an area covering approximately 30,700 acres in the Jarbidge Foothills, southwest of Rogerson, Idaho and west of Jackpot, Nevada. The proposed project area includes public land administered by the BLM Elko District, Wells Field Office in northeastern Nevada, public lands administered by the BLM Twin Falls District, Jarbidge Field Office, and State of Idaho and private lands in south-central Idaho. ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\21APN1.SGM 21APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 77 / Monday, April 21, 2008 / Notices comments, including attachments, should be provided in .doc, .pdf, .html, or .txt format. Electronic submissions in other formats or containing viruses will be rejected. 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. The EIS process will be a collaborative effort that will consider local, regional, and national needs and concerns. The BLM will work closely with interested parties to identify the management decisions that are best suited to the needs of the public. After gathering public comments, the BLM will identify and provide rationale on those issues that will be addressed in the EIS or those issues beyond the scope of the EIS. The Draft EIS, which is scheduled for completion in early 2010, will be provided to the public for review and comment. The BLM will consider and respond to public comments on the Draft EIS in the Final EIS. The Final EIS is expected to be published in late 2010. Dated: April 11, 2008. Rick Vander Voet, Jarbidge Field Office Manager, Idaho Bureau of Land Management. [FR Doc. E8–8511 Filed 4–18–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Minerals Management Service [Docket No. MMS–2007–OMM–0072] MMS Information Collection Activity: 1010–NEW Lease of Submerged Lands for Alternative Energy Activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS); New Collection; Submitted for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior. ACTION: Notice of a new information collection (1010–NEW) and request for comments. rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we are notifying the public that we have submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) an information collection request (ICR) for a new approval of the paperwork VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:59 Apr 18, 2008 Jkt 214001 requirements in new Form MMS–0001, Lease of Submerged Lands for Alternative Energy Activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), which is printed within this Federal Register notice. This new form is the instrument that MMS will use to issue a lease on the OCS to conduct data collection and/ or technology testing. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burdens associated with the lease form. DATES: Submit written comments by May 21, 2008. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods listed below. • By fax (202) 395–6566 or e-mail (OIRA_DOCKET@omb.eop.gov) directly to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior (1010–NEW). Please also send a copy to MMS. • Electronically: Go to https:// www.regulations.gov. Under the tab ‘‘More Search Options,’’ click ‘‘Advanced Docket Search’’, then select ‘‘Minerals Management Service’’ from the agency drop-down menu, then click ‘‘submit.’’ In the Docket ID column, select MMS–2007–OMM–0072 to submit public comments and to view available supporting and related materials. Information on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through the site’s ‘‘User Tips’’ link. All comments submitted will be published and posted to the docket after the closing period. • Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the Interior; Minerals Management Service; Attention: Cheryl Blundon, 381 Elden Street, MS–4024, Herndon, Virginia 20170–4817. Please reference ‘‘Information Collection 1010– NEW’’ in your comment and include your name and return address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and Standards Branch at (703) 787–1607. You may also contact Cheryl Blundon to obtain a copy, at no cost, of Section 388 of the Energy Policy Act. You may contact Maureen A. Bornholdt, Program Manager, Alternative Energy Programs at (703) 787–1300 for lease questions. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Lease of Submerged Lands for Alternative Energy Activities on the OCS. Form(s): MMS–0001. OMB Control Number: 1010–NEW. PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 21363 Abstract: Section 388 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 amended the OCS Lands Act to add a new paragraph (p) to section 8 of the Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(p)) to allow the Department of the Interior, acting through the Minerals Management Service (MMS), to grant a lease, easement, or right-of-way on the OCS for activities that produce or support the production of energy from sources other than oil and gas. MMS has established an Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Program to authorize and regulate OCS activities pursuant to this new authority. MMS is in the process of developing proposed regulations that, once finalized, will set the framework for issuing leases, easements and rightsof-way and authorizing OCS alternative energy activities. On November 6, 2007, MMS announced an interim policy that allows the issuance of leases, under this statutory authority, for activities limited to alternative energy resource data collection and technology testing. The interim policy does not allow the issuance of leases for commercial production of alternative energy, such as the full build-out of commercial wind farms. On December 14, 2007, we published a Federal Register notice (72 FR 71152) announcing a new lease form and new information collection requirements. This new lease form is the instrument for limited-term leases issued under MMS’ interim policy. The new information collection requirements are needed by MMS in order to authorize activities and convey rights through limited-term leases to conduct data collection and/or technology testing activities on specific areas of the OCS. This information collection request (ICR) addresses the form and accompanying information. The new lease form will be used by MMS and the emerging alternative energy industry as an instrument specifying the parties’ rights and responsibilities under the lease. We will protect information from respondents considered proprietary under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2). No items of a sensitive nature are collected. Responses are required to obtain or retain benefits or mandatory. Frequency: On occasion. Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 18–25 (alternative energy) respondents. Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ‘‘Hour’’ Burden: The estimated annual ‘‘hour’’ burden for this information collection is a total of 3,560 hours. The total estimated annual ‘‘hour’’ burden decreased from the E:\FR\FM\21APN1.SGM 21APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 77 (Monday, April 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21362-21363]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-8511]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[ID-210-5101-ER-D050, IDI-35183/NVN-84663]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed China Mountain Wind Project

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Jarbidge Field Office, 
Twin Falls District, Idaho, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the proposed China Mountain Wind Project, located 
on 30,700 acres of public, state, and private lands in the Jarbidge 
Foothills, southwest of the town of Rogerson in Twin Falls County, 
Idaho, and west of the town of Jackpot in Elko County, Nevada. The EIS 
will analyze the potential environmental impacts of the construction 
and operation of a proposed wind power generation facility, associated 
transmission facilities, and access roads. The EIS will be prepared in 
accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 
(FLPMA) (43 U.S.C. 1701), as amended; the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321), as amended; and the Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508). This 
notice initiates the public scoping process to identify relevant issues 
associated with the proposed project.

DATES: The scoping period will commence with the publication of this 
notice. The formal scoping period will end 60 days after the 
publication of this notice. Comments regarding issues relative to the 
proposed project should be received on or before June 20, 2008 using 
one of the methods listed below. The BLM will announce public scoping 
meetings through local news media, newsletters, and the BLM Web site: 
https://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/fo/jarbidge.html at least 15 days prior to 
the first meeting.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: id_chinamtn_eis@blm.gov.
     Fax: (208) 736-2375 or (208) 735-2076.
     Mail: Project Manager, China Mountain EIS, Jarbidge Field 
Office, 2536 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301.
    Comments can also be hand delivered to the Jarbidge Field Office at 
the address above. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined 
at the Jarbidge Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: China Mountain Wind Project Manager, 
Jarbidge Field Office, 2536 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301, 
telephone (208) 732-7413.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: China Mountain Wind, LLC, has submitted a 
right-of-way application to BLM to build a commercial wind power 
generation facility capable of generating up to 425 megawatts (MW) of 
electricity. Up to 185 wind turbines, each having a generating capacity 
between 2.3 and 3.0 MW, would be installed on an area covering 
approximately 30,700 acres in the Jarbidge Foothills, southwest of 
Rogerson, Idaho and west of Jackpot, Nevada. The proposed project area 
includes public land administered by the BLM Elko District, Wells Field 
Office in northeastern Nevada, public lands administered by the BLM 
Twin Falls District, Jarbidge Field Office, and State of Idaho and 
private lands in south-central Idaho.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Acres
                  Administrating ownership                     (rounded)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BLM--Jarbidge Field Office, Twin Falls District, Idaho......      15,300
BLM--Wells Field Office, Elko District, Nevada..............       4,700
State of Idaho..............................................       2,000
Private.....................................................       8,700
                                                             -----------
    Total...................................................      30,700
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The turbines proposed for the project would have tower heights ranging 
from 200 to 250 feet and rotor diameters ranging from 250 to 300 feet. 
Each turbine would be set on a large concrete foundation. Turbines 
would be connected by underground electrical cable to one or two 
substations. Each substation would be sited on a 2-acre area and would 
consist of a graveled, fenced area containing transformer and switching 
equipment and an area to park utility vehicles. Up to 15 miles of new 
3-phase 138 kV or 345 kV overhead transmissions circuit would be 
constructed from each substation to a switching station at the point of 
interconnection with an existing transmission line. The transmission 
line would be supported by single steel or double wood poles with a 
distance of 400 to 500 feet between poles. Other required facilities 
would include one or two fenced, graveled switching stations of 
approximately 2 acres each; one or more Operations and Maintenance 
buildings; approximately 40 miles of new access roads; approximately 30 
miles of improved existing road; and a temporary concrete batch plant. 
This plant would be centrally located on the site, occupying an area of 
approximately 5 acres, and would operate during project construction. 
The proposed project would disturb up to 540 acres on a temporary basis 
and up to 180 acres on a permanent basis, following reclamation of 
construction disturbance. Approximately 60% of both the temporary and 
permanent impacts would be on lands under the administration of the BLM 
and approximately 40% would be on State of Idaho and private lands. The 
proposed project would operate year-round for a minimum of 30 years.
    The purpose and need for the proposed project are: (1) Construct a 
wind power generation facility that utilizes wind energy resources in 
an environmentally sound manner to meet existing and future electricity 
demands in Idaho and Nevada. (2) Provide for renewable energy resources 
as encouraged by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and consistent with the 
BLM's Wind Energy Development Policy, as described in the Record of 
Decision for the Final Programmatic EIS on Wind Energy Development on 
BLM-Administered Lands in the Western United States (December 2005).
    Public Participation: The purpose of the public scoping process is 
to determine relevant issues that will influence the scope of the 
environmental analysis and EIS alternatives. General concerns in the 
following categories have been identified to date: Tribal concerns; 
wildlife (including birds and bats); vegetation (including noxious and 
invasive weeds); threatened, endangered and sensitive plants and 
animals, including sage grouse; public safety; public access; 
recreational opportunities; visual resources; cultural resources; 
rangeland resources; geology and soils; water quality; climate change 
and variability; hazardous materials; air quality; noise; fire 
management and socioeconomics. You may submit comments on issues in 
writing to the BLM at any public scoping meeting, or you may submit 
them to the BLM using one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES 
section above. E-mailed

[[Page 21363]]

comments, including attachments, should be provided in .doc, .pdf, 
.html, or .txt format. Electronic submissions in other formats or 
containing viruses will be rejected. 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.
    The EIS process will be a collaborative effort that will consider 
local, regional, and national needs and concerns. The BLM will work 
closely with interested parties to identify the management decisions 
that are best suited to the needs of the public. After gathering public 
comments, the BLM will identify and provide rationale on those issues 
that will be addressed in the EIS or those issues beyond the scope of 
the EIS. The Draft EIS, which is scheduled for completion in early 
2010, will be provided to the public for review and comment. The BLM 
will consider and respond to public comments on the Draft EIS in the 
Final EIS. The Final EIS is expected to be published in late 2010.

    Dated: April 11, 2008.
Rick Vander Voet,
Jarbidge Field Office Manager, Idaho Bureau of Land Management.
 [FR Doc. E8-8511 Filed 4-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GG-P
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