Notice of Availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Leasing of Geothermal Resources in 11 Western States and Alaska and Notice of Public Hearings, 33802-33805 [E8-13365]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 115 / Friday, June 13, 2008 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Title: Renewal Energy and Energy
Efficiency Improvements Program.
OMB Control Number: 0570–0050.
Summary of Collection: This program
is authorized under the Farm Security
and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Act)
that established the Renewable Energy
Systems and Energy Efficiency
Improvements Program under title IX,
Section 9006. The Act requires the
Secretary of Agriculture to create a
program to make direct loans, loan
guarantees, and grants to farmers,
ranchers, and rural small businesses to
purchase renewable energy systems and
make energy efficiency improvements.
The program is designed to help
farmers, ranchers, and rural small
businesses reduce energy cost and
consumption, develop new income
streams, and help meet the nation’s
critical energy needs. The Act also
mandates the maximum percentage the
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
(RBS) will provide in funding for these
types of projects. Applicants wishing to
apply for the grant or guaranteed loans
will have to submit applications along
with specified documents to the State
Rural Energy Coordinator.
Need and Use of the Information: RBS
will use the collected information to
determine applicant eligibility, to
determine project eligibility and
feasibility, ensure compliance with
applicable regulations, and to ensure
that grantees/borrowers operate on a
sound basis and use funds for
authorized purposes. Without this
collection of information RBS would be
unable to meet the requirements of the
Act and effectively administer the
program.
This notice reflects an increase in
figures to encompass the projected
increase in applicants due to additional
funding and public interest in the
program that was not accounted for in
the Federal Register notice published
on January 9, 2008.
Description of Respondents: Farmers,
ranchers, and business or other forprofit.
Number of Respondents: 1,507.
Frequency of Responses: Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 77,412.
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Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Bureau of Land Management
Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E8–13330 Filed 6–12–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–XT–P
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
U.S. Forest Service
[WO–300–9131–PP]
Notice of Availability of the Draft
Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement for Leasing of Geothermal
Resources in 11 Western States and
Alaska and Notice of Public Hearings
AGENCIES: Bureau of Land Management,
Interior; and U.S. Forest Service,
Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of
the Draft Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement for Leasing of
Geothermal Resources in 11 Western
States and Alaska and Notice of Public
Hearings.
SUMMARY: In accordance with Section
202 of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.), the Council on
Environmental Quality’s regulations
implementing the NEPA (40 CFR 1500–
1508), and applicable agency guidance,
a Draft Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement (PEIS) has been
prepared on the leasing of geothermal
resources in 11 Western States and
Alaska. The Department of the Interior,
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
and the Department of Agriculture, the
Forest Service (FS) are co-lead agencies
for the PEIS, and the Department of
Energy (DOE) is a cooperating Federal
agency.
In accordance with the Energy Policy
Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109–58, August 8,
2005), the agencies’ goal is to make
geothermal leasing decisions on
pending lease applications submitted
prior to January 1, 2005, and to facilitate
geothermal leasing decisions on other
existing and future lease applications
and nominations for geothermal leasing
on Federal lands. The planning area
encompasses about 530 million acres of
land with the potential for geothermal
development in Alaska, Arizona,
California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana,
New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah,
Washington, and Wyoming.
DATES: To ensure comments will be
considered, the BLM must receive
written comments on the Draft PEIS
within 90 days following the date the
Environmental Protection Agency
publishes the Notice of Availability in
the Federal Register. Public hearings
will be held in 13 cities during June and
July 2008. See the SUPPLEMENTARY
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INFORMATION section for meeting dates
and locations.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by any of the following methods:
• E-mail: geothermal_EIS@blm.gov.
• Fax: 1–866–625–0707.
• US Mail: Geothermal Programmatic
EIS, c/o EMPSi, 182 Howard Street,
Suite 110, San Francisco, California
94105.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information, including
information on how to comment,
contact Jack G. Peterson, Bureau of Land
Management at (208) 373–4048,
Jack_G_Peterson@blm.gov or Tracy
Parker, Forest Service at (703) 605–
4796, tparker03@fs.fed.us, or visit the
PEIS Web site at https://www.blm.gov/
Geothermal_EIS.
A copy of
the Draft PEIS is available for review via
the Internet from a link at https://
www.blm.gov/Geothermal_EIS.
Hardcopies are available for review at
the BLM State and Field Offices.
Electronic (on CD–ROM) and paper
copies may also be obtained by
contacting Jack Peterson at the
aforementioned address and phone
number.
The PEIS consists of three volumes:
Volume I contains the PEIS and
associated programmatic analyses;
Volume II provides the additional sitespecific environmental analysis for the
pending lease applications; and Volume
III contains the appendices.
The public is encouraged to provide
comments on the Draft PEIS. In addition
to the written comment period, the BLM
and the FS will host 13 public meetings
to collect additional comments. The
public meeting dates and addresses are
as follows:
1. June 16, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.,
Denver, Colorado; PPA Event Center,
2105 Decatur Street.
2. June 17, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.,
Cheyenne, Wyoming; Laramie County
Main Library, Willow Room, 200
Pioneer Avenue.
3. June 18, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.,
Helena, Montana; Lewis and Clark Main
Library, 120 S. Last Chance Gulch.
4. June 19, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.,
Boise, Idaho; Boise Public Library, 715
South Capitol Blvd.
5. June 23, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.,
Seattle, Washington; Seattle Public
Library, University Branch, 5009
Roosevelt Way, NE.
6. June 24, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.,
Portland, Oregon; Multnomah County
Library, Hillsdale Branch, 1525 SW
Sunset Blvd.
7. June 25, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.,
Davis, California; University of
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 115 / Friday, June 13, 2008 / Notices
California Davis Walter A. Buehler
Alumni and Visitors Center, Mrak Hall
Road.
8. July 8, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.,
Anchorage, Alaska; Alaska Energy
Authority, 813 W. Northern Lights Blvd.
9. July 9, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.,
Fairbanks, Alaska; Fairbanks North Star
Borough Library, 1215 Cowles Street.
10. July 14, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.,
Reno, Nevada; Washoe County
Library—Spanish Springs Branch, 7100
Pyramid Highway.
11. July 15, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.,
Salt Lake City, Utah; Main Library, 210
East 400 South.
12. July 16, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.,
Tucson, Arizona; Pima County Public
Library, Dusenberry River Branch, 5605
E. River Road.
13. July 17, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.,
Albuquerque, New Mexico; University
of New Mexico, Conference Center,
Room G, 1634 University NE.
Any changes to these dates or
locations, and any other public
involvement activities, will be
announced at least 10 days in advance
through local media and on the project
Web site: https://www.blm.gov/
Geothermal_EIS.
The Notice of Intent to prepare the
PEIS was published on June 13, 2007, in
the Federal Register (72 FR 32679). In
accordance with the Energy Policy Act
of 2005, the BLM and the FS propose to
facilitate geothermal leasing on lands
administered by the BLM (termed
‘‘public lands’’) and by the FS (National
Forest System (NFS) lands) that have
geothermal potential in the 11 western
states and Alaska. Under the proposal,
the BLM and the FS would do the
following: (1) Identify public and NFS
lands with geothermal potential for
which geothermal leases may be issued,
statutorily open lands, and for which
issuance of geothermal leases is barred
by operation of law, legally closed
lands; (2) identify public lands that are
administratively closed or open, and
under what conditions; (3) develop a
comprehensive list of stipulations, best
management practices, and procedures
to serve as consistent guidance for
future geothermal leasing and
development on public and NFS lands;
(4) amend the BLM Resource
Management Plans (RMPs) to adopt the
resource allocations and procedures;
and (5) issue or deny geothermal lease
applications pending as of January 1,
2005.
The need for the action is to (1) Issue
decisions on pending lease applications
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in accordance with the Energy Policy
Act of 2005; (2) address other provisions
of the Energy Policy Act of 2005,
respond to other policy directives
calling for clean and renewable energy
(such as state renewable portfolio
standards), and meet the increasing
energy demands of the nation; and (3)
facilitate geothermal leasing decisions
on other existing and future lease
applications and nominations on the
Federal mineral estate. The purpose of
the action is to (1) Complete the
processing of active pending geothermal
lease applications; (2) amend BLM land
use plans to allocate lands with
geothermal potential as being closed or
open with minor to major constraints to
leasing; and (3) provide suitable
information to the FS to facilitate its
subsequent consent decisions for BLM
leasing on NFS lands.
Over 530 million acres of the western
United States and Alaska have been
identified as potentially containing
geothermal resources suitable for
commercial electrical generation and
other direct uses, such as heating. Much
of the resource base is held in the
Federal mineral estate, for which the
BLM has the delegated authority for
processing and issuing geothermal
leases. Some units or portions of the
areas identified as having geothermal
resource potential will not be developed
because they are unavailable for leasing,
either by statute, regulation or other
authority. These designations are
described at 43 CFR 3201.11, and
include, but are not limited to: lands
where the Secretary has determined that
issuing a lease would cause unnecessary
or undue degradation to public lands
and resources; lands contained within a
unit of the National Park System, for
example, the geothermal features in and
around Yellowstone National Park;
wilderness areas; wilderness study
areas; fish hatcheries; wildlife
management areas; Indian trust lands;
and other areas referred to in the above
regulation.
Under the Proposed Action, the BLM
and the FS would also apply
discretionary closures to (1) Areas of
Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC)
where the BLM determines that
geothermal leasing and development
would be incompatible with the
purposes for which the ACEC was
designated, or those whose management
plans expressly preclude new leasing;
(2) National Conservation Areas, except
the California Desert Conservation Area;
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33803
(3) other lands in the BLM’s National
Landscape Conservation System, such
as historic and scenic trails; and (4)
military reservations where geothermal
development would conflict with the
military mission.
Approximately 142 million acres of
public (BLM) lands and 106 million
acres of NFS lands have geothermal
potential. Based on the proposed
closures, the BLM and the FS are
proposing to allocate approximately 117
million acres of public lands and 75
million acres of NFS lands to
geothermal leasing subject to existing
laws, regulations, formal orders,
stipulations attached to the lease form,
and terms and conditions of the
standard lease form. To protect special
resource values, the BLM and the FS
have developed a comprehensive list of
stipulations, conditions of approval, and
best management practices (BMPs).
In addition, a reasonably foreseeable
development scenario (RFD) was
prepared to predict future geothermal
development trends. The RFD estimates
a potential for 5,500 megawatts (MW) of
new electrical generation capacity by
2015 through 110 new geothermal
power plants, and an additional 6,600
MW from an additional 132 power
plants by 2025. The RFD also recognizes
the great potential for direct uses,
including up to 270 communities being
able to develop geothermal resources for
heating buildings to offset the use of
conventional energy sources.
The BLM and the FS administrative
units that have geothermal resources
within their boundaries and are
included in the planning area for the
PEIS are provided in Table 1. In order
for geothermal resource leasing and
development to take place on the public
lands that the BLM manages, such
activities must be provided for in the
land use plan for the affected
administrative unit. Therefore, land use
plans for the affected BLM
administrative units may be amended
by this PEIS to address geothermal
leasing. Adoption of the appropriate
allocations, development scenarios,
stipulations, and BMPs for specific
administrative units will be done
through the plan maintenance process;
thereby allowing future leasing
decisions to be made based on the
amended plans. The FS will evaluate
their land use plans and amend them as
needed through a separate
environmental review process.
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 115 / Friday, June 13, 2008 / Notices
TABLE 1.—BLM AND FOREST SERVICE ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS WITHIN THE PLANNING AREA
State
BLM Field Office (or District)
National Forest
Alaska ...........
Arizona ..........
Anchorage, Central Yukon, Eastern Interior, Glennallen ...........
Arizona Strip, Hassayampa, Kingman, Lake Havasu, Lower
Sonoran, Safford, Tucson, Yuma.
Alturas, Arcata, Bakersfield, Barstow, Bishop, Eagle Lake, El
Centro, Folsom, Hollister, Needles, Palm Springs, Redding,
Ridgecrest, Surprise, Ukiah.
Tongass National Forest.
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, Coronado National Forest, Tonto National Forest.
Angeles National Forest, Cleveland National Forest, Eldorado
National Forest, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Inyo National Forest, Klamath National Forest, Lassen National Forest, Los Padres National Forest, Mendocino National Forest,
Modoc National Forest, Plumas National Forest, San
Bernardino National Forest, Sequoia National Forest, Shasta
Trinity National Forest, Sierra National Forest, Tahoe National Forest.
Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, Grand Mesa,
Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, Medicine
Bow-Routt National Forest, Pike-San Isabel National Forest,
Rio Grande National Forest, San Juan National Forest,
White River National Forest.
Boise National Forest, Caribou-Targhee National Forest,
Clearwater National Forest, Nez Perce National Forest,
Payette National Forest, Salmon-Challis National Forest,
Sawtooth National Forest.
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Bitterroot National
Forest, Clearwater National Forest, Custer National Forest,
Dixie National Forest, Gallatin National Forest, Helena National Forest, Lewis and Clark National Forest, Lolo National
Forest.
Carson National Forest, Cibola National Forest, Gila National
Forest, Lincoln National Forest, Santa Fe National Forest.
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
California .......
Colorado .......
Columbine, Del Norte, Dolores, Glenwood Springs, Grand
Junction, Gunnison, Kremmling, La Jara, Little Snake,
Pagosa Springs, Royal Gorge, Saguache, Uncompahgre,
White River.
Idaho .............
Bruneau, Burley, Challis, Cottonwood, Four Rivers, Jarbridge,
Owyhee, Pocatello, Salmon, Shoshone, Upper Snake.
Montana ........
Billings, Butte, Dillon, Lewistown, Malta, Miles City, Missoula ...
New Mexico ..
Carlsbad, Farmington, N/A, Rio Puerco, Roswell, Soccoro,
Taos.
Battle Mountain, Carson City, Elko, Ely, Las Vegas,
Winnemucca.
Burns, Eugene, Lakeview, Medford, Prineville, Roseburg,
Salem, Vale.
Nevada .........
Oregon ..........
Utah ..............
Washington ...
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Wyoming .......
Cedar City, Fillmore, Kanab, Richfield, Salt Lake, St. George,
Vernal.
Spokane ......................................................................................
Buffalo, Casper, Cody, Kemmerer, Lander,
Pinedale, Rawlins, Rock Springs, Worland.
In addition to the Proposed Action,
the PEIS evaluates two other
alternatives: The No Action Alternative
and an alternative termed Leasing Near
Transmission Lines. The No Action
Alternative would allow the processing
of pending geothermal lease
applications; however, no land use
plans would be amended. Therefore,
lease applications would be evaluated
on a case-by-case basis and would
require additional environmental review
and possible land use plan
amendments.
The Leasing Near Transmission Lines
Alternative was developed based on
input from scoping. Under this
alternative the scope of lands
considered for leasing for commercial
electrical generation would be limited to
those lands that are near transmission
lines.
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Newcastle,
Deschutes National Forest, Fremont-Winema National Forests,
Malheur National Forest, Mt. Hood National Forest, Ochoco
National Forest, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests,
Umatilla National Forest, Umpqua National Forest, WallowaWhitman National Forest, Willamette National Forest.
Dixie National Forest, Fishlake National Forest, Uinta National
Forest, Wasatch-Cache National Forest.
Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National
Forest, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests, Umatilla National Forest.
Ashley National Forest, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Medicine Bow-Routt National
Forest, Shoshone National Forest, Wasatch-Cache National
Forest.
This alternative also considers a larger
buffer around Yellowstone National
Park. While this alternative minimizes
the potential footprint of tie-in
transmission lines from power plants to
distribution lines, it would limit the
potential for geothermal energy
generation.
In addition to the programmatic
analysis, the PEIS provides site-specific
environmental analysis for seven lease
applications in Alaska, California,
Nevada, Oregon, and Washington that
were pending as of January 1, 2005. The
alternatives evaluated for this analysis
are issuing the lease or denying the
lease (no action conditions).
Comments may be submitted in
writing on the stated planning criteria
using one of the methods listed in the
ADDRESSES section. Please note that
public comments and information
submitted including names, street
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addresses, and e-mail addresses of
respondents will be available for public
review and disclosure at the above
address during regular business hours (8
a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday,
except holidays. Comments will be
available for review at the following
Web site: https://www.blm.gov/
Geothermal_EIS.
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 may request in your
comment that we withhold your
personal identifying information from
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 115 / Friday, June 13, 2008 / Notices
public review, we cannot guarantee that
we will be able to do so.
Jeff O. Holdren,
Acting Assistant Director, Minerals and
Realty Management.
Gloria Manning,
Associate Deputy Chief for National Forest
System, U.S. Forest Service.
[FR Doc. E8–13365 Filed 6–12–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–10–P
BROADCASTING BOARD OF
GOVERNORS
Sunshine Act Meeting
Monday, June 9, 2008, 4
p.m.–4:15 p.m.
PLACE: Cohen Building, Room 3321, 330
Independence Ave., SW., Washington,
DC 20237.
CLOSED MEETING: The members of the
Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG)
will meet in a special session to review
and discuss budgetary issues relating to
U.S. Government-funded non-military
international broadcasting. This meeting
is closed because if open it likely would
either disclose matters that would be
properly classified to be kept secret in
the interest of foreign policy under the
appropriate executive order (5 U.S.C.
552b.(c)(1)) or would disclose
information the premature disclosure of
which would be likely to significantly
frustrate implementation of a proposed
agency action. (5 U.S.C. 552b.(c)(9)(B))
In addition, part of the discussion will
relate solely to the internal personnel
and organizational issues of the BBG or
the International Broadcasting Bureau.
(5 U.S.C. 552b.(c)(2) and (6))
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Persons
interested in obtaining more
information should contact Timi
Nickerson Kenealy at (202) 203–4545.
DATE AND TIME:
Dated: June 10, 2008.
Timi Nickerson Kenealy,
Acting Legal Counsel.
[FR Doc. 08–1358 Filed 6–11–08; 3:22 pm]
BROADCASTING BOARD OF
GOVERNORS
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Sunshine Act Meeting; U.S.
Government-Funded Nonmilitary
International Broadcasting
Tuesday, June 10, 2008,
2:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
PLACE: Cohen Building, Room 3321, 330
Independence Ave., SW., Washington,
DC 20237.
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June 3, 2008.
Timi Nickerson Kenealy,
Acting Legal Counsel.
[FR Doc. E8–13031 Filed 6–12–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8610–01–M
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
ADMINISTRATION
(C–570–938)
Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts
from the People’s Republic of China:
Notice of Postponement of Preliminary
Determination in the Countervailing
Duty Investigation
Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 13, 2008.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Neubacher or Shelly Atkinson,
AD/CVD Operations, Import
Administration, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230;
telephone: (202) 482–5823 and (202)
482–0116, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AGENCY:
BILLING CODE 8610–01–P
DATE AND TIME:
CLOSED MEETING: The members of the
Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG)
will meet in closed session to review
and discuss a number of issues relating
to U.S. Government-funded nonmilitary
international broadcasting. They will
address internal procedural, budgetary,
and personnel issues, as well as
sensitive foreign policy issues relating
to potential options in the U.S.
international broadcasting field. This
meeting is closed because if open it
likely would either disclose matters that
would be properly classified to be kept
secret in the interest of foreign policy
under the appropriate executive order (5
U.S.C. 552b. (c)(1)) or would disclose
information the premature disclosure of
which would be likely to significantly
frustrate implementation of a proposed
agency action. (5 U.S.C. 552b. (c)(9) (B))
In addition, part of the discussion will
relate solely to the internal personnel
and organizational issues of the BBG or
the International Broadcasting Bureau.
(5 U.S.C. 552b. (c)(2) and (6))
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Persons interested in obtaining more
information should contact Timi
Nickerson Kenealy at (202) 203–4545.
33805
the countervailing duty investigation of
citric acid and certain citrate salts from
the People’s Republic of China. See
Notice of Initiation of Countervailing
Duty Investigation: Citric Acid and
Certain Citrate Salts from the People’s
Republic of China, 73 FR 26960 (May
12, 2008). Currently, the preliminary
determination is due no later than July
9, 2008.
Postponement of Due Date for
Preliminary Determination
On June 6, 2008, the Department
received a request from Archer Daniels
Midland Company, Cargill, and Tate &
Lyle Americas, Inc. (collectively, ‘‘the
petitioners’’) to postpone the
preliminary determination of the
countervailing duty investigation of
citric acid and certain citrate salts from
the PRC. Under section 703(c)(1)(A) of
the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the
Act), the Department may extend the
period for reaching a preliminary
determination in a countervailing duty
investigation until not later than the
130th day after the date on which the
administering authority initiates an
investigation if the petitioner makes a
timely request for an extension of the
period within which the determination
must be made under subsection (b)
(section 703(b) of the Act). Pursuant to
section 351.205(e) of the Department’s
regulations, the petitioners’ request for
postponement of the preliminary
determination was made 25 days or
more before the scheduled date of the
preliminary determination.
Accordingly, we are extending the due
date for the preliminary determination
by 65 days to no later than September
12, 2008.
This notice is issued and published
pursuant to section 703(c)(2) of the Act.
Dated: June 6, 2008.
David M. Spooner,
Assistant Secretary for Import
Administration.
[FR Doc. E8–13341 Filed 6–12–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and
Technology
Notice of Invention Available for
Licensing
Background
National Institute of Standards
and Technology, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of Invention Available
for Licensing.
On May 5, 2008, the Department of
Commerce (‘‘the Department’’) initiated
SUMMARY: The Department of
Commerce’s interest in the invention is
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AGENCY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 115 (Friday, June 13, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33802-33805]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13365]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
U.S. Forest Service
[WO-300-9131-PP]
Notice of Availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement for Leasing of Geothermal Resources in 11 Western
States and Alaska and Notice of Public Hearings
AGENCIES: Bureau of Land Management, Interior; and U.S. Forest Service,
Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement for Leasing of Geothermal Resources in
11 Western States and Alaska and Notice of Public Hearings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with Section 202 of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on
Environmental Quality's regulations implementing the NEPA (40 CFR 1500-
1508), and applicable agency guidance, a Draft Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) has been prepared on the leasing
of geothermal resources in 11 Western States and Alaska. The Department
of the Interior, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Department
of Agriculture, the Forest Service (FS) are co-lead agencies for the
PEIS, and the Department of Energy (DOE) is a cooperating Federal
agency.
In accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-58,
August 8, 2005), the agencies' goal is to make geothermal leasing
decisions on pending lease applications submitted prior to January 1,
2005, and to facilitate geothermal leasing decisions on other existing
and future lease applications and nominations for geothermal leasing on
Federal lands. The planning area encompasses about 530 million acres of
land with the potential for geothermal development in Alaska, Arizona,
California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah,
Washington, and Wyoming.
DATES: To ensure comments will be considered, the BLM must receive
written comments on the Draft PEIS within 90 days following the date
the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the Notice of
Availability in the Federal Register. Public hearings will be held in
13 cities during June and July 2008. See the Supplementary Information
section for meeting dates and locations.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
E-mail: geothermal_EIS@blm.gov.
Fax: 1-866-625-0707.
US Mail: Geothermal Programmatic EIS, c/o EMPSi, 182
Howard Street, Suite 110, San Francisco, California 94105.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, including
information on how to comment, contact Jack G. Peterson, Bureau of Land
Management at (208) 373-4048, Jack_G_Peterson@blm.gov or Tracy
Parker, Forest Service at (703) 605-4796, tparker03@fs.fed.us, or visit
the PEIS Web site at https://www.blm.gov/Geothermal_EIS.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A copy of the Draft PEIS is available for
review via the Internet from a link at https://www.blm.gov/Geothermal_
EIS. Hardcopies are available for review at the BLM State and Field
Offices. Electronic (on CD-ROM) and paper copies may also be obtained
by contacting Jack Peterson at the aforementioned address and phone
number.
The PEIS consists of three volumes: Volume I contains the PEIS and
associated programmatic analyses; Volume II provides the additional
site-specific environmental analysis for the pending lease
applications; and Volume III contains the appendices.
The public is encouraged to provide comments on the Draft PEIS. In
addition to the written comment period, the BLM and the FS will host 13
public meetings to collect additional comments. The public meeting
dates and addresses are as follows:
1. June 16, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Denver, Colorado; PPA Event
Center, 2105 Decatur Street.
2. June 17, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Cheyenne, Wyoming; Laramie
County Main Library, Willow Room, 200 Pioneer Avenue.
3. June 18, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Helena, Montana; Lewis and
Clark Main Library, 120 S. Last Chance Gulch.
4. June 19, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Boise, Idaho; Boise Public
Library, 715 South Capitol Blvd.
5. June 23, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Seattle, Washington; Seattle
Public Library, University Branch, 5009 Roosevelt Way, NE.
6. June 24, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Portland, Oregon; Multnomah
County Library, Hillsdale Branch, 1525 SW Sunset Blvd.
7. June 25, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Davis, California; University
of
[[Page 33803]]
California Davis Walter A. Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center, Mrak
Hall Road.
8. July 8, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Anchorage, Alaska; Alaska
Energy Authority, 813 W. Northern Lights Blvd.
9. July 9, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Fairbanks, Alaska; Fairbanks
North Star Borough Library, 1215 Cowles Street.
10. July 14, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Reno, Nevada; Washoe County
Library--Spanish Springs Branch, 7100 Pyramid Highway.
11. July 15, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Salt Lake City, Utah; Main
Library, 210 East 400 South.
12. July 16, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Tucson, Arizona; Pima County
Public Library, Dusenberry River Branch, 5605 E. River Road.
13. July 17, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Albuquerque, New Mexico;
University of New Mexico, Conference Center, Room G, 1634 University
NE.
Any changes to these dates or locations, and any other public
involvement activities, will be announced at least 10 days in advance
through local media and on the project Web site: https://www.blm.gov/
Geothermal_EIS.
The Notice of Intent to prepare the PEIS was published on June 13,
2007, in the Federal Register (72 FR 32679). In accordance with the
Energy Policy Act of 2005, the BLM and the FS propose to facilitate
geothermal leasing on lands administered by the BLM (termed ``public
lands'') and by the FS (National Forest System (NFS) lands) that have
geothermal potential in the 11 western states and Alaska. Under the
proposal, the BLM and the FS would do the following: (1) Identify
public and NFS lands with geothermal potential for which geothermal
leases may be issued, statutorily open lands, and for which issuance of
geothermal leases is barred by operation of law, legally closed lands;
(2) identify public lands that are administratively closed or open, and
under what conditions; (3) develop a comprehensive list of
stipulations, best management practices, and procedures to serve as
consistent guidance for future geothermal leasing and development on
public and NFS lands; (4) amend the BLM Resource Management Plans
(RMPs) to adopt the resource allocations and procedures; and (5) issue
or deny geothermal lease applications pending as of January 1, 2005.
The need for the action is to (1) Issue decisions on pending lease
applications in accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005; (2)
address other provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, respond to
other policy directives calling for clean and renewable energy (such as
state renewable portfolio standards), and meet the increasing energy
demands of the nation; and (3) facilitate geothermal leasing decisions
on other existing and future lease applications and nominations on the
Federal mineral estate. The purpose of the action is to (1) Complete
the processing of active pending geothermal lease applications; (2)
amend BLM land use plans to allocate lands with geothermal potential as
being closed or open with minor to major constraints to leasing; and
(3) provide suitable information to the FS to facilitate its subsequent
consent decisions for BLM leasing on NFS lands.
Over 530 million acres of the western United States and Alaska have
been identified as potentially containing geothermal resources suitable
for commercial electrical generation and other direct uses, such as
heating. Much of the resource base is held in the Federal mineral
estate, for which the BLM has the delegated authority for processing
and issuing geothermal leases. Some units or portions of the areas
identified as having geothermal resource potential will not be
developed because they are unavailable for leasing, either by statute,
regulation or other authority. These designations are described at 43
CFR 3201.11, and include, but are not limited to: lands where the
Secretary has determined that issuing a lease would cause unnecessary
or undue degradation to public lands and resources; lands contained
within a unit of the National Park System, for example, the geothermal
features in and around Yellowstone National Park; wilderness areas;
wilderness study areas; fish hatcheries; wildlife management areas;
Indian trust lands; and other areas referred to in the above
regulation.
Under the Proposed Action, the BLM and the FS would also apply
discretionary closures to (1) Areas of Critical Environmental Concern
(ACEC) where the BLM determines that geothermal leasing and development
would be incompatible with the purposes for which the ACEC was
designated, or those whose management plans expressly preclude new
leasing; (2) National Conservation Areas, except the California Desert
Conservation Area; (3) other lands in the BLM's National Landscape
Conservation System, such as historic and scenic trails; and (4)
military reservations where geothermal development would conflict with
the military mission.
Approximately 142 million acres of public (BLM) lands and 106
million acres of NFS lands have geothermal potential. Based on the
proposed closures, the BLM and the FS are proposing to allocate
approximately 117 million acres of public lands and 75 million acres of
NFS lands to geothermal leasing subject to existing laws, regulations,
formal orders, stipulations attached to the lease form, and terms and
conditions of the standard lease form. To protect special resource
values, the BLM and the FS have developed a comprehensive list of
stipulations, conditions of approval, and best management practices
(BMPs).
In addition, a reasonably foreseeable development scenario (RFD)
was prepared to predict future geothermal development trends. The RFD
estimates a potential for 5,500 megawatts (MW) of new electrical
generation capacity by 2015 through 110 new geothermal power plants,
and an additional 6,600 MW from an additional 132 power plants by 2025.
The RFD also recognizes the great potential for direct uses, including
up to 270 communities being able to develop geothermal resources for
heating buildings to offset the use of conventional energy sources.
The BLM and the FS administrative units that have geothermal
resources within their boundaries and are included in the planning area
for the PEIS are provided in Table 1. In order for geothermal resource
leasing and development to take place on the public lands that the BLM
manages, such activities must be provided for in the land use plan for
the affected administrative unit. Therefore, land use plans for the
affected BLM administrative units may be amended by this PEIS to
address geothermal leasing. Adoption of the appropriate allocations,
development scenarios, stipulations, and BMPs for specific
administrative units will be done through the plan maintenance process;
thereby allowing future leasing decisions to be made based on the
amended plans. The FS will evaluate their land use plans and amend them
as needed through a separate environmental review process.
[[Page 33804]]
Table 1.--BLM and Forest Service Administrative Units Within the
Planning Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BLM Field Office (or
State District) National Forest
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska.............. Anchorage, Central Tongass National Forest.
Yukon, Eastern
Interior, Glennallen.
Arizona............. Arizona Strip, Apache-Sitgreaves
Hassayampa, Kingman, National Forests,
Lake Havasu, Lower Coronado National
Sonoran, Safford, Forest, Tonto National
Tucson, Yuma. Forest.
California.......... Alturas, Arcata, Angeles National Forest,
Bakersfield, Barstow, Cleveland National
Bishop, Eagle Lake, El Forest, Eldorado
Centro, Folsom, National Forest,
Hollister, Needles, Humboldt-Toiyabe
Palm Springs, Redding, National Forest, Inyo
Ridgecrest, Surprise, National Forest,
Ukiah. Klamath National
Forest, Lassen National
Forest, Los Padres
National Forest,
Mendocino National
Forest, Modoc National
Forest, Plumas National
Forest, San Bernardino
National Forest,
Sequoia National
Forest, Shasta Trinity
National Forest, Sierra
National Forest, Tahoe
National Forest.
Colorado............ Columbine, Del Norte, Arapaho and Roosevelt
Dolores, Glenwood National Forests, Grand
Springs, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and
Junction, Gunnison, Gunnison National
Kremmling, La Jara, Forests, Medicine Bow-
Little Snake, Pagosa Routt National Forest,
Springs, Royal Gorge, Pike-San Isabel
Saguache, Uncompahgre, National Forest, Rio
White River. Grande National Forest,
San Juan National
Forest, White River
National Forest.
Idaho............... Bruneau, Burley, Boise National Forest,
Challis, Cottonwood, Caribou-Targhee
Four Rivers, Jarbridge, National Forest,
Owyhee, Pocatello, Clearwater National
Salmon, Shoshone, Upper Forest, Nez Perce
Snake. National Forest,
Payette National
Forest, Salmon-Challis
National Forest,
Sawtooth National
Forest.
Montana............. Billings, Butte, Dillon, Beaverhead-Deerlodge
Lewistown, Malta, Miles National Forest,
City, Missoula. Bitterroot National
Forest, Clearwater
National Forest, Custer
National Forest, Dixie
National Forest,
Gallatin National
Forest, Helena National
Forest, Lewis and Clark
National Forest, Lolo
National Forest.
New Mexico.......... Carlsbad, Farmington, N/ Carson National Forest,
A, Rio Puerco, Roswell, Cibola National Forest,
Soccoro, Taos. Gila National Forest,
Lincoln National
Forest, Santa Fe
National Forest.
Nevada.............. Battle Mountain, Carson Humboldt-Toiyabe
City, Elko, Ely, Las National Forest.
Vegas, Winnemucca.
Oregon.............. Burns, Eugene, Lakeview, Deschutes National
Medford, Prineville, Forest, Fremont-Winema
Roseburg, Salem, Vale. National Forests,
Malheur National
Forest, Mt. Hood
National Forest, Ochoco
National Forest, Rogue
River-Siskiyou National
Forests, Umatilla
National Forest, Umpqua
National Forest,
Wallowa-Whitman
National Forest,
Willamette National
Forest.
Utah................ Cedar City, Fillmore, Dixie National Forest,
Kanab, Richfield, Salt Fishlake National
Lake, St. George, Forest, Uinta National
Vernal. Forest, Wasatch-Cache
National Forest.
Washington.......... Spokane................. Gifford Pinchot National
Forest, Mt Baker-
Snoqualmie National
Forest, Okanogan-
Wenatchee National
Forests, Umatilla
National Forest.
Wyoming............. Buffalo, Casper, Cody, Ashley National Forest,
Kemmerer, Lander, Bridger-Teton National
Newcastle, Pinedale, Forest, Caribou-Targhee
Rawlins, Rock Springs, National Forest,
Worland. Medicine Bow-Routt
National Forest,
Shoshone National
Forest, Wasatch-Cache
National Forest.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition to the Proposed Action, the PEIS evaluates two other
alternatives: The No Action Alternative and an alternative termed
Leasing Near Transmission Lines. The No Action Alternative would allow
the processing of pending geothermal lease applications; however, no
land use plans would be amended. Therefore, lease applications would be
evaluated on a case-by-case basis and would require additional
environmental review and possible land use plan amendments.
The Leasing Near Transmission Lines Alternative was developed based
on input from scoping. Under this alternative the scope of lands
considered for leasing for commercial electrical generation would be
limited to those lands that are near transmission lines.
This alternative also considers a larger buffer around Yellowstone
National Park. While this alternative minimizes the potential footprint
of tie-in transmission lines from power plants to distribution lines,
it would limit the potential for geothermal energy generation.
In addition to the programmatic analysis, the PEIS provides site-
specific environmental analysis for seven lease applications in Alaska,
California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington that were pending as of
January 1, 2005. The alternatives evaluated for this analysis are
issuing the lease or denying the lease (no action conditions).
Comments may be submitted in writing on the stated planning
criteria using one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section.
Please note that public comments and information submitted including
names, street addresses, and e-mail addresses of respondents will be
available for public review and disclosure at the above address during
regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday,
except holidays. Comments will be available for review at the following
Web site: https://www.blm.gov/Geothermal_EIS.
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 may
request in your comment that we withhold your personal identifying
information from
[[Page 33805]]
public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Jeff O. Holdren,
Acting Assistant Director, Minerals and Realty Management.
Gloria Manning,
Associate Deputy Chief for National Forest System, U.S. Forest Service.
[FR Doc. E8-13365 Filed 6-12-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-10-P
