Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and a Possible Land Use Plan Amendment to the Jarbidge Resource Management Plan for the Proposed China Mountain Wind Project, 52974-52975 [E9-24858]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 198 / Thursday, October 15, 2009 / Notices
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Dated: October 8, 2009.
Lillian Deitzer,
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[FR Doc. E9–24806 Filed 10–14–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLID2100000 L16100000.DO0000]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement and a
Possible Land Use Plan Amendment to
the Jarbidge Resource Management
Plan for the Proposed China Mountain
Wind Project
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
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, which
may include a land use plan
amendment to the 1987 Jarbidge
Resource Management Plan (RMP), and
by this notice is announcing the
beginning of the scoping process and
soliciting input on the identification of
issues. The China Mountain Wind
Project is 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 electric
transmission facilities and access roads,
and a possible land use plan
amendment associated with the project.
This notice initiates a 30-day public
scoping period to identify relevant
issues associated with the proposed
project and possible land use plan
amendment.
A prior notice dated April 21, 2008,
initiated a 60-day public scoping
process to identify relevant issues
associated with the proposed project.
That scoping process was subsequently
extended for an additional 30 days,
ending July 21, 2008.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
19:13 Oct 14, 2009
Jkt 220001
DATES: The scoping period will
commence with the publication of this
notice. The formal scoping period will
end on November 16, 2009. Comments
regarding issues relative to the proposed
project and possible plan amendment
should be received on or before
November 16, 2009 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. The BLM will provide
additional opportunities for public
participation upon publication of the
Draft EIS, including a public comment
period.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on issues related to the proposed project
by any of the following methods:
• E-mail: id_chinamtn_eis@blm.gov.
• Fax: (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) 235–2072.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EIS
will be prepared in accordance with the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976 (FLPMA) (43 U.S.C. 1701 et
seq.), as amended; the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), as
amended; and the Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ)
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508).
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
land administered by the BLM Twin
Falls District, Jarbidge Field Office,
State of Idaho lands, and private lands
in south-central Idaho.
PO 00000
Frm 00031
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Administration ownership
BLM–Jarbidge Field Office, Twin
Falls District, Idaho .................
BLM–Wells Field Office, Elko
District, Nevada .......................
State of Idaho .............................
Private .........................................
Total .....................................
Acres
(rounded)
15,300
4,700
2,000
8,700
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 two-acre
area and would consist of a graveled,
fenced area containing transformer and
switching equipment and an area to
park utility vehicles. Up to 25 miles of
new three-phase 138 kV or 345 kV
overhead electric transmission line
would be constructed from each
substation to a switching station at the
point of interconnection with an
existing transmission line. The new
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 two 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
concrete batch plant would be centrally
located on the site, occupying an area of
approximately five 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 of the China Mountain
Wind project, if determined to be
appropriate, is to construct a wind
power generation facility that uses wind
energy resources in an environmentally
sound manner to meet existing and
future electricity demands in Idaho and
Nevada. The proposed project also
provides for development of renewable
energy resources as encouraged by the
E:\FR\FM\15OCN1.SGM
15OCN1
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 198 / Thursday, October 15, 2009 / Notices
Energy Policy Act of 2005 and is
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).
At this project’s original inception the
Jarbidge RMP revision process was
already well underway (initiated
January 10, 2006). The RMP revision
process had identified the need to revise
the previous land use planning
guidance provided by the 1987 Jarbidge
RMP—specifically with regards to
rights-of-way, including wind energy
and utility corridors. With the RMP
revision and this project on two parallel
yet staggered timelines, the BLM
originally expected that the RMP
revision (including new rights-of-way
guidance) would be complete prior to
issuance of a decision for this project
(consistent with that guidance).
Unforeseen delays in the RMP revision
process have extended the timeline,
including: wildfire and subsequent
restoration planning and response,
litigation, and other delays. The
issuance of a specific amendment to the
1987 RMP for the project, consistent
with analysis developed during the
RMP revision process, will allow the
BLM to process the China Mountain
application, unimpeded by delays
associated with the RMP revision. If the
RMP revision is completed prior to
issuance of a decision for this project,
then a land use plan amendment for the
project would not be necessary.
However, any further delays in the RMP
revision such as scheduling, protest
response, or litigation would require
continuing with the land use plan
amendment for the project so as to
minimize delays in processing China
Wind’s application for this project.
The purpose of the public scoping
process is to determine relevant issues
that will influence the scope of the
environmental analysis and EIS
alternatives including a possible land
use plan amendment for the project.
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
VerDate Nov<24>2008
19:13 Oct 14, 2009
Jkt 220001
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 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.
Peter J. Ditton,
Acting State Director, Bureau of Land
Management, Idaho.
[FR Doc. E9–24858 Filed 10–14–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
COMMISSION
[Investigation No. 337–TA–641]
In the Matter of Certain Variable Speed
Wind Turbines and Components
Thereof; Notice of Commission
Determination To Review a Final Initial
Determination of the Administrative
Law Judge
AGENCY: U.S. International Trade
Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that
the U.S. International Trade
Commission has determined to review
the final initial determination (‘‘ID’’) of
the presiding administrative law judge
(‘‘ALJ’’) in the above-captioned
investigation under section 337 of the
Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19
U.S.C. 1337 (‘‘section 337’’). The ALJ
found a violation of section 337.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
James A. Worth, Office of the General
Counsel, U.S. International Trade
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
52975
Commission, 500 E Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202)
205–3065. Copies of non-confidential
documents filed in connection with this
investigation are or will be available for
inspection during official business
hours (8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.) in the
Office of the Secretary, U.S.
International Trade Commission, 500 E
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20436,
telephone (202) 205–2000. General
information concerning the Commission
may also be obtained by accessing its
Internet server (https://www.usitc.gov).
The public record for this investigation
may be viewed on the Commission’s
electronic docket (EDIS) at https://
edis.usitc.gov. Hearing-impaired
persons are advised that information on
this matter can be obtained by
contacting the Commission’s TDD
terminal on (202) 205–1810.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
investigation was instituted on March
31, 2008, based upon a complaint filed
on behalf of General Electric Company
(‘‘GE’’) of Fairfield, Connecticut on
February 7, 2008. The complaint alleged
violations of section 337 of the Tariff
Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1337) in the
importation into the United States, the
sale for importation, and the sale within
the United States after importation of
certain variable speed wind turbines
and components thereof that infringe
claims 121–125 of U.S. Patent No.
5,083,039 (‘‘the ‘039 patent’’) and claims
1–12, 15–18, and 21–28 of U.S. Patent
No. 6,921,985 (‘‘the ‘985 patent’’).
The notice of investigation named as
respondents Mitsubishi Heavy
Industries, Ltd. (‘‘MHI’’) of Tokyo,
Japan; Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
America, Inc. (‘‘MHIA’’) of New York,
New York; and Mitsubishi Power
Systems, Inc. (‘‘MPSA’’) of Lake Mary,
Florida.
On October 8, 2008, the Commission
issued notice of its determination not to
review an ID (Order No. 10) granting
GE’s motion to amend its complaint and
the notice of investigation to add claims
1–19 of United States Patent No.
7,321,221 (‘‘the ‘221 patent’’) to this
investigation.
On April 21, 2009, the Commission
issued notice of its determination not to
review an ID (Order No. 30) granting
GE’s amended motion for summary
determination that it had satisfied the
economic prong of the domestic
industry requirement with respect to all
three asserted patents.
The ALJ conducted an evidentiary
hearing commencing on May 11, 2009.
At the hearing, GE narrowed the number
of asserted claims to: claim 121 of the
‘039 patent; claims 5, 7, and 8 of the
E:\FR\FM\15OCN1.SGM
15OCN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 198 (Thursday, October 15, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52974-52975]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-24858]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLID2100000 L16100000.DO0000]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and
a Possible Land Use Plan Amendment to the Jarbidge Resource Management
Plan 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, which may
include a land use plan amendment to the 1987 Jarbidge Resource
Management Plan (RMP), and by this notice is announcing the beginning
of the scoping process and soliciting input on the identification of
issues. The China Mountain Wind Project is 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 electric
transmission facilities and access roads, and a possible land use plan
amendment associated with the project. This notice initiates a 30-day
public scoping period to identify relevant issues associated with the
proposed project and possible land use plan amendment.
A prior notice dated April 21, 2008, initiated a 60-day public
scoping process to identify relevant issues associated with the
proposed project. That scoping process was subsequently extended for an
additional 30 days, ending July 21, 2008.
DATES: The scoping period will commence with the publication of this
notice. The formal scoping period will end on November 16, 2009.
Comments regarding issues relative to the proposed project and possible
plan amendment should be received on or before November 16, 2009 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. The BLM
will provide additional opportunities for public participation upon
publication of the Draft EIS, including a public comment period.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues related to the proposed
project by any of the following methods:
E-mail: id_chinamtn_eis@blm.gov.
Fax: (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) 235-2072.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EIS will be prepared in accordance with
the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) (43 U.S.C.
1701 et seq.), as amended; the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), as amended; and the Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508). 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 land
administered by the BLM Twin Falls District, Jarbidge Field Office,
State of Idaho lands, and private lands in south-central Idaho.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acres
Administration 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 two-acre area and
would consist of a graveled, fenced area containing transformer and
switching equipment and an area to park utility vehicles. Up to 25
miles of new three-phase 138 kV or 345 kV overhead electric
transmission line would be constructed from each substation to a
switching station at the point of interconnection with an existing
transmission line. The new 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 two 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 concrete batch plant
would be centrally located on the site, occupying an area of
approximately five 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 of the China Mountain Wind project, if determined to be
appropriate, is to construct a wind power generation facility that uses
wind energy resources in an environmentally sound manner to meet
existing and future electricity demands in Idaho and Nevada. The
proposed project also provides for development of renewable energy
resources as encouraged by the
[[Page 52975]]
Energy Policy Act of 2005 and is 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).
At this project's original inception the Jarbidge RMP revision
process was already well underway (initiated January 10, 2006). The RMP
revision process had identified the need to revise the previous land
use planning guidance provided by the 1987 Jarbidge RMP--specifically
with regards to rights-of-way, including wind energy and utility
corridors. With the RMP revision and this project on two parallel yet
staggered timelines, the BLM originally expected that the RMP revision
(including new rights-of-way guidance) would be complete prior to
issuance of a decision for this project (consistent with that
guidance). Unforeseen delays in the RMP revision process have extended
the timeline, including: wildfire and subsequent restoration planning
and response, litigation, and other delays. The issuance of a specific
amendment to the 1987 RMP for the project, consistent with analysis
developed during the RMP revision process, will allow the BLM to
process the China Mountain application, unimpeded by delays associated
with the RMP revision. If the RMP revision is completed prior to
issuance of a decision for this project, then a land use plan amendment
for the project would not be necessary. However, any further delays in
the RMP revision such as scheduling, protest response, or litigation
would require continuing with the land use plan amendment for the
project so as to minimize delays in processing China Wind's application
for this project.
The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis and
EIS alternatives including a possible land use plan amendment for the
project. 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 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.
Peter J. Ditton,
Acting State Director, Bureau of Land Management, Idaho.
[FR Doc. E9-24858 Filed 10-14-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GG-P
