Notice of Availability of the Draft Ivanpah Solar Electric Generation System Environmental Impact Statement and the Draft California Desert Conservation Area Plan Amendment, 58043-58044 [E9-27116]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 216 / Tuesday, November 10, 2009 / Notices Intellectual Property Rights & Restricted Merchandise Branch, at (202) 325–0119. Dated: November 4, 2009. Charles R. Steuart, Chief, Intellectual Property Rights & Restricted Merchandise Branch. [FR Doc. E9–26982 Filed 11–9–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9111–14–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Notice of Proposed Information Collection for 1029–0080 srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing its intention to request approval to continue the collection of information under 30 CFR part 850 which allows the collection and review of new blaster certification programs. This information collection activity was previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and assigned control number 1029–0080. DATES: Comments on the proposed information collection activity must be received by January 11, 2010, to be assured of consideration. ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Adrienne L. Alsop, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Ave., NW., Room 202–SIB, Washington, DC 20240. Comments may also be submitted electronically to aalsop@osmre.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To receive a copy of the information collection request, contact Adrienne Alsop, at (202) 208–2818 or by e-mail. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB regulations at 5 CFR 1320, which implement provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13), require that interested members of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping activities [see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)]. This notice identifies an information collection that OSM will be submitting to OMB for renewed approval. This collection is contained in 30 CFR part 850, Permanent Regulatory Program Requirements—Standards for Certification of Blasters. The information submitted by respondents is VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:45 Nov 09, 2009 Jkt 220001 required to obtain a benefit. OSM will request a 3-year term of approval for this information collection activity. Comments are invited on: (1) The need for the collection of information for the performance of the functions of the agency; (2) the accuracy of the agency’s burden estimates; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to minimize the information collection burden on respondents, such as use of automated means of collection of the information. A summary of the public comments will accompany OSM’s submission of the information collection request to OMB. Before including your address, phone number, email 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. Title: 30 CFR part 850—Permanent Regulatory Program Requirements— Standards for Certification of Blasters. OMB Control Number: 1029–0080. Summary: The information is used to identify and evaluate new blaster certification programs. Bureau Form Numbers: None. Frequency of Collection: Once. Description of Respondents: State regulatory authorities. Total Annual Responses: 1. Total Annual Burden Hours: 133 hours. Dated: November 3, 2009. John R. Craynon, Chief, Division of Regulatory Support. [FR Doc. E9–26917 Filed 11–9–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–05–M DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CA–960–09–L5101000.ER0000 LVRWB09B2400; CACA–48668, 49501, 49502, 49503] Notice of Availability of the Draft Ivanpah Solar Electric Generation System Environmental Impact Statement and the Draft California Desert Conservation Area Plan Amendment AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 58043 SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generation System (ISEGS) and an associated Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment (DRMPA) for the California Desert Conservation Area. By this notice, the BLM is announcing the availability of these documents and the opening of the comment period. DATES: To ensure that comments on the DEIS and DRMPA will be considered, the BLM must receive them within 90 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce meetings or hearings and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/ en/info/nepa.html. • E-mail: ca690@ca.blm.gov. • Fax: (760) 326–7099 Attn: George Meckfessel. • Mail: George Meckfessel, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management, Needles Field Office, 1303 South U.S. Highway 95, Needles, CA 92363. • In person: At any public meeting and/or hearing that BLM schedules for the DEIS/DRMPA during the comment period. Copies of the DEIS/DRMPA are available in the Needles Field Office at the above address; the California State Office, Public Room, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W–1623, Sacramento, CA 95825; and electronically on the following Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/ nepa.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Hurshman, Project Manager, (970) 240– 5345; Bureau of Land Management, 2465 South Townsend Ave., Montrose, CO 81401; e-mail tom_hurshman@blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Solar Partners I, LLC, Solar Partners II, LLC, Solar Partners IV, LLC and Solar Partners VIII, LLC, wholly owned subsidiaries of Bright Source Energy, Inc. (the applicant), have applied for right-of-way (ROW) grants on public lands to develop a 400 megawatt (MW) solar thermal power plant and a shared administrative complex/construction logistics area on approximately 4,073 E:\FR\FM\10NON1.SGM 10NON1 srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES 58044 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 216 / Tuesday, November 10, 2009 / Notices acres of public land in Southern California. The proposed 400 MW generation project would be constructed in three phases: (1) 100 MW (Ivanpah 1) and the shared administrative complex/ construction logistics area; (2) 100 MW (Ivanpah 2); and (3) 200 MW (Ivanpah 3). The project site is located entirely on public land approximately 4.5 miles southwest of Primm, Nevada. These concentrating solar energy power plants would use distributed power tower and heliostat (mirror) technology, in which heliostat fields focus solar energy on power tower receivers near the center of each heliostat array. The completed 400 MW project would incorporate seven 459-foot tall power towers and approximately 214,000 heliostats (each holding two flat mirrors). Each of the three proposed plants (Ivanpah 1, 2, and 3) would have an individual power block with steam turbine, air-cooled condenser, switchyard, and generation tie-line. The three plants would share access roads, two groundwater wells and water lines, an administrative/ maintenance complex, a new substation, a new 5.3-mile natural gas pipeline, and temporary construction staging areas. The DEIS addresses the impacts of the entire 400 MW generation project and does not analyze the environmental impacts for each phase of development separately. The plants would be connected to the Southern California Edison (SCE) electric power grid through upgrades to SCE’s electric transmission line passing through the site and the new substation. The three phases would take several years to construct. Once completed, the solar power plants are expected to operate for 50 years or more. Construction of the first phase of the project is anticipated to begin in 2010 and be completed in 2013. On November 6, 2007, the BLM published in the Federal Register a Notice of Intent (72 FR 62671) to prepare an EIS and Staff Assessment jointly with the CEC under NEPA and the California Environmental Quality Act. The BLM and CEC held public scoping meetings in January 2007 and have held a series of public workshops since then to discuss project changes and mitigation measures. Potential impacts to specific resources such as groundwater (quality and quantity), threatened and endangered species (desert tortoise), vegetation, visual resources, desert bighorn sheep, domestic livestock grazing, and recreation on the Ivanpah Dry Lake were identified during scoping and analyzed in the DEIS. The DEIS evaluates alternatives to approve the proposed action, approve VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:45 Nov 09, 2009 Jkt 220001 with modifications, or deny the ROW application for the ISEGS project as proposed. The BLM will also consider the DRMPA to the California Desert Conservation Area Plan to allow for the ISEGS project. The DEIS analyzed 22 alternative site locations and technologies to the ISEGS project. None of these 22 alternatives met the BLM purpose and need for the proposed action and as such were eliminated from detailed analysis. Resources that may be affected include, but are not limited to: Desert tortoise, visual resources, cultural resources, ephemeral stream channels, soils, and vegetation. 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 addresses for the BLM California State Office and Needles Field Office during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays. 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 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. Authority: 40 CFR 1506.10 and 1610.2 Tom Pogacnik, Deputy State Director for Natural Resources, California State Office. [FR Doc. E9–27116 Filed 11–9–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–40–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLWO2600000 L10600000 XQ0000] Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board; Meeting AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Announcement of meeting. SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces that the Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board will conduct a meeting on matters pertaining to management and protection of wild, free-roaming horses and burros on the Nation’s public lands. DATES: The Advisory Board will meet Monday, December 7, 2009 from 8 a.m. PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 to 5 p.m., local time. This will be a one day meeting. ADDRESSES: The Advisory Board will meet in Reno, Nevada at the John Ascuaga’s Nugget, 1100 Nugget Avenue, Sparks, Nevada 89431. Their phone number for reservations is 800–648– 1177. Written comments pertaining to the Advisory Board meeting should be sent to: Bureau of Land Management, National Wild Horse and Burro Program, WO–260, Attention: Ramona DeLorme, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Reno, Nevada, 89502–7147. Submit written comments pertaining to the Advisory Board meeting no later than close of business December 2, 2009. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for electronic access and filing address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ramona DeLorme, Wild Horse and Burro Administrative Assistant, at 775– 861–6583. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may reach Ms. DeLorme at any time by calling the Federal Information Relay Service at 1–800–877–8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Public Meeting Under the authority of 43 CFR part 1784, the Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board advises the Secretary of the Interior, the Director of the BLM, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Chief of the Forest Service, on matters pertaining to management and protection of wild, free-roaming horses and burros on the Nation’s public lands. The tentative agenda for the meeting is: Monday, December 7, 2009 (8 a.m.–5 p.m.) 8 a.m.—Call to Order & Introductions: 8:15 a.m.—Old Business: Approval of September 28, 2009 Minutes 9 a.m.—New Business Secretaries Initiative Break (9:45 a.m.–10 a.m.) 10 a.m.—New Business Secretaries Initiative (Continued) Lunch (11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.) 1 p.m.—New Business Secretaries Initiative (Continued) Break (2:45 p.m.–3 p.m.) 3 p.m.—Public Comments 4 p.m.—Board Recommendations 4:45 p.m.—Recap/Summary/Next Meeting/Date/Site 5 p.m.—Adjourn The meeting site is accessible to individuals with disabilities. An individual with a disability needing an auxiliary aid or service to participate in the meeting, such as an interpreting service, assistive listening device, or E:\FR\FM\10NON1.SGM 10NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58043-58044]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27116]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA-960-09-L5101000.ER0000 LVRWB09B2400; CACA-48668, 49501, 49502, 
49503]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Ivanpah Solar Electric 
Generation System Environmental Impact Statement and the Draft 
California Desert Conservation Area Plan Amendment

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Ivanpah Solar 
Electric Generation System (ISEGS) and an associated Draft Resource 
Management Plan Amendment (DRMPA) for the California Desert 
Conservation Area. By this notice, the BLM is announcing the 
availability of these documents and the opening of the comment period.

DATES: To ensure that comments on the DEIS and DRMPA will be 
considered, the BLM must receive them within 90 days following the date 
the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of 
Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce meetings or 
hearings and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days 
in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/nepa.html.
     E-mail: ca690@ca.blm.gov.
     Fax: (760) 326-7099 Attn: George Meckfessel.
     Mail: George Meckfessel, Planning and Environmental 
Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management, Needles Field Office, 1303 
South U.S. Highway 95, Needles, CA 92363.
     In person: At any public meeting and/or hearing that BLM 
schedules for the DEIS/DRMPA during the comment period.
    Copies of the DEIS/DRMPA are available in the Needles Field Office 
at the above address; the California State Office, Public Room, 2800 
Cottage Way, Suite W-1623, Sacramento, CA 95825; and electronically on 
the following Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/nepa.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Hurshman, Project Manager, (970) 
240-5345; Bureau of Land Management, 2465 South Townsend Ave., 
Montrose, CO 81401; e-mail tom_hurshman@blm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Solar Partners I, LLC, Solar Partners II, LLC, Solar Partners IV, 
LLC and Solar Partners VIII, LLC, wholly owned subsidiaries of Bright 
Source Energy, Inc. (the applicant), have applied for right-of-way 
(ROW) grants on public lands to develop a 400 megawatt (MW) solar 
thermal power plant and a shared administrative complex/construction 
logistics area on approximately 4,073

[[Page 58044]]

acres of public land in Southern California. The proposed 400 MW 
generation project would be constructed in three phases: (1) 100 MW 
(Ivanpah 1) and the shared administrative complex/construction 
logistics area; (2) 100 MW (Ivanpah 2); and (3) 200 MW (Ivanpah 3). The 
project site is located entirely on public land approximately 4.5 miles 
southwest of Primm, Nevada. These concentrating solar energy power 
plants would use distributed power tower and heliostat (mirror) 
technology, in which heliostat fields focus solar energy on power tower 
receivers near the center of each heliostat array. The completed 400 MW 
project would incorporate seven 459-foot tall power towers and 
approximately 214,000 heliostats (each holding two flat mirrors). Each 
of the three proposed plants (Ivanpah 1, 2, and 3) would have an 
individual power block with steam turbine, air-cooled condenser, 
switchyard, and generation tie-line. The three plants would share 
access roads, two groundwater wells and water lines, an administrative/
maintenance complex, a new substation, a new 5.3-mile natural gas 
pipeline, and temporary construction staging areas. The DEIS addresses 
the impacts of the entire 400 MW generation project and does not 
analyze the environmental impacts for each phase of development 
separately.
    The plants would be connected to the Southern California Edison 
(SCE) electric power grid through upgrades to SCE's electric 
transmission line passing through the site and the new substation. The 
three phases would take several years to construct. Once completed, the 
solar power plants are expected to operate for 50 years or more. 
Construction of the first phase of the project is anticipated to begin 
in 2010 and be completed in 2013.
    On November 6, 2007, the BLM published in the Federal Register a 
Notice of Intent (72 FR 62671) to prepare an EIS and Staff Assessment 
jointly with the CEC under NEPA and the California Environmental 
Quality Act. The BLM and CEC held public scoping meetings in January 
2007 and have held a series of public workshops since then to discuss 
project changes and mitigation measures. Potential impacts to specific 
resources such as groundwater (quality and quantity), threatened and 
endangered species (desert tortoise), vegetation, visual resources, 
desert bighorn sheep, domestic livestock grazing, and recreation on the 
Ivanpah Dry Lake were identified during scoping and analyzed in the 
DEIS.
    The DEIS evaluates alternatives to approve the proposed action, 
approve with modifications, or deny the ROW application for the ISEGS 
project as proposed. The BLM will also consider the DRMPA to the 
California Desert Conservation Area Plan to allow for the ISEGS 
project. The DEIS analyzed 22 alternative site locations and 
technologies to the ISEGS project. None of these 22 alternatives met 
the BLM purpose and need for the proposed action and as such were 
eliminated from detailed analysis.
    Resources that may be affected include, but are not limited to: 
Desert tortoise, visual resources, cultural resources, ephemeral stream 
channels, soils, and vegetation.
    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 
addresses for the BLM California State Office and Needles Field Office 
during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through 
Friday, except holidays.
    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 
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.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1506.10 and 1610.2

Tom Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director for Natural Resources, California State Office.
[FR Doc. E9-27116 Filed 11-9-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P
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