Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Solar Millennium Ridgecrest Solar Power Project, Kern County, CA and Possible Land Use Plan Amendment and Staff Assessment, 61168-61169 [E9-27981]

Download as PDF jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES 61168 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 224 / Monday, November 23, 2009 / Notices Lake and Interstate 10. The project consists of two independent solar electric generating facilities with a combined electrical output of 250 MW. Electrical power would be produced using steam turbine generators fed from solar steam generators. The solar steam generators receive heated transfer fluid from arrays of parabolic mirrors that collect energy from the sun. The project would use a wet cooling tower for power plant cooling. Water for cooling tower makeup, process water makeup, and other industrial uses such as mirror washing would be supplied from on-site groundwater wells. Project cooling waste water would be piped to lined, on-site evaporation ponds. If approved, project construction would begin in late 2010. The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS/SA. The BLM has identified the following preliminary issues: special area designations, air quality, biological resources, recreation, cultural resources, special status species, water resources, geological resources, land use, noise, paleontological resources, public health, socioeconomics, soils, traffic and transportation, visual resources, and other issues. Authorization of this proposal may require amendment of the CDCA Plan. By this notice, the BLM is complying with 43 CFR 1610.2(c) to notify the public of potential amendments to land use plans, predicated on the findings of the EIS. If a land use plan amendment is necessary, the BLM will integrate the land use planning process with the NEPA process for this project. The BLM will use the NEPA commenting process to satisfy the public involvement process for Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f) as provided for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). Native American Tribal consultations will be conducted in accordance with BLM policy, and Tribal concerns will be given due consideration, including impacts on Indian trust assets. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with tribes and other stakeholders that may be interested or affected by the BLM’s decision on this project, are invited to participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM to participate as a cooperating agency. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:37 Nov 20, 2009 Jkt 220001 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. Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2. Tom Pogacnik, Deputy State Director, Natural Resources, BLM California State Office. [FR Doc. E9–27982 Filed 11–20–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–40–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CACA–049016, LLCAD05000, L51010000, ER0000, LVRWB09B2990] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Solar Millennium Ridgecrest Solar Power Project, Kern County, CA and Possible Land Use Plan Amendment and Staff Assessment AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, and the California Environmental Quality Act, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ridgecrest Field Office, together with the California Energy Commission (CEC), intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Staff Assessment (SA), which may include an amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan of 1980, as amended, and by this notice are announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues. DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the Draft EIS/SA and possible plan amendment. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until December 23, 2009. The dates and locations of scoping meetings, information hearings, and site visits will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local media, the BLM Web site at https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/ en/fo/ridgecrest.html, and the CEC’s Web site at https://www.energy.ca.gov/ sitingcases/ solar_millennium_ridgecrest/ index.html. In order to be considered in PO 00000 Frm 00066 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the Draft EIS/SA, all comments must be received prior to the close of the scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. We will provide additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of the Draft EIS and SA. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria related to the Solar Millennium Ridgecrest Draft EIS and SA by any of the following methods: • Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/ en/fo/ridgecrest.html or https:// www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/ solar_millennium_ridgecrest/ index.html. • E-mail: CARSPP@blm.gov or esolorio@energy.state.ca.us. • Fax: BLM (951) 697–5299 or CEC (916) 654–3882. • Mail: BLM California Desert District, 22835 Calle San Juan de los Lagos, Moreno Valley, California 92553, Attn: Janet Eubanks; or California Energy Commission, 1516 Ninth Street, MS–15, Sacramento, California, 95814, Attn: Eric Solorio. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Ridgecrest Field Office. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to have your name added to our mailing list, contact Janet Eubanks, Project Manager, at (951) 697–5376; or 22835 Calle San Juan de los Lagos, Moreno Valley, California 92553; or e-mail Janet_Eubanks@ca.blm.gov. Solar Millennium, LLC, has applied for a right-of-way (ROW) authorization to construct and operate a parabolic trough, solar thermal, generating facility with a capacity of 250 megawatts. The project would connect to the existing Southern California Edison 230-kilovolt (kV) Inyokern/Kramer Junction transmission line. About a mile long portion of this 230 kV transmission line and about a mile long portion of a 115 kV line would be realigned to avoid the project area. The approximately 3,920acre proposed ROW would contain two solar fields, a power block, construction areas, a dry-cooling tower, steel transmission towers with associated transmission lines, access roads, three covered water tanks, an underground water pipeline, a water treatment facility, an electrical switchyard, a land treatment unit for bioremediation of any soil that may be contaminated by heat transfer fluid, an office, a warehouse, a parking lot, and facility perimeter fencing. The project would be located approximately five miles southwest of SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\23NON1.SGM 23NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 224 / Monday, November 23, 2009 / Notices jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES the city of Ridgecrest in Kern County, California. The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS. At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary issues: special area designations; social and economic impacts, including impacts to the public from traffic; ground and surface water quantity and quality; special status species management; cultural resources; and visual resources. Authorization of this proposal may require amendment of the CDCA Plan (1980, as amended). By this notice, the BLM is complying with requirements in 43 CFR 1610.2(c) to notify the public of potential amendments to land use plans, predicated on the findings of the EIS. If a land use plan amendment is necessary, the BLM will integrate the land use planning process with the NEPA process for this project. The BLM will use the NEPA commenting process to satisfy the public involvement process for Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f) as provided for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). Native American Tribal consultations will be conducted in accordance with BLM policy, and Tribal concerns will be given due consideration, including impacts on Indian trust assets. Federal, State, and local agencies, tribes, and stakeholders that may be interested or affected by the BLM’s decision on this project are invited to participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM to participate as a cooperating agency. 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. Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2. Thomas Pogacnik, Deputy State Director, Natural Resources, California State Office. [FR Doc. E9–27981 Filed 11–20–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–40–P VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:37 Nov 20, 2009 Jkt 220001 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLES002000.L16100000.DO0000.L.X.SS. 015M0000] Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the Alabama and Mississippi Resource Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the states of Alabama and Mississippi. The Eastern State Director signed the ROD on January 30, 2009, which constitutes the final decision of the BLM and makes the approved RMP effective immediately. ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD/ approved RMP are available upon request from the Field Manager, Jackson Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, 411 Briarwood Drive Suite 404, Jackson, Mississippi 39206 or via the Internet at https://wwwblm.gov/es/st/ en/fo/Jackson_Home_Page.html, e-mail Gary_Taylor@blm.gov, or telephone Gary Taylor at (601) 977–5400. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Taylor. • E-mail: Gary_Taylor@blm.gov. • Mail: Jackson Field Office, BLM, Attn: Gary Taylor, 411 Briarwood Drive, Suite 404, Jackson, Mississippi 39206. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The planning area is located in the states of Alabama and Mississippi. This planning activity encompasses approximately 1.67 million acres of public lands and resources. The State of Mississippi participated in development of the plan as a cooperating agency. The RMP addresses the following major questions: (1) How will human activities and uses be managed? (2) What facilities, uses, and infrastructure are appropriate to provide resource exploration while managing the protection of the biological, historical, cultural, and visual values of Federal resources in Alabama and Mississippi? (3) How will the RMP be integrated with other Federal and state agency community plans? (4) How will transportation and access be managed? (5) How will the RMP affect economic and social conditions in the area? The Approved RMP was prepared under the authorities of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) and the National PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 61169 Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Additionally, this plan is consistent with all local plans and policies. The approved RMP is identical to the proposed plan (Alternative 3) presented in the 2008 Proposed RMP/ Final EIS. All decisions covered by the ROD are either land-use planning decisions that were protestable under BLM’s planning regulations (43 CFR 1610), or are implementation decisions that are appealable under 43 CFR part 4, as more fully discussed below. The BLM will develop a plan evaluation methodology to ensure that the RMP is being followed. There was one protest that was denied. The decisions regarding oil and gas leasing and disposal of Federal surface lands are implementation decisions and are appealable under 43 CFR part 4. Any party adversely affected by these decisions may appeal within 30 days of publication of this Notice of Availability pursuant to 43 CFR part 4, subpart E. The appeal must be filed with the Jackson Field Manager at the above listed address. Please consult the appropriate regulations (43 CFR part 4, subpart E) for further appeal requirements. Juan Palma, Director. [FR Doc. E9–27785 Filed 11–20–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–GJ–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CACA 048810 and CACA 048811, LLCAD06000 L5101 ER0000 LVRBW09B26000] Notice of Intent To Prepare Two Environmental Impact Statements/Staff Assessments for the Proposed Chevron Energy Solutions/Solar Millennium Palen and Blythe Solar Power Plants, Riverside County, CA and Possible Land Use Plan Amendments AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Palm Springs South Coast Field Office, Palm Springs, California, together with the California Energy Commission (CEC), intend to prepare two Environmental Impact E:\FR\FM\23NON1.SGM 23NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 224 (Monday, November 23, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61168-61169]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27981]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CACA-049016, LLCAD05000, L51010000, ER0000, LVRWB09B2990]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Solar Millennium Ridgecrest Solar Power Project, Kern 
County, CA and Possible Land Use Plan Amendment and Staff Assessment

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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

SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), as amended, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976, as amended, and the California Environmental Quality Act, the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ridgecrest Field Office, together with 
the California Energy Commission (CEC), intend to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Staff Assessment (SA), which may 
include an amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) 
Plan of 1980, as amended, and by this notice are announcing the 
beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and 
identify issues.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the Draft 
EIS/SA and possible plan amendment. Comments on issues may be submitted 
in writing until December 23, 2009. The dates and locations of scoping 
meetings, information hearings, and site visits will be announced at 
least 15 days in advance through local media, the BLM Web site at 
https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/ridgecrest.html, and the CEC's Web site 
at https://www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/solar_millennium_ridgecrest/. In order to be considered in the Draft EIS/SA, all comments 
must be received prior to the close of the scoping period or 15 days 
after the last public meeting, whichever is later. We will provide 
additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of 
the Draft EIS and SA.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 
related to the Solar Millennium Ridgecrest Draft EIS and SA by any of 
the following methods:
     Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/ridgecrest.html 
or https://www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/solar_millennium_ridgecrest/.
     E-mail: CARSPP@blm.gov or esolorio@energy.state.ca.us.
     Fax: BLM (951) 697-5299 or CEC (916) 654-3882.
     Mail: BLM California Desert District, 22835 Calle San Juan 
de los Lagos, Moreno Valley, California 92553, Attn: Janet Eubanks; or 
California Energy Commission, 1516 Ninth Street, MS-15, Sacramento, 
California, 95814, Attn: Eric Solorio.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the 
Ridgecrest Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Janet Eubanks, Project 
Manager, at (951) 697-5376; or 22835 Calle San Juan de los Lagos, 
Moreno Valley, California 92553; or e-mail Janet_Eubanks@ca.blm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Solar Millennium, LLC, has applied for a 
right-of-way (ROW) authorization to construct and operate a parabolic 
trough, solar thermal, generating facility with a capacity of 250 
megawatts. The project would connect to the existing Southern 
California Edison 230-kilovolt (kV) Inyokern/Kramer Junction 
transmission line. About a mile long portion of this 230 kV 
transmission line and about a mile long portion of a 115 kV line would 
be realigned to avoid the project area. The approximately 3,920-acre 
proposed ROW would contain two solar fields, a power block, 
construction areas, a dry-cooling tower, steel transmission towers with 
associated transmission lines, access roads, three covered water tanks, 
an underground water pipeline, a water treatment facility, an 
electrical switchyard, a land treatment unit for bioremediation of any 
soil that may be contaminated by heat transfer fluid, an office, a 
warehouse, a parking lot, and facility perimeter fencing. The project 
would be located approximately five miles southwest of

[[Page 61169]]

the city of Ridgecrest in Kern County, California.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, 
including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS. 
At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary issues: 
special area designations; social and economic impacts, including 
impacts to the public from traffic; ground and surface water quantity 
and quality; special status species management; cultural resources; and 
visual resources.
    Authorization of this proposal may require amendment of the CDCA 
Plan (1980, as amended). By this notice, the BLM is complying with 
requirements in 43 CFR 1610.2(c) to notify the public of potential 
amendments to land use plans, predicated on the findings of the EIS. If 
a land use plan amendment is necessary, the BLM will integrate the land 
use planning process with the NEPA process for this project.
    The BLM will use the NEPA commenting process to satisfy the public 
involvement process for Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f) as provided for in 36 CFR 
800.2(d)(3). Native American Tribal consultations will be conducted in 
accordance with BLM policy, and Tribal concerns will be given due 
consideration, including impacts on Indian trust assets. Federal, 
State, and local agencies, tribes, and stakeholders that may be 
interested or affected by the BLM's decision on this project are 
invited to participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may 
request or be requested by the BLM to participate as a cooperating 
agency.
    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.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2.

Thomas Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director, Natural Resources, California State Office.
[FR Doc. E9-27981 Filed 11-20-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P
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