Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Staff Assessment for the NextEra Ford Dry Lake Solar Power Plant, Riverside County, CA and Possible Land Use Plan Amendment, 61167-61168 [E9-27982]

Download as PDF jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 224 / Monday, November 23, 2009 / Notices requested a right-of-way (ROW) authorization to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission the Daggett Ridge Wind Farm. The proposed energy facility would generate 82.5 megawatts (MW) of renewable power using wind resources. The project would include approximately 10 miles of new roads. It would also include one substation on private land. The project would require the BLM to approve an amendment to Southern California Edison’s current Slash X ROW to allow telecommunication use. It would also require the BLM to approve two amendments to the Boulder Canyon Project permit to allow: (1) The construction and installation of additional poles within the existing ROW for telecommunication use; and (2) a new 500-foot line from the proposed Seaggett Substation, which would include the replacement of one pole on BLM-managed land. The proposed project would involve new or expanded utility corridors.The proposed project would use 1,577 acres of BLMmanaged land and 380 acres of private property, all of which is located in unincorporated San Bernardino County, southeast of Barstow and southwest of Daggett, California. It will have a total of 33 wind turbines—28 on BLMmanaged land and five on private land. 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/EIR. At present, the BLM and the County have identified the following preliminary issues: Special status species, vegetation communities, special area designations, cultural resources, social impacts, visual resources, cumulative effectsand areas of high potential for renewable energy development. 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 VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:37 Nov 20, 2009 Jkt 220001 impacts on Indian trust assets. Federal, State, and local agencies, tribes, and other stakeholders that may be interested or affected by the BLM’s or the County’s decision on this project, are invited to participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM or the County 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. E9–27989 Filed 11–20–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–40–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CACA 048880, LLCAD06000, L51010000, ER0000, LVRWB09B2510] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Staff Assessment for the NextEra Ford Dry Lake Solar Power Plant, Riverside County, CA and Possible Land Use Plan Amendment AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. SUMMARY: In compliance 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) Palm SpringsSouth Coast Field Office, together with the California Energy Commission (CEC), intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Staff Assessment (SA), which may also include an amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan (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 EIS/SA and possible plan amendment. Comments PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 61167 on issues may be submitted in writing until December 23, 2009. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings, information hearings, and site visits will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers and the BLM Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/ palmsprings.html and the CEC’s Web site at: https://energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/ genesis_solar/. 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/SA. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria related to the NextEra Ford Dry Lake Solar Power Plant Draft EIS/SA by any of the following methods: • Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/ en/fo/palmsprings.html or https:// energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/genesis_solar/ index.html. • E-mail: CAPSSolarNextEraFPL@blm.gov or mmonasmi@energy.state.ca.us. • Fax: (760) 251–4899. • Mail or hand delivery: Mike Monasmith, Project Manager Siting, Transmission and Environmental Protection Division, CEC, 1516 Ninth Street, MS–15, Sacramento, California 95814 or Allison Shaffer, Project Manager, Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office, BLM, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, California 92262. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to have your name added to our mailing list, contact Allison Shaffer, BLM Project Manager, telephone (760) 833–7100; address 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262; e-mail CAPSSolarNextEraFPL@blm.gov or Mike Monasmith, CEC Project Manager, telephone (916) 653–8236; address 1516 9th Street, MS–15, Sacramento, CA 95814; e-mail mmonasmi@energy.state.ca.us. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant, NextEra, LLC has requested a right-of-way authorization to develop an 1,800-acre, 250-megawatt (MW) solar generation facility, including a substation, administration facilities, operations and maintenance facilities, evaporation ponds, surface storm water control facilities, and temporary construction lay-down areas. The project is located approximately 25 miles west of the city of Blythe, California, on BLM-managed lands. The project area is south of the Palen/McCoy Wilderness Area and north of Ford Dry E:\FR\FM\23NON1.SGM 23NON1 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

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 224 (Monday, November 23, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61167-61168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27982]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CACA 048880, LLCAD06000, L51010000, ER0000, LVRWB09B2510]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/
Staff Assessment for the NextEra Ford Dry Lake Solar Power Plant, 
Riverside County, CA and Possible Land Use Plan Amendment

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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

SUMMARY: In compliance 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) Palm Springs-
South Coast Field Office, together with the California Energy 
Commission (CEC), intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) and Staff Assessment (SA), which may also include an amendment to 
the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan (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 EIS/SA 
and possible plan amendment. Comments on issues may be submitted in 
writing until December 23, 2009. The date(s) and location(s) of any 
scoping meetings, information hearings, and site visits will be 
announced at least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers 
and the BLM Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/palmsprings.html and the CEC's Web site at: https://energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/genesis_solar/. 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/SA.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 
related to the NextEra Ford Dry Lake Solar Power Plant Draft EIS/SA by 
any of the following methods:
     Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/palmsprings.html 
or https://energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/genesis_solar/.
     E-mail: CAPSSolarNextEraFPL@blm.gov or 
mmonasmi@energy.state.ca.us.
     Fax: (760) 251-4899.
     Mail or hand delivery: Mike Monasmith, Project Manager 
Siting, Transmission and Environmental Protection Division, CEC, 1516 
Ninth Street, MS-15, Sacramento, California 95814 or Allison Shaffer, 
Project Manager, Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office, BLM, 1201 Bird 
Center Drive, Palm Springs, California 92262.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Allison Shaffer, BLM 
Project Manager, telephone (760) 833-7100; address 1201 Bird Center 
Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262; e-mail CAPSSolarNextEraFPL@blm.gov or 
Mike Monasmith, CEC Project Manager, telephone (916) 653-8236; address 
1516 9th Street, MS-15, Sacramento, CA 95814; e-mail 
mmonasmi@energy.state.ca.us.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant, NextEra, LLC has requested a 
right-of-way authorization to develop an 1,800-acre, 250-megawatt (MW) 
solar generation facility, including a substation, administration 
facilities, operations and maintenance facilities, evaporation ponds, 
surface storm water control facilities, and temporary construction lay-
down areas.
    The project is located approximately 25 miles west of the city of 
Blythe, California, on BLM-managed lands. The project area is south of 
the Palen/McCoy Wilderness Area and north of Ford Dry

[[Page 61168]]

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 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
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