Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed First Solar Desert Sunlight Solar Farm Project, Riverside County, CA and Possible Land Use Plan Amendment, 1801-1802 [2010-403]

Download as PDF srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 8 / Wednesday, January 13, 2010 / Notices Plan require that the NPS develop goals to improve program effectiveness and public accountability. This collection will encourage the public to collect data relevant to goal 1b: ‘‘The National Park Service contributes to knowledge about natural and cultural resources and associated values; management decisions about resources and visitors are based on adequate scholarly and scientific information’’. This collection is also consistent with the NPS Management Policies (2006), which emphasize the ‘‘use of qualitative and quantitative techniques to monitor key aspects of resources and processes at regular intervals’’ and furthermore state that ‘‘studies, research, and collection activities by non-NPS personnel involving natural and cultural resources will be encouraged and facilitated when they otherwise comport with NPS policies.’’ More specifically, the goal of this collection is to engage the public in documenting the timing of biological events (‘‘phenology’’) for a variety of species at numerous different locations. The data collected will help the NPS document how climate change is affecting the timing of biological events such as migration, flowering, and autumn foliage. The proposed Internet- and paperbased surveys will ask the public to participate in the collection of these data on NPS lands. With sufficient participation, NPS will obtain critical information for determining trends in the timing of biological events for many species. In addition to documenting changes in timing of events, the data set will facilitate the identification of species most at risk from climate change and anthropogenic influences. Survey participants will provide their contact information and multiple observations of species at one or more sites. The contact information will be used for quality control and (at the request of the participant) to provide data summaries or reports and information about additional opportunities for assisting with NPS research and monitoring activities. The obligation to respond is voluntary. Automated Data Collection: The information will be collected through an Internet site, as well as through paper forms available at public locations. Description of respondents: Respondents are members of the public with an interest in contributing to climate change research in the National Parks. Estimated average number of responses: 1,000 per year. Frequency of Response: 5 per respondent. VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:51 Jan 12, 2010 Jkt 220001 Estimated average time burden per respondent: 30 minutes. Estimated total annual reporting burden: 100 hours per year. Comments are invited on: (1) The practical utility of the information being gathered; (2) the accuracy of the burden hour estimate; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information being collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden to respondents, including use of automated information collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 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. December 23, 2009. Cartina A. Miller, Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service. [FR Doc. 2010–446 Filed 1–12–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [F–14909–B, F–14909–B2, F–19148–38; LLAK964000–L14100000–KC0000–P] Alaska Native Claims Selection AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of decision approving lands for conveyance. SUMMARY: As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision approving the surface estate in certain lands for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to Kuukpik Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Nuiqsut, Alaska, and are located in: Umiat Meridian, Alaska T. 10 N., R. 2 E., Secs. 1, 2, and 3; Secs. 5 to 10, inclusive; Secs. 16, 17, and 18; Secs. 20, 21, and 29. Containing approximately 8,751 acres. T. 11 N., R. 2 E., Secs. 24, 25, and 26; Secs. 34, 35, and 36. Containing approximately 3,545 acres. PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 1801 T. 11 N., R. 3 E., Secs. 7, 11, 13, and 18; Secs. 19, 24, and 25. Containing approximately 3,616 acres. T. 11 N., R. 4 E., Secs. 19, 20, and 30. Containing approximately 1,376 acres. Aggregating approximately 17,288 acres. The subsurface estate in these lands will be conveyed to Arctic Slope Regional Corporation when the surface estate is conveyed to Kuukpik Corporation. Notice of the decision will also be published four times in the Arctic Sounder. DATES: The time limits for filing an appeal are: 1. Any party claiming a property interest which is adversely affected by the decision shall have until February 12, 2010 to file an appeal. 2. Parties receiving service of the decision by certified mail shall have 30 days from the date of receipt to file an appeal. Parties who do not file an appeal in accordance with the requirements of 43 CFR part 4, Subpart E, shall be deemed to have waived their rights. ADDRESSES: A copy of the decision may be obtained from: Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Office, 222 West Seventh Avenue, #13, Anchorage, Alaska 99513–7504. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Bureau of Land Management by phone at 907–271–5960, or by e-mail at ak.blm.conveyance@ak.blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunication device (TTD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877– 8339, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to contact the Bureau of Land Management. Michael Bilancione, Land Transfer Resolution Specialist, Land Transfer Adjudication I Branch. [FR Doc. 2010–449 Filed 1–12–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–JA–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CACA 048649, LLCAD06000 L51010000 FX0000 LVRWB09B2520] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed First Solar Desert Sunlight Solar Farm Project, Riverside County, CA and Possible Land Use Plan Amendment AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. E:\FR\FM\13JAN1.SGM 13JAN1 srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES 1802 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 8 / Wednesday, January 13, 2010 / Notices SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 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, Palm Springs, California, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for First Solar Inc.’s application for a right-of-way authorization to develop a solar photovoltaic generating facility. The EIS may also support an amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan (1980), as amended; by this notice the BLM is 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 and possible plan amendment. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until February 12, 2010. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through the local media, and the BLM Web site at: https:// www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/ palmsprings.html. In order to be considered in the Draft EIS, all comments must be received prior to the close of the scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of the Draft EIS. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria related to the First Solar Desert Sunlight Solar Farm Draft EIS/Plan Amendment by any of the following methods: • Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/ en/fo/palmsprings.html; • E-mail: CAPSSolarFirstSolar DesertSunlight@blm.gov; • Fax: (760) 833–7199; or • Mail: Allison Shaffer, Project Manager, Palm Springs South Coast Field Office, BLM, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, California 92262. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Palm Springs South Coast Field Office. 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 Palm Springs South Coast Field Office, BLM, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, California 92262; e-mail CAPSSolarFirstSolarDesertSunlight@ blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant, First Solar Inc., has requested a right-of-way authorization to develop VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:51 Jan 12, 2010 Jkt 220001 a solar photovoltaic generating facility with a proposed output of 550 megawatts and a project footprint of approximately 4,410 acres. The proposed project would be located on BLM-administered lands in Riverside County approximately 6 miles north of the rural community of Desert Center, California. The overall site layout and generalized land uses would include a substation, an administration building, operations and maintenance facilities, a transmission line, and temporary construction lay down areas. The project’s 230-kilovolt (kV) generation interconnection transmission line also would be located on BLM-administered lands and would utilize a planned 230to 500-kV substation (referred to as the Red Bluff substation). The Red Bluff substation would connect the project to the Southern California Edison regional transmission grid. Should the project be approved, the interconnection transmission line would be about 9 miles to about 13 miles long, depending on the alternative selected. If approved, construction would begin in late 2010 and would take approximately 41 months to complete. 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: Air quality, biological resources, recreation, cultural resources, water resources, geological resources, special management areas, land use, noise, paleontological resources, public health, socioeconomic, 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 requirements in 43 CFR 1610.2(c) to notify the public of potential amendments to land use plans, based 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 and coordinate 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 and tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets, will be given appropriate consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies— along with other stakeholders who may be interested or affected by the BLM’s decision on this project—are invited to PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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. Thomas Pogacnik, Deputy State Director, California. Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2. [FR Doc. 2010–403 Filed 1–12–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–40–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Termination of the Environmental Impact Statement for the General Management Plan, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior. ACTION: Notice of termination of the Environmental Impact Statement for the General Management Plan, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, New Mexico. SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) is terminating the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Gila Cliff Dwellings General Management Plan because it has determined that an Environmental Assessment (EA) is the more appropriate National Environmental Policy Act compliance document. A Notice of Intent to prepare the EIS for the Gila Cliff Dwellings General Management Plan was published on April 16, 2008 (Federal Register Vol. 73, No. 74). Scoping conducted for the plan indicated that there were no significant impacts or controversy identified by the public. A preliminary impact analysis indicated that the alternatives have limited potential to result in significant/major effects on the human environment as they focus on different ways of protecting resources, providing appropriate visitor experiences, and addressing joint NPS/Forest Service operations. For these reasons the NPS determined the proposal would not require an EIS. E:\FR\FM\13JAN1.SGM 13JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 13, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1801-1802]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-403]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CACA 048649, LLCAD06000 L51010000 FX0000 LVRWB09B2520]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed First Solar Desert Sunlight Solar Farm Project, Riverside 
County, CA and Possible Land Use Plan Amendment

Agency: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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

[[Page 1802]]

SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, 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, Palm Springs, California, intends to 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for First Solar Inc.'s 
application for a right-of-way authorization to develop a solar 
photovoltaic generating facility. The EIS may also support an amendment 
to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan (1980), as 
amended; by this notice the BLM is 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 and 
possible plan amendment. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing 
until February 12, 2010. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping 
meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through the 
local media, and the BLM Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/palmsprings.html. In order to be considered in the Draft EIS, all 
comments must be received prior to the close of the scoping period or 
15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. The BLM will 
provide additional opportunities for public participation upon 
publication of the Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 
related to the First Solar Desert Sunlight Solar Farm Draft EIS/Plan 
Amendment by any of the following methods:
     Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/palmsprings.html;
     E-mail: CAPSSolarFirstSolarDesertSunlight@blm.gov;
     Fax: (760) 833-7199; or
     Mail: Allison Shaffer, Project Manager, Palm Springs South 
Coast Field Office, BLM, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, 
California 92262.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Palm 
Springs South Coast Field Office.

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 Palm Springs South 
Coast Field Office, BLM, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, 
California 92262; e-mail CAPSSolarFirstSolarDesertSunlight@blm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant, First Solar Inc., has 
requested a right-of-way authorization to develop a solar photovoltaic 
generating facility with a proposed output of 550 megawatts and a 
project footprint of approximately 4,410 acres. The proposed project 
would be located on BLM-administered lands in Riverside County 
approximately 6 miles north of the rural community of Desert Center, 
California. The overall site layout and generalized land uses would 
include a substation, an administration building, operations and 
maintenance facilities, a transmission line, and temporary construction 
lay down areas. The project's 230-kilovolt (kV) generation 
interconnection transmission line also would be located on BLM-
administered lands and would utilize a planned 230- to 500-kV 
substation (referred to as the Red Bluff substation). The Red Bluff 
substation would connect the project to the Southern California Edison 
regional transmission grid. Should the project be approved, the 
interconnection transmission line would be about 9 miles to about 13 
miles long, depending on the alternative selected. If approved, 
construction would begin in late 2010 and would take approximately 41 
months to complete.
    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: 
Air quality, biological resources, recreation, cultural resources, 
water resources, geological resources, special management areas, land 
use, noise, paleontological resources, public health, socioeconomic, 
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 requirements in 43 CFR 
1610.2(c) to notify the public of potential amendments to land use 
plans, based 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 and coordinate 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 and 
tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets, will be 
given appropriate consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies--
along with other stakeholders who 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.

Thomas Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director, California.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2.

[FR Doc. 2010-403 Filed 1-12-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P
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