Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Rising Tree Wind Farm, Kern County, CA and Possible Land Use Plan Amendment., 5396 [2011-2054]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 20 (Monday, January 31, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 5396]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-2054]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCAD0500, L51010000.LVRWB10BXXX.FX0000]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Rising Tree Wind Farm, Kern County, CA and Possible Land 
Use Plan Amendment.

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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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, Ridgecrest, 
California, cooperating with Kern County, intends to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Environmental Impact Report (EIR), 
which may include an amendment to the California Desert Conservation 
Area (CDCA) Plan (1980 as amended) and by this notice 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/EIR 
and possible plan amendment (PA). Comments on issues may be submitted 
in writing until March 2, 2011. The date(s) and location(s) of any 
scoping meetings 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/cdd.html. In order to be included in the Draft EIS/EIR, 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/EIR.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and alternatives related 
to the Rising Tree Wind Farm Draft EIS/EIR and possible CDCA PA by any 
of the following methods:
     Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd.html.
     E-mail: risingtreewind@blm.gov.
     Fax: (951) 697-5299.
     Mail: Attn: Jeffery Childers, Project Manager, BLM 
California Desert District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, 
Moreno Valley, California 92553-9046.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the 
California Desert District Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Jeffery Childers; 
telephone (951) 697-5308; address BLM California Desert District 
Office, 22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, California 
92553-9046; e-mail jchilders@blm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant, Horizon Wind Energy LLC, a 
wholly-owned subsidiary of EDP Renewables, Inc., has requested a right-
of-way (ROW) authorization to construct, operate, maintain and 
decommission the 234-megawatt Rising Tree Wind Farm. The proposed 
project is approximately three miles west of the town of Mojave and 
south of Highway 58 on private lands under the jurisdiction of Kern 
County and public lands administered by the BLM. The proposed project 
would include wind turbines, access roads, and energy collection lines 
on 2,745 acres, of which 527 acres are on public land. Pursuant to the 
CDCA Plan, sites associated with power generation or transmission not 
identified in the CDCA Plan will be considered through the plan 
amendment process.
    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 Draft 
EIS/EIR. At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary 
issues: Air quality and greenhouse gas emissions; biological resources, 
including special status species; cultural resources; geology and 
soils; hazards and hazardous materials; hydrology and water quality; 
land use, noise; recreation; traffic; visual resources; lands with 
wilderness characteristics; cumulative effects and areas of high 
potential for renewable energy development.
    Authorization of this proposal will 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.
    The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA commenting process to 
provide for public involvement required by Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f) as described in 36 CFR 
800.2(d)(3). Native American tribal consultations will be conducted in 
accordance with policy, and tribal concerns including impacts on Indian 
trust assets will be given due consideration. Federal, State, and local 
agencies, along with tribes and other stakeholders that may be 
interested in 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.

Karla Norris,
Associate Deputy State Director, California.
[FR Doc. 2011-2054 Filed 1-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P