Notice of Intent To Prepare a Possible Land Use Plan Amendment in Conjunction With the Proposed Quartzsite Solar Energy Project, La Paz County, AZ, 17668-17669 [2011-7413]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 61 / Wednesday, March 30, 2011 / Notices
elements. The Supplemental EIR/EIS
will also identify potentially significant
direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts
on biological resources, land use, air
quality, water quality, water resources,
and socioeconomics, along with other
environmental issues that could occur
with the implementation of the
proposed actions and alternatives. For
all potentially significant impacts, the
Supplemental EIR/EIS will identify
avoidance, minimization, and
mitigation measures to reduce these
impacts, where feasible, to a level below
significance.
Public Comments
Please direct any comments to the
Service contact listed above in the
ADDRESSES section, and any questions to
the Service contact listed in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
All comments and materials received,
including names and addresses, will
become part of the administrative record
and may be released to the public.
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: This notice is provided under
section 10(a) of the ESA and Service
regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR
1506.6).
Dated: March 24, 2011.
Paul McKim,
Acting Deputy Regional Director, Pacific
Southwest Region, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 2011–7420 Filed 3–29–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES
[L51010000–FX0000–LVRWA09A2590–
LLAZC02000; AZA34666]
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Possible
Land Use Plan Amendment in
Conjunction With the Proposed
Quartzsite Solar Energy Project, La
Paz County, AZ
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:59 Mar 29, 2011
Jkt 223001
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM), Yuma Field
Office, Yuma, Arizona, proposes to
amend the Yuma Resource Management
Plan (RMP), in conjunction with the
Quartzsite Solar Energy Project (QSEP),
and by this notice is announcing the
beginning of the scoping process to
solicit public comments and identify
issues associated with the proposed
RMP amendment.
DATES: This notice initiates the public
scoping process for the proposed
amendment. To be fully considered in
the planning process, comments must
be submitted in writing by April 29,
2011. The date(s) and location(s) of all
scoping meetings will be announced at
least 15 days in advance of the
meeting(s) through local media and the
following BLM Web site at: https://
www.blm.gov/az/st/en.html. The BLM
will provide additional opportunities
for public participation upon
publication of the draft planning
document.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
related to the plan amendment proposal
by any of the following methods:
• Web site: https://www.blm.gov/az/st/
en.html.
• E-mail: Quartzsite_Solar@blm.gov.
• Fax: 928–317–3250.
• Mail: Quartzsite Solar Energy
Project, BLM, Yuma Field Office,
Attention: Eddie Arreola, Supervisory
Project Manager, 2555 East Gila Ridge
Road, Yuma, Arizona 85365.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Eddie Arreola, Supervisory Project
Manager, telephone 602–417–9505;
e-mail eddie_arreola@blm.gov; address
One North Central Avenue, Suite 800,
Phoenix, Arizona 85004.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Quartzsite
Solar Energy LLC (QSE), a wholly
owned subsidiary of Solar Reserve LLC,
has requested a right-of-way
authorization from the BLM to
construct, operate, and maintain a 100megawatt solar energy generation
facility on 1,450 acres using
concentrated solar power tower
technology and has also applied for the
approval of the Western Area Power
Administration (WAPA) to interconnect
the facility’s electric grid system into
WAPA’s existing 230 kilovolt
transmission line paralleling State Route
95. QSE’s proposed project is
approximately 10 miles north of the
Town of Quartzsite and approximately 1
mile to the east of State Route 95.
WAPA, as the lead agency under NEPA
for the project, published a Notice of
Intent to prepare an environmental
impact statement (EIS) for the proposed
PO 00000
Frm 00052
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
project in the Federal Register on
January 14, 2010 (75 FR 2133). Public
scoping meetings on the QSE project EIS
were held on January 26, 2010, in
Yuma, Arizona; January 27, 2010, in
Parker, Arizona; and January 28, 2010,
in Quartzsite, Arizona. The BLM is a
cooperating agency for this EIS.
Preliminary environmental analysis
by the BLM has determined that QSE’s
proposed project tower is in nonconformance with the Yuma RMP’s
Visual Resources Management (VRM)
Class III management objectives.
Authorization of the solar facility may
therefore require an amendment to the
Yuma RMP.
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 NEPA
analysis. The BLM will coordinate the
RMP commenting process to satisfy the
public involvement process under
Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470(f)), as
provided for 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.
The purpose of this public scoping
process is to determine relevant issues
that will influence the scope of the
environmental analysis as it relates to
the potential RMP amendment,
including alternatives, and guide the
process for developing the relevant
NEPA analyses. At present, the BLM has
identified the following preliminary
issues, among others: Air quality,
geologic resources, soils, water
resources, threatened and endangered
species, wildlife habitats, cultural and
historical resources, paleontological
resources, visual resources, land use,
recreational resources, and public
health and safety. Federal, State, and
local agencies, along with 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 for
the development of the RMP
amendment.
The NEPA document analyzing the
RMP amendment will consider the
impacts of the proposed action,
alternatives, and the no action
alternative. The BLM, as a cooperating
agency for the project EIS, will work to
coordinate the analysis associated with
the RMP amendment with the project
EIS. The public is invited to submit
comments on the possible amendment
E:\FR\FM\30MRN1.SGM
30MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 61 / Wednesday, March 30, 2011 / Notices
of the Yuma RMP to address VRM
issues. Previously submitted comments,
issues and concerns related to QSE’s
proposed solar facility do not need to be
resubmitted. Public comments will aid
the BLM in identifying planning
alternatives and mitigating measures
and will help assure all relevant issues
associated with the proposed RMP
amendment are considered in the NEPA
document for the RMP. This document
may be the on-going project EIS or a
stand-alone NEPA document, as
appropriate.
Please note that public comments and
information submitted—including
names, street addresses, and e-mail
addresses of persons who submit
comments—will be available for public
review and disclosure at the above
address 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 public at any time. While you
may request that your personal
identifying information be withheld
from public review, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to
withhold such information.
Authority: 43 CFR 1610.2; 43 CFR 2800; 40
CFR 1501.7.
Raymond Suazo,
Arizona Associate State Director.
T. 28 S., R. 8 W., accepted March 2, 2011.
T. 28 S., R. 8 W., accepted March 17, 2011.
T. 30 S., R. 7 W., accepted March 17, 2011.
T. 28 S., R. 3 W., accepted March 17, 2011.
T. 26 S., R. 7 W., accepted March 18, 2011.
T. 26 S., R. 7 W., accepted March 18, 2011.
Washington
T. 29 N., R. 37 E., accepted March 1, 2011.
A copy of the plats may be
obtained from the Land Office at the
Bureau of Land Management, Oregon/
Washington State Office, 333 SW. 1st
Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97204, upon
required payment. A person or party
who wishes to protest against a survey
must file a notice that they wish to
protest (at the above address) with the
Oregon/Washington State Director,
Bureau of Land Management, Portland,
Oregon.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kyle
Hensley, (503) 808–6124, Branch of
Geographic Sciences, Bureau of Land
Management, 333 SW. 1st Avenue,
Portland, Oregon 97204.
ADDRESSES:
Fred O’Ferrall,
Chief, Branch of Land, Mineral, and Energy
Resources.
[FR Doc. 2011–7423 Filed 3–29–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–33–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLORB07000. L17110000. MO0000. L.X.
SS.020H0000; HAG 11–0170]
[FR Doc. 2011–7413 Filed 3–29–11; 8:45 am]
Notice of Public Meeting, Steens
Mountain Advisory Council
BILLING CODE 4310–32–P
AGENCY:
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[LLOR957000–L631000000–HD000: HAG11–
0174]
Filing of Plats of Survey: Oregon/
Washington
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The plats of survey of the
following described lands are scheduled
to be officially filed in the Bureau of
Land Management Oregon/Washington
State Office, Portland, Oregon, 30 days
from the date of this publication.
WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
Willamette Meridian
Oregon
T. 20 S., R. 4 W., accepted March 1, 2011.
T. 19 S., R. 1 E., accepted March 1, 2011.
T. 29 S., R. 8 W., accepted March 1, 2011.
T. 29 S., R. 6 W., accepted March 2, 2011.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:59 Mar 29, 2011
Jkt 223001
In accordance with the Steens
Mountain Cooperative Management and
Protection Act of 2000, the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act, and the
Federal Advisory Committee Act of
1972, the U.S. Department of the
Interior, Bureau of Land Management,
Steens Mountain Advisory Council will
meet as indicated below:
DATES: The Steens Mountain Advisory
Council will meet at the Harney County
Community Center, 484 N. Broadway,
Burns, Oregon, 97720 on April 4 and 5,
2011. A meeting in Bend, Oregon, at the
Phoenix Inn and Suites, 300 NW.
Franklin Ave, will be held November 17
and 18, 2011; and a meeting June 9 and
10, 2011 and September 22 and 23,
2011, will be held at the Frenchglen
School, Frenchglen, Oregon. All
meeting sessions will begin at 8 a.m.
local time, and will end at
approximately 4:30 p.m., local time.
SUMMARY:
Bureau of Land Management
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17669
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Christi West, Staff Assistant, BLM Burns
District Office, 28910 Highway 20 West,
Hines, Oregon, 97738, (541) 573–4541
or e-mail christi_west@blm.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Steens Mountain Advisory Council was
appointed by the Secretary of the
Interior on August 14, 2001, pursuant to
the Steens Mountain Cooperative
Management and Protection Act of 2000
(Pub. L. 106–399) and most recently rechartered in December 2009. The Steens
Mountain Advisory Council’s purpose is
to provide representative counsel and
advice to the Bureau of Land
Management regarding new and unique
approaches to management of the land
within the bounds of the Steens
Mountain Cooperative Management and
Protection Area; cooperative programs
and incentives for landscape
management that meet human needs,
maintenance and improvement of the
ecological and economic integrity of the
area; and preparation and
implementation of a management plan
for the Steens Mountain Cooperative
Management and Protection Area.
Topics to be discussed by the Steens
Mountain Advisory Council at these
meetings include the Steens Mountain
Comprehensive Recreation Plan; North
Steens Ecosystem Restoration Project
implementation; Science Strategy;
South Steens Water Development
Project Environmental Assessment;
easements and acquisitions; In-holder
Access Environmental Assessment; and
categories of interest such as wildlife,
special designated areas, partnerships/
programs, cultural resources, education/
interpretation, volunteer-based
information, adaptive management and
socioeconomics; and other matters that
may reasonably come before the Steens
Mountain Advisory Council.
All meetings are open to the public in
their entirety. Information to be
distributed to the Steens Mountain
Advisory Council is requested prior to
the start of each Steens Mountain
Advisory Council meeting. Public
comment is generally scheduled for 11
a.m. to 11:30 a.m., local time, both days
of each meeting session. The amount of
time scheduled for public presentations
and meeting times may be extended
when the authorized representative
considers it necessary to accommodate
all who seek to be heard regarding
matters on the agenda.
Under the Federal Advisory
Committee Act management regulations
(41 CFR 102–3.15(b)), in exceptional
circumstances an agency may give less
than 15-day notice of committee
meeting notices published in the
E:\FR\FM\30MRN1.SGM
30MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 30, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17668-17669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7413]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[L51010000-FX0000-LVRWA09A2590-LLAZC02000; AZA34666]
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Possible Land Use Plan Amendment in
Conjunction With the Proposed Quartzsite Solar Energy Project, La Paz
County, AZ
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Yuma Field
Office, Yuma, Arizona, proposes to amend the Yuma Resource Management
Plan (RMP), in conjunction with the Quartzsite Solar Energy Project
(QSEP), and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping
process to solicit public comments and identify issues associated with
the proposed RMP amendment.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the
proposed amendment. To be fully considered in the planning process,
comments must be submitted in writing by April 29, 2011. The date(s)
and location(s) of all scoping meetings will be announced at least 15
days in advance of the meeting(s) through local media and the following
BLM Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/az/st/en.html. The BLM will provide
additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of
the draft planning document.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the plan amendment
proposal by any of the following methods:
Web site: https://www.blm.gov/az/st/en.html.
E-mail: Quartzsite_Solar@blm.gov.
Fax: 928-317-3250.
Mail: Quartzsite Solar Energy Project, BLM, Yuma Field
Office, Attention: Eddie Arreola, Supervisory Project Manager, 2555
East Gila Ridge Road, Yuma, Arizona 85365.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eddie Arreola, Supervisory Project
Manager, telephone 602-417-9505; e-mail eddie_arreola@blm.gov; address
One North Central Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix, Arizona 85004.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Quartzsite Solar Energy LLC (QSE), a wholly
owned subsidiary of Solar Reserve LLC, has requested a right-of-way
authorization from the BLM to construct, operate, and maintain a 100-
megawatt solar energy generation facility on 1,450 acres using
concentrated solar power tower technology and has also applied for the
approval of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) to
interconnect the facility's electric grid system into WAPA's existing
230 kilovolt transmission line paralleling State Route 95. QSE's
proposed project is approximately 10 miles north of the Town of
Quartzsite and approximately 1 mile to the east of State Route 95.
WAPA, as the lead agency under NEPA for the project, published a Notice
of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the
proposed project in the Federal Register on January 14, 2010 (75 FR
2133). Public scoping meetings on the QSE project EIS were held on
January 26, 2010, in Yuma, Arizona; January 27, 2010, in Parker,
Arizona; and January 28, 2010, in Quartzsite, Arizona. The BLM is a
cooperating agency for this EIS.
Preliminary environmental analysis by the BLM has determined that
QSE's proposed project tower is in non-conformance with the Yuma RMP's
Visual Resources Management (VRM) Class III management objectives.
Authorization of the solar facility may therefore require an amendment
to the Yuma RMP.
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 NEPA analysis. The BLM will
coordinate the RMP commenting process to satisfy the public involvement
process under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16
U.S.C. 470(f)), as provided for 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.
The purpose of this public scoping process is to determine relevant
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis as
it relates to the potential RMP amendment, including alternatives, and
guide the process for developing the relevant NEPA analyses. At
present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary issues, among
others: Air quality, geologic resources, soils, water resources,
threatened and endangered species, wildlife habitats, cultural and
historical resources, paleontological resources, visual resources, land
use, recreational resources, and public health and safety. Federal,
State, and local agencies, along with 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 for the development of the RMP amendment.
The NEPA document analyzing the RMP amendment will consider the
impacts of the proposed action, alternatives, and the no action
alternative. The BLM, as a cooperating agency for the project EIS, will
work to coordinate the analysis associated with the RMP amendment with
the project EIS. The public is invited to submit comments on the
possible amendment
[[Page 17669]]
of the Yuma RMP to address VRM issues. Previously submitted comments,
issues and concerns related to QSE's proposed solar facility do not
need to be resubmitted. Public comments will aid the BLM in identifying
planning alternatives and mitigating measures and will help assure all
relevant issues associated with the proposed RMP amendment are
considered in the NEPA document for the RMP. This document may be the
on-going project EIS or a stand-alone NEPA document, as appropriate.
Please note that public comments and information submitted--
including names, street addresses, and e-mail addresses of persons who
submit comments--will be available for public review and disclosure at
the above address 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 public at any time. While you may request that
your personal identifying information be withheld from public review,
we cannot guarantee that we will be able to withhold such information.
Authority: 43 CFR 1610.2; 43 CFR 2800; 40 CFR 1501.7.
Raymond Suazo,
Arizona Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-7413 Filed 3-29-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-P
