Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Wheatgrass Ridge Wind Project, Fort Hall Indian Reservation, Idaho, 31975-31976 [2011-13618]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 106 / Thursday, June 2, 2011 / Notices
implementing recovery actions.
Responses to individual commenters
will not be provided, but we will
provide a summary of how we
addressed substantive comments in an
appendix to the approved recovery plan.
Before we approve the plan, we will
consider all comments we receive by the
date specified in DATES. Methods of
submitting comments are in ADDRESSES.
Public Availability of Comments
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.
Comments and materials we receive
will be available, by appointment, for
public inspection during normal
business hours at our office (see
ADDRESSES).
Authority: We developed our draft
recovery plan under the authority of section
4(f) of the Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). We publish
this notice under section 4(f) of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: January 28, 2011.
Theresa E. Rabot,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2011–13637 Filed 6–1–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Wheatgrass Ridge Wind
Project, Fort Hall Indian Reservation,
Idaho
Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This notice advises the public
that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA),
as Lead Agency, intends to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the Wheatgrass Ridge Wind Project,
Fort Hall Indian Reservation, Idaho. It
also announces the beginning of the
scoping process to identify potential
issues and content for inclusion in the
EIS. Construction of the Wheatgrass
Ridge Wind Project within the Fort Hall
Reservation is subject to BIA approval of
a lease and, as proposed, is a major
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:40 Jun 01, 2011
Jkt 223001
Federal action under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), as amended. The information
in the EIS will be used to support a
decision whether or not to lease
Shoshone-Bannock Tribal lands to
Wheatgrass Ridge Wind, LLC, for
construction, operation, and
maintenance of a wind energy facility
up to 160 megawatt (MW). The EIS will
describe and analyze potential
environmental impacts from the
proposed action and a range of
reasonable alternatives.
DATES: Written comments on the scope
and implementation of this proposal
must arrive by August 1, 2011. The
date(s) and location(s) of any scoping
meetings will be announced at least 15
days in advance through local news
media, newspapers and the Wheatgrass
Ridge Wind EIS Project Web site at:
https://
www.wheatgrassridgewindeis.info.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
related to the Wheatgrass Ridge Wind
Project EIS by any of the following
methods:
• E-mail:
info@WheatgrassRidgeWindEIS.info.
• Fax: (208) 288–6199 (attention:
Steve Linhart, POWER EngineersWheatgrass Ridge Wind EIS).
• Mail: Wheatgrass Ridge Wind EIS,
c/o Steve Linhart, POWER Engineers,
2041 South Cobalt Point Way, Meridian,
Idaho 83642.
• In person: At any EIS public
scoping meeting.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Northwest
Regional Office, Attention Dr. BJ
Howerton, Environmental Services, 911
NE. 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon
97232–4169 Telephone: (503) 231–6749.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EIS
will assess the potential environmental
impacts of BIA approval of leasing
Tribally-owned lands on Fort Hall
Indian Reservation near Pocatello,
Idaho, to Wheatgrass Ridge Wind, LLC,
to construct, operate, and maintain a
wind energy facility up to 160 megawatt
(MW). Wheatgrass Ridge Wind, LLC, is
a company co-owned by ShoshoneBannock Renewable Energy
Development Company (SBRED) and
Boreas Wind, LLC. SBRED (a
corporation created under Section 17 of
the Indian Reorganization Act) is wholly
owned by the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes
of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, a
Federally recognized Indian Tribe
organized under the Indian
Reorganization Act of 1934 located in
the State of Idaho. Boreas is wholly
owned by Southern Ute Alternative
Energy, LLC (SUAE), a Colorado limited
PO 00000
Frm 00049
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
31975
liability company, and was formed for
the purpose of pursuing and developing
wind power projects. The SUAE is
wholly owned by the Southern Ute
Indian Tribe and was created to invest
in and develop alternative and
renewable energy.
The wind energy facility would be
located on 100 percent Tribally owned
lands in the Bannock Creek District
located in the southwestern part of the
Fort Hall Indian Reservation. The
proposed facility is anticipated to be
comprised of between 53 and 106 wind
turbines with a hub height of up to 330
feet and a tip height from 300 to 525 feet
(tip height is measured from the ground
to the tip of the rotor blade when it is
perpendicular to the ground),
depending on type and model of wind
turbine). The facility would include:
turbines anchored to concrete
foundations approximately 20 feet in
diameter surrounded by a gravel area
around the exposed turbine foundation
of approximately 60 feet; overhead and
underground transmission lines;
interconnection to adjacent
transmission lines (138kV to 345 kV
depending on the interconnection point)
owned and operation by Idaho Power or
PacifiCorp; up to three substations
approximately two to five acres each;
eight to 10 temporary and two to four
permanent meteorological towers,
approximately 200 to 315 feet in height,
depending on the meteorological data
collected; new all-weather gravel access
roads approximately 16 feet wide to
each turbine location; widening and
improvements to existing two-track
roads to achieve an approximate 16 to
22 foot wide all-weather gravel access
road; temporary lay down yards and
hardened crane pads used for erecting
turbines; and an operations and
maintenance building built on
approximately five acres of land within
the project area. Wind turbine models in
the 1.5–3 MW range from various
manufacturers are being considered.
The wind project would be located in an
area up to approximately 21,355 acres
on a land feature known as Wheatgrass
Ridge. However, the actual wind
turbines, roads, transmission lines,
substation(s), and other infrastructure
would have a footprint of approximately
250 to 500 acres of land.
The purpose of this project is to: (1)
Increase electrical generation to meet
existing and future energy demands in
the western United States; (2) provide
new opportunities for economic
development and economic
diversification for the ShoshoneBannock Tribes; (3) provide renewable
energy resources for the western United
States; (4) promote the self-governance
E:\FR\FM\02JNN1.SGM
02JNN1
31976
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 106 / Thursday, June 2, 2011 / Notices
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
and self-determination of the ShoshoneBannock Tribes; and (5) develop the
project in an environmentally sound
manner that addresses and preserves
traditional and cultural practices of the
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. 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 BIA
has identified the following preliminary
issues (in no particular order of
importance): (1) Visual resources—The
wind turbines and other project
components would be new features on
the landscape and visible from various
distances, and would be a long-term
change to the rural view shed. (2)
Traditional uses—The proposed project
may affect traditional, cultural practices
and spiritual uses in the Bannock Creek
area by the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal
members. (3) Wildlife—Projects of this
magnitude may have an effect on
wildlife. Focal species studies will
include migrating and resident raptors,
waterfowl, upland game birds and large
game species. (4) Soils—Project
transportation required for the project
are located in an area with highly
erodible soils. (5) Wildland Fire—The
project area is subject to repeated
wildland fires. (6) Socioeconomics—The
EIS will evaluate potential impacts on
socioeconomic resources, including
impacts to range uses, increases and
diversification of Tribal revenues and
employment opportunities.
The proposed project is expected to
create a new revenue source and new
employment opportunities on the Tribal
lands as well as diversify the economic
base for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes
and the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.
Local communities such as American
Falls, Pocatello, Power County, and the
State of Idaho will also likely
experience economic benefit. As a new
economic opportunity for the ShoshoneBannock Tribes, there are questions
regarding the local economic benefits of
the project and overall community
support for the project.
Directions for Submitting Public
Comments
Please include your name, return
address, and the caption ‘‘EIS,
Wheatgrass Ridge Wind Project’’ on the
first page of any written comments you
submit. You may also submit comments
at the public scoping meetings.
Public Comment Availability
Comments, including names and
addresses of respondents, will be
available for public review at the
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:40 Jun 01, 2011
Jkt 223001
mailing address shown in the
Section of this notice during
regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4.30
p.m., Monday through Friday, except
holidays. Before including your address,
telephone 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 may 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.
ADDRESSES
Authority: This notice is published in
accordance with sections 1503.1 and 1506.6
of the Council on Environmental Quality
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through
1508), and section 46.305 of the Department
of the Interior Regulations (42 CFR part 46)
implementing the procedural requirements of
the NEPA, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.), and is in the exercise of authority
delegated to the Assistant Secretary—Indian
Affairs by 209 DM 8.1.
Dated: May 17, 2011.
Paul Tsosie,
Chief of Staff, Assistant Secretary—Indian
Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2011–13618 Filed 6–1–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–W7–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLMT921000–11–L13200000–EL0000–P;
MTM 101688]
Notice of Invitation—Coal Exploration
License Application MTM 101688
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Members of the public are
hereby invited to participate with the
Spring Creek Coal Company on a pro
rata cost sharing basis in a program for
the exploration of coal deposits owned
by the United States of America in lands
located in Big Horn County, Montana,
encompassing 4,071.45 acres.
DATES: Any party seeking to participate
in this exploration program must send
written notice to both the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) and the
Spring Creek Coal Company as provided
in the ADDRESSES section below no later
than July 5, 2011 or 10 calendar days
after the last publication of this Notice
in the Sheridan Press newspaper,
whichever is later. This Notice will be
published once a week for 2 consecutive
weeks in the Sheridan Press, Sheridan,
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00050
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Wyoming. Such written notice must
refer to serial number MTM 101688.
ADDRESSES: The proposed exploration
license and plan are available for review
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday, in the public room at the BLM
Montana State Office, 5001 Southgate
Drive, Billings, Montana.
A written notice to participate in the
exploration licenses should be sent to
the State Director, BLM Montana State
Office, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings,
Montana 59101–4669 and the Spring
Creek Coal Company, P.O. Box 67,
Decker, Montana 59025–0067.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert Giovanini by telephone at 406–
896–5084 or by e-mail at
rgiovani@blm.gov; or Connie Schaff by
telephone at 406–896–5060 or by e-mail
at cschaff@blm.gov. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
to contact the above individual during
normal business hours. The FIRS is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
to leave a message or question with the
above individual. You will receive a
reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
exploration activities will be performed
pursuant to the Mineral Leasing Act of
1920, as amended, 30 U.S.C. 201(b), and
to the regulations at 43 CFR part 3410.
The purpose of the exploration program
is to gain additional geologic knowledge
of the coal underlying the exploration
area for the purpose of assessing the
coal resources. The exploration program
is fully described and will be conducted
pursuant to an exploration license and
plan approved by the BLM. The
exploration plan may be modified to
accommodate the legitimate exploration
needs of persons seeking to participate.
The lands to be explored for coal
deposits in exploration license MTM
101688 are described as follows:
Principal Meridian, Montana
T. 8 S., R. 39 E.,
Sec. 4, lots 17 thru 24, inclusive;
Sec. 26, SW1⁄4SW1⁄4 and S1⁄2SE1⁄4SW1⁄4;
Sec. 27, NE1⁄4;SW1⁄4, SW1⁄4NE1⁄4SE1⁄4,
NW1⁄4NW1⁄4SE1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4SE1⁄4, and
S1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 35, E1⁄2, E1⁄2W1⁄2, and NW1⁄4NW1⁄4.
T. 9 S., R. 39 E.,
Sec. 1, lots 1 thru 4, inclusive, W1⁄2E1⁄2,
and W1⁄2;
Sec. 2, E1⁄2 and E1⁄2W1⁄2;
Sec. 11, NE1⁄4, E1⁄2NW1⁄4, NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, and
N1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 12, lots 1 thru 4, inclusive, W1⁄2E1⁄2,
NW1⁄4, N1⁄2SW1⁄4, and SE1⁄4SW1⁄4.
T. 9 S., R. 40 E.,
Sec. 6, lots 5 thru 7, inclusive,
S1⁄2SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, E1⁄2SW1⁄4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4SE1⁄4,
NW1⁄4NW1⁄4SE1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4SE1⁄4, and
S1⁄2SE1⁄4;
E:\FR\FM\02JNN1.SGM
02JNN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 106 (Thursday, June 2, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31975-31976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-13618]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Wheatgrass Ridge Wind Project, Fort Hall Indian
Reservation, Idaho
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian
Affairs (BIA), as Lead Agency, intends to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Wheatgrass Ridge Wind Project, Fort Hall
Indian Reservation, Idaho. It also announces the beginning of the
scoping process to identify potential issues and content for inclusion
in the EIS. Construction of the Wheatgrass Ridge Wind Project within
the Fort Hall Reservation is subject to BIA approval of a lease and, as
proposed, is a major Federal action under the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended. The information in the EIS will
be used to support a decision whether or not to lease Shoshone-Bannock
Tribal lands to Wheatgrass Ridge Wind, LLC, for construction,
operation, and maintenance of a wind energy facility up to 160 megawatt
(MW). The EIS will describe and analyze potential environmental impacts
from the proposed action and a range of reasonable alternatives.
DATES: Written comments on the scope and implementation of this
proposal must arrive by August 1, 2011. The date(s) and location(s) of
any scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance
through local news media, newspapers and the Wheatgrass Ridge Wind EIS
Project Web site at: https://www.wheatgrassridgewindeis.info.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Wheatgrass Ridge Wind
Project EIS by any of the following methods:
E-mail: info@WheatgrassRidgeWindEIS.info.
Fax: (208) 288-6199 (attention: Steve Linhart, POWER
Engineers-Wheatgrass Ridge Wind EIS).
Mail: Wheatgrass Ridge Wind EIS, c/o Steve Linhart, POWER
Engineers, 2041 South Cobalt Point Way, Meridian, Idaho 83642.
In person: At any EIS public scoping meeting.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Northwest
Regional Office, Attention Dr. BJ Howerton, Environmental Services, 911
NE. 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232-4169 Telephone: (503) 231-6749.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EIS will assess the potential
environmental impacts of BIA approval of leasing Tribally-owned lands
on Fort Hall Indian Reservation near Pocatello, Idaho, to Wheatgrass
Ridge Wind, LLC, to construct, operate, and maintain a wind energy
facility up to 160 megawatt (MW). Wheatgrass Ridge Wind, LLC, is a
company co-owned by Shoshone-Bannock Renewable Energy Development
Company (SBRED) and Boreas Wind, LLC. SBRED (a corporation created
under Section 17 of the Indian Reorganization Act) is wholly owned by
the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, a
Federally recognized Indian Tribe organized under the Indian
Reorganization Act of 1934 located in the State of Idaho. Boreas is
wholly owned by Southern Ute Alternative Energy, LLC (SUAE), a Colorado
limited liability company, and was formed for the purpose of pursuing
and developing wind power projects. The SUAE is wholly owned by the
Southern Ute Indian Tribe and was created to invest in and develop
alternative and renewable energy.
The wind energy facility would be located on 100 percent Tribally
owned lands in the Bannock Creek District located in the southwestern
part of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. The proposed facility is
anticipated to be comprised of between 53 and 106 wind turbines with a
hub height of up to 330 feet and a tip height from 300 to 525 feet (tip
height is measured from the ground to the tip of the rotor blade when
it is perpendicular to the ground), depending on type and model of wind
turbine). The facility would include: turbines anchored to concrete
foundations approximately 20 feet in diameter surrounded by a gravel
area around the exposed turbine foundation of approximately 60 feet;
overhead and underground transmission lines; interconnection to
adjacent transmission lines (138kV to 345 kV depending on the
interconnection point) owned and operation by Idaho Power or
PacifiCorp; up to three substations approximately two to five acres
each; eight to 10 temporary and two to four permanent meteorological
towers, approximately 200 to 315 feet in height, depending on the
meteorological data collected; new all-weather gravel access roads
approximately 16 feet wide to each turbine location; widening and
improvements to existing two-track roads to achieve an approximate 16
to 22 foot wide all-weather gravel access road; temporary lay down
yards and hardened crane pads used for erecting turbines; and an
operations and maintenance building built on approximately five acres
of land within the project area. Wind turbine models in the 1.5-3 MW
range from various manufacturers are being considered. The wind project
would be located in an area up to approximately 21,355 acres on a land
feature known as Wheatgrass Ridge. However, the actual wind turbines,
roads, transmission lines, substation(s), and other infrastructure
would have a footprint of approximately 250 to 500 acres of land.
The purpose of this project is to: (1) Increase electrical
generation to meet existing and future energy demands in the western
United States; (2) provide new opportunities for economic development
and economic diversification for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes; (3)
provide renewable energy resources for the western United States; (4)
promote the self-governance
[[Page 31976]]
and self-determination of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes; and (5) develop
the project in an environmentally sound manner that addresses and
preserves traditional and cultural practices of the Shoshone-Bannock
Tribes. 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 BIA has identified the following preliminary
issues (in no particular order of importance): (1) Visual resources--
The wind turbines and other project components would be new features on
the landscape and visible from various distances, and would be a long-
term change to the rural view shed. (2) Traditional uses--The proposed
project may affect traditional, cultural practices and spiritual uses
in the Bannock Creek area by the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal members. (3)
Wildlife--Projects of this magnitude may have an effect on wildlife.
Focal species studies will include migrating and resident raptors,
waterfowl, upland game birds and large game species. (4) Soils--Project
transportation required for the project are located in an area with
highly erodible soils. (5) Wildland Fire--The project area is subject
to repeated wildland fires. (6) Socioeconomics--The EIS will evaluate
potential impacts on socioeconomic resources, including impacts to
range uses, increases and diversification of Tribal revenues and
employment opportunities.
The proposed project is expected to create a new revenue source and
new employment opportunities on the Tribal lands as well as diversify
the economic base for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and the Fort Hall
Indian Reservation. Local communities such as American Falls,
Pocatello, Power County, and the State of Idaho will also likely
experience economic benefit. As a new economic opportunity for the
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, there are questions regarding the local
economic benefits of the project and overall community support for the
project.
Directions for Submitting Public Comments
Please include your name, return address, and the caption ``EIS,
Wheatgrass Ridge Wind Project'' on the first page of any written
comments you submit. You may also submit comments at the public scoping
meetings.
Public Comment Availability
Comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be
available for public review at the mailing address shown in the
ADDRESSES Section of this notice during regular business hours, 8 a.m.
to 4.30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Before including
your address, telephone 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 may 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 published in accordance with sections
1503.1 and 1506.6 of the Council on Environmental Quality
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508), and section 46.305 of
the Department of the Interior Regulations (42 CFR part 46)
implementing the procedural requirements of the NEPA, as amended (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and is in the exercise of authority delegated
to the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs by 209 DM 8.1.
Dated: May 17, 2011.
Paul Tsosie,
Chief of Staff, Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2011-13618 Filed 6-1-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-W7-P
