Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment, Draft Environmental Impact Statement, and Segregation of Public Lands for the Proposed Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Farm Project; Wyoming, 44039-44042 [2011-18274]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 141 (Friday, July 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44039-44042]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18274]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWYL03000 L51010000.FX0000 LVRWK09K1030; WYW-167155]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan 
Amendment, Draft Environmental Impact Statement, and Segregation of 
Public Lands for the Proposed Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Farm 
Project; Wyoming

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance 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) has prepared a 
Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment/Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed Chokecherry and Sierra Madre 
(CCSM) Wind Farm Project and by this notice is (1) Opening the comment 
period; and (2) Segregating 107,175 acres of public lands located 
within the CCMS Right-of-Way (ROW) application area from appropriation 
under the public land laws including the 1872 Mining Law, but not the 
Mineral Leasing or Mineral Material Acts, for a period of 2 years from 
the date of publication of this notice.

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS within 90 days 
following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its 
Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce 
future meetings or hearings and any other public involvement activities 
at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, 
and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Chokecherry and 
Sierra Madre Wind Farm Project by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: WYMail_PCW_Windfarm@blm.gov;
     Fax: 307-328-4224; or
     Mail/Hand Delivery: Bureau of Land Management, Chokecherry 
and Sierra Madre Wind Farm Project, Attention: Pamela Murdock, Project 
Manager, P.O. Box 2407, 1300 N. Third Street, Rawlins, Wyoming 82301.
    Copies of the Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS are available for 
review in the BLM Rawlins Field Office at the above address or at the 
following Web site: https://www.blm.gov/pgdata/content/wy/en/info/NEPA/documents/rfo/Chokecherry.html.
    The Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS is also available for review 
during normal business hours at the following locations:
     Bureau of Land Management Wyoming State Office, 5353 
Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming.
     Bureau of Land Management High Desert District Office, 280 
Highway 191 N., Rocks Springs, Wyoming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Murdock, Project Manager; 307-
328-4215; P.O. Box 2407, 1300 N. Third Street, Rawlins, Wyoming 82301; 
e-mail: WYMail_PCW_Windfarm@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 questions for the above 
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM proposes to amend the 2008 Rawlins 
RMP for visual resources management (VRM) class designations. The Power 
Company of Wyoming, LLC (PCW) proposes to construct and operate a wind 
energy project south of Rawlins in Carbon County, Wyoming. The proposed 
project consists of 2 areas located approximately 9 miles apart within 
the Wind Site Testing and Monitoring Application Area--the Chokecherry 
site and the Sierra Madre site (CCSM)--totaling 222,689 acres of 
Federal, private, and State lands. Only a portion of the total land 
area would be

[[Page 44040]]

used for, or disturbed by, the project. The project proposal includes 
1,000 wind turbine generators (WTG) and associated infrastructure, each 
capable of producing 1.5 to 3 megawatts (MW) with a total nameplate 
capacity of 1,500 to 3,000 MW of electrical power.
    Public lands within the CCSM project area would be segregated under 
the authority contained in 43 CFR 2091.3-1(e) and 43 CFR 2804.25(e) for 
a period of 2 years, in order to process the ROW application filed on 
the described lands; this 2-year segregation period will commence on 
July 22, 2011. It has been determined that this segregation is 
necessary for the orderly administration of the public lands.
    The temporary segregation period will terminate and the lands will 
automatically re-open to appropriation under the public land laws, 
including the mining laws, if one of the following events occurs: (1) 
Upon the BLM's issuance of a decision regarding whether to issue a ROW 
authorization for the wind energy generation proposal; (2) Upon 
publication in the Federal Register of a notice of termination of the 
segregation; or (3) Without further administrative action at the end of 
the segregation provided for in the Federal Register notice initiating 
the segregation, whichever occurs first. Any segregation made under 
this authority would be effective only for a period of up to 2 years, 
without the possibility of extension.
    In accordance with 43 CFR 2091.3-1(e) and 2804.25(e), the following 
described public lands within the proposed project area are hereby 
segregated for a period of up to 2 years, subject to valid existing 
rights, from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws, 
including location and entry under the United States mining laws, but 
not from leasing under the mineral leasing laws or disposal under the 
mineral material laws:

Sixth Principal Meridian

T. 16 N., R. 87 W.,
    Sec. 5, lots 4, 5, 6, 11, and 12, N\1/2\; SW\1/4\, and SW\1/4\; 
SW\1/4\; sec. 6, lots 1 to 21, inclusive, and SE\1/4\; sec. 7, lots 
1 to 4, inclusive, lots 9 and 10, and NW\1/4\ NE\1/4\; sec. 18, lots 
3, 4, and 9.
T. 16 N., R. 88 W.,
    Sec. 1, lots 11 to 23, inclusive;
    Sec. 2, lots 11 to 27, inclusive;
    Sec. 3, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\ and tract 38 A, B, C;
    Sec. 4, lots 11 to 22, inclusive, and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 5, lots 11 to 22, inclusive, and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 6, lots 14 to 28, inclusive, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 9;
    Sec. 10, lots 1 and 2, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\, S\1/
2\N\1/2\, and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 11, lots 1 to 6, inclusive, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, and SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 12, lots 1 and 2.
T. 17 N., R. 87 W.,
    Sec. 4, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, 
SW\1/4\, and W\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 5, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, S\1/2\N\1/2\, and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 6, lots 1 to 7, inclusive, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, 
E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 7, lots 2 to 4, inclusive, NE\1/4\, E\1/2\W\1/2\, NE\1/
4\SE\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 8;
    Sec. 9, W\1/2\E\1/2\ and W\1/2\;
    Sec. 17;
    Sec. 18, lots 5 to 19, inclusive;
    Sec. 19, lots 7 and 8;
    Sec. 20, E\1/2\ and S\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 29, NW\1/4\ (less SE\1/4\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\NW\1/4\), NW\1/
4\SW\1/4\, S\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 31, lots 2, 3, and 4, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/
4\NW\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 32.
T. 17 N., R. 88 W.,
    Sec. 1, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, S\1/2\N\1/2\, and N\1/2\S\1/2\;
    Sec. 3, S\1/2\N\1/2\;
    Sec. 4, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, S\1/2\N\1/2\, and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 5, S\1/2\N\1/2\ and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 6, lots 5 to 10, inclusive, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, 
N\1/2\SE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 7, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, E\1/2\W\1/2\, 
W\1/2\SE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 8, N\1/2\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Secs. 9 and 10;
    Sec. 11, W\1/2\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 12, NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\, W\1/2\SE\1/4\, and 
SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 13, N\1/2\, N\1/2\S\1/2\, and SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 14, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\, and N\1/2\S\1/
2\;
    Sec. 15, NE\1/4\ and N\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 17;
    Sec. 18, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, E\1/2\, and E\1/2\W\1/2\;
    Sec. 19, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, E\1/2\, and E\1/2\W\1/2\;
    Sec. 20, W\1/2\E\1/2\ and W\1/2\;
    Sec. 28, W\1/2\;
    Sec. 29;
    Sec. 30, lots 1, 2, and 3, NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SW\1/
4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 31, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, 
E\1/2\W\1/2\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 32;
    Sec. 33, NW\1/4\ and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 34, NE\1/4\ and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 36, E\1/2\SE\1/4\.
T. 17 N., R. 89 W.,
    Sec. 1, lots 5 to 17, inclusive;
    Sec. 2, lots 3 to 14, inclusive;
    Sec. 3, lots 5 to 9, inclusive, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 4, lots 3 to 18, inclusive;
    Sec. 6, lots 8 to 23, inclusive;
    Sec. 11, N\1/2\;
    Sec. 12, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, and W\1/2\;
    Sec. 13, lots 1 to 4 inclusive, and NW\1/4\.
T. 18 N., R. 85 W.,
    Sec. 18, lots 1 thru 4, inclusive, E\1/2\ and E\1/2\W\1/2\;
    Sec. 20;
    Sec. 30, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, E\1/2\ and E\1/2\W\1/2\.
T. 18 N., R. 86 W.,
    Secs. 14 and 16;
    Sec. 18, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, E\1/2\ and E\1/2\W\1/2\;
    Secs. 20 and 22;
    Sec. 24, lots 1 to 16, inclusive;
    Secs. 26 and 28;
    Sec. 30, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, E\1/2\ and E\1/2\W\1/2\.
T. 18 N., R. 87 W.,
    Sec. 2, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, S\1/2\N\1/2\, and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 4, lots 5 to 20, inclusive;
    Sec. 6, lots 8 to 23 inclusive;
    Secs. 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16;
    Sec. 18, lots 5 to 20, inclusive;
    Secs. 20, 22, 24, 26, and 28;
    Sec. 30, lots 5 to 20, inclusive;
    Sec. 31, lot 4, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 32, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 33, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, and S\1/
2\;
    Sec. 34, N\1/2\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\.
T. 18 N., R. 88 W.,
    Sec. 2, lots 1 and 2, S\1/2\N\1/2\, and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 4, lot 4, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, and W\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 8, NE\1/4\, W\1/2\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 10, W\1/2\;
    Secs. 12 and 14;
    Sec. 18, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, E\1/2\, and E\1/2\W\1/2\;
    Sec. 20;
    Sec. 22, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\NW\1/4\, and S\1/
2\;
    Sec. 26, E\1/2\, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, and SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 30, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, E\1/2\, and E\1/2\W\1/2\;
    Sec. 32;
    Sec. 34, N\1/2\ and SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 35, S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 36.
T. 18 N., R. 89 W.,
    Sec. 10;
    Sec. 12, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, and W\1/2\;
    Secs. 14, 20, and 22;
    Sec. 24, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, and W\1/2\;
    Secs. 26 and 28;
    Sec. 32, lots 1 to 12, inclusive, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, and N\1/2\SE\1/
4\;
    Sec. 34, lots 1 to 16, inclusive;
    Sec. 35, S\1/2\SE\1/4\.
T. 19 N., R. 85 W.,
    Sec. 4, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, S\1/2\N\1/2\, and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 6, lots 1 to 7, inclusive, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, 
E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 8;
    Sec. 10, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\, and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 18, lots 1 thru 4, inclusive, E\1/2\, and E\1/2\W\1/2\.
T. 19 N., R. 86 W.,
    Sec. 2, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, S\1/2\N\1/2\, and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 4, lots 5 to 20, inclusive;
    Sec. 6, lots 8 to 23, inclusive;
    Secs. 8, 10, and 12;
    Sec. 14, W\1/2\E\1/2\, and W\1/2\;
    Sec. 16;
    Sec. 18, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, E\1/2\, and E\1/2\W\1/2\;
    Secs. 20, 22, and 24.
T. 19 N., R. 87 W.,
    Sec. 2, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, S\1/2\N\1/2\ and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 4, lots 1 and 2, S\1/2\N\1/2\, and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 6, lots 1 to 7, inclusive, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, 
E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;

[[Page 44041]]

    Secs. 8, 10, and 12;
T. 19 N., R. 88 W.,
    Sec. 12.
T. 20 N., R. 85 W.,
    Sec. 4, lots 1 to 10, inclusive, S\1/2\S\1/2\;
    Sec. 6, lots 1 to 3, inclusive, lots 8 to 16, inclusive, and 
S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Secs. 8, 10, 14, and 16;
    Sec. 18, lots 5 to 12, inclusive, and E\1/2\;
    Secs. 20, 22, 24, 26, and 28;
    Sec. 30, lots 5 to 10, inclusive, E\1/2\, and E\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Secs. 32 and 34.
T. 20 N., R. 86 W.,
    Sec. 2, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 4, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 6, lots 1 to 6, inclusive, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Secs. 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16;
    Sec. 18, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, E\1/2\, and E\1/2\W\1/2\;
    Secs. 20, 22, 24, 26, and 28;
    Sec. 30, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, E\1/2\, and E\1/2\W\1/2\;
    Secs. 32, 34, and 36.
T. 20 N., R. 87 W.,
    Sec. 2, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, and SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 4, lots 5 to 11, inclusive;
    Sec. 6, lots 1 to 6, inclusive, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Secs. 8 and 10;
    Sec. 12, lots 1 to 16, inclusive;
    Sec. 14;
    Sec. 18 lots 1 to 4, inclusive, and E\1/2\E\1/2\W\1/2\;
    Secs. 20 and 22;
    Sec. 24 lots 1 to 16, inclusive;
    Sec. 26, E\1/2\, E\1/2\W\1/2\, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\, and SW\1/4\SW\1/
4\;
    Sec. 28;
    Sec. 30, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, E\1/2\, and E\1/2\W\1/2\;
    Secs. 32 and 34.
T. 20 N., R. 88 W.,
    Secs. 12 and 24.
T. 21 N., R. 86 W.,
    Sec. 24, S\1/2\ and S\1/2\N\1/2\;
    Sec. 26;
    Sec. 30, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, E\1/2\, and E\1/2\W\1/2\;
    Secs. 32 and 34;

    The areas described aggregate approximately 107,175 acres in 
Carbon County, Wyoming.

    The BLM Rawlins Field Office has been designated as the lead 
Federal agency for the CCSM Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS. Cooperating 
agencies include the U.S. Forest Service, the State of Wyoming, the 
Saratoga-Encampment-Rawlins Conservation District, the Little Snake 
River Conservation District, Medicine Bow Conservation District, Carbon 
County, and the City of Rawlins.
    Scoping took place from July 18, 2008, to September 23, 2008, and 
involved 4 public meetings held in Saratoga, Rawlins (2), and Baggs, 
Wyoming. Public and cooperating agency concerns include potential 
impacts to sensitive species and their habitats, cultural resources, 
visual resources, public access, project phasing, and reclamation. 
Through internal and external scoping, the BLM identified the following 
resources as issues of concern that are analyzed in detail: Avian 
species; fish and wildlife, including special status and threatened or 
endangered species; cultural resources; visual resources; grazing and 
rangelands; reclamation; water resources; air quality; public access; 
and recreation. For analysis purposes, the document has been arranged 
into 2 volumes dealing with the RMP Amendment decision and the CCSM 
project decision.
    Volume I of the Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS describes and 
analyzes VRM planning alternatives for the public lands administered by 
the BLM Rawlins Field Office within the planning area. The proposed 
project is located in an area currently managed as VRM classes II and 
III. With the exception of VRM classes, wind energy development within 
and adjacent to the CCSM project area conforms to the Rawlins RMP. The 
Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS planning area includes and extends 30 
miles beyond the CCSM project area boundary, comprising approximately 
3.6 million acres in Carbon County in south central Wyoming. Within 
this area, the BLM administers approximately 1.3 million acres of 
public land surface and Federal mineral estate. The BLM administers an 
additional 100,000 acres of mineral estate under State and privately 
owned surface. The BLM decisions would apply only to public lands and 
to the Federal mineral estate administered by the BLM.
    The BLM invites public comment on the proposed planning amendment. 
Comments may be sent to the BLM Rawlins Field Office at the address 
above. The RMP Amendment will concentrate on 8 specific issues 
identified through public scoping for the 2008 Rawlins RMP.
    Issue 1: Energy Development--The planning amendment addresses 
energy resource decision (i.e., oil and gas, coal, solar, wind energy 
and transportation network) conflicts with the proposed VRM planning 
amendments.
    Issue 2: Special Management Designations--The planning amendment 
addresses Special Designations/Management Areas decision conflicts with 
the proposed VRM planning amendment decisions. No Rawlins RMP decisions 
for the Sand Hills/JO Ranch Area of Critical Environmental Concern 
would change as a result of the proposed VRM planning amendment.
    Issue 3: Resource Accessibility--The planning amendment addresses 
public accessibility and constraints of VRM Class designations in the 
checkerboard or other intermixed landownership patterns.
    Issue 4: Fire Management Wildland-Urban Interface--New demands are 
being placed on public lands because of growth in and around some 
cities, towns, rural developments and subdivisions in the planning 
area. Wildland-urban interface decisions may be affected by VRM 
amendments.
    Issue 5: Special Status Species Management--VRM class designations 
may influence maintenance or sustainability of special status species.
    Issue 6: Water Quality--VRM class designations may influence 
maintenance or attainment of water quality standards.
    Issue 7: Vegetation Management--Due to conflicting demands for 
consumptive and non-consumptive uses of the vegetation resources in the 
planning area, the amendment will address the influence of VRM class 
designations on non-consumptive and consumptive uses.
    Issue 8: Recreation, Cultural Resources and Paleontological 
Resource Management--The planning area contains cultural and 
paleontological resources and their associated setting, as well as a 
variety of recreation opportunities. VRM amendments may influence these 
resources and opportunities.
    Four planning alternatives were analyzed in detail:
    1. Alternative 1: Continue existing management direction (the No 
Action Alternative);
    2. Alternative 2: Provide for development and use opportunities 
while minimizing adverse impacts to visual resources;
    3. Alternative 3: Provide for compatible development and use while 
maintaining focus on greater conservation of visual resources; and
    4. Alternative 4: Provide for development opportunities while 
protecting visual resources (the BLM Preferred Alternative).
    Volume II of the Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS addresses the 
direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts of constructing 
and operating the CCSM wind generation facility (proposed action). 
Alternatives to the proposed action were developed in response to 
issues and concerns raised during the NEPA scoping period. All 
alternatives conform with the preferred planning alternative identified 
in Volume I. Volume II of the EIS analyzes the direct, indirect and

[[Page 44042]]

cumulative project impacts to determine whether the application area is 
suitable for development of the proposed project or for an alternative 
development strategy. The impact analysis is based on resource-specific 
assumptions, estimated project disturbance, and appropriate project-
specific stipulations. The decision the BLM will make as a result of 
the analysis is whether to authorize, and under what terms and 
conditions, the development, operation, maintenance, and reclamation of 
a wind farm on public lands.
    The No Action Alternative would deny PCW's request to develop wind 
energy on public lands and deny any request to provide access to 
private lands for wind development within the application area.
    Alternative 1R (the BLM preferred alternative) considers 
authorizing wind development in PCW's application area to accommodate 
1,000 turbines. This alternative, a revision of PCW's original proposed 
action, was submitted by the applicant in response to issues raised 
during scoping. This alternative was developed in consideration of a 
comprehensive review of information pertaining to wildlife issues in 
the project area and would require amending the VRM decisions in the 
2008 Rawlins RMP.
    Alternative 2 considers authorizing wind development to accommodate 
1,000 turbines in PCW's application area only north of T. 18 N. to keep 
development primarily within the checkerboard land ownership pattern. 
This alternative was developed in response to concerns regarding visual 
impacts to areas with high recreational values. More restrictive 
Greater Sage-grouse stipulations would apply to public lands than in 
the other alternatives. This alternative would require amending the VRM 
decisions in the 2008 Rawlins RMP.
    Alternative 3 considers authorizing wind development to accommodate 
1,000 turbines in the Chokecherry portion and only the area from the 
eastern half of T. 18 N., R. 88. W. to the east of the Sierra Madre 
portion of PCW's application area. All lands would be excluded south of 
T. 18. N. and the western half of T. 18. N., R. 88 W. This alternative 
was developed in response to concerns regarding existing VRM Class II 
areas as well as areas with greater wildlife concerns. This alternative 
would require amending the VRM decisions in the 2008 Rawlins RMP.
    Alternative 4 considers no placement of WTGs on public lands within 
either the Chokecherry site or Sierra Madre site. This alternative, 
however, considers that the BLM would provide ROW grants to PCW for the 
public lands that would allow PCW to develop wind energy facilities on 
the privately-held lands. The BLM would apply required restrictions and 
timing stipulations to public lands for requested access points. This 
alternative was developed in response to the overall concerns raised 
with developing a wind farm on public lands and the associated impacts. 
This alternative would not require amending the VRM decisions in the 
2008 Rawlins RMP. Volume II considered 12 additional alternatives but 
eliminated them from detailed study. These alternatives did not meet 
the purpose and need of the proposed action, or were incorporated into 
alternatives analyzed in detail.
    The purpose of this EIS is to provide the public and decision-
makers with sufficient information to understand the environmental 
consequences of implementing the project. A recent inventory of 
wilderness characteristics determined that wilderness characteristics 
are not present. If the analysis results in the decision to approve 
wind energy development, PCW may submit up to four Plans of Development 
(POD) for separate aspects of the project including: Turbine siting in 
the Chokeberry development area, turbine siting in the Sierra Madre 
development area, haul road development throughout the project area, 
and transmission lines. The site-specific PODs would be tiered to the 
analysis and decisions in the EIS and ROD for the CCSM wind farm 
project. Site-specific impacts associated with the siting/location of 
individual project components not analyzed in the EIS would be 
evaluated in subsequent NEPA analyses based on site-specific proposals 
within any selected alternative boundary. ROW grants for these PODs, if 
issued, will include site-specific terms and conditions analyzed either 
in the POD NEPA documents or in the CCSM project EIS. Following the 
public comment period, the BLM will prepare a proposed RMP Amendment/
CCSM Final EIS. The BLM will respond to each substantive comment by 
making appropriate revisions to the document or by explaining why a 
comment did not warrant a change.
    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 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:  40 CFR 1506.6 and 1506.10.

Donald A. Simpson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-18274 Filed 7-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P