Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Restoration Design Energy Project and Land Use Plan Amendments, 9694-9696 [2012-3630]
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9694
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 33 / Friday, February 17, 2012 / Notices
Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a–j).
The Federal money used to acquire
conservation easements is primarily
from the Land and Water Conservation
Fund Act of 1965, as amended (16
U.S.C. 460l–4 through 11) (derived
primarily from oil and gas leases on the
Outer Continental Shelf, motorboat fuel
taxes, and the sale of surplus Federal
property). Additional funding to acquire
lands, water, or interests for fish and
wildlife conservation purposes could be
identified by Congress or donated by
nonprofit organizations. The purchase
of easements from willing sellers will be
subject to available money.
The Service has involved the public,
agencies, partners, and legislators
throughout the planning process for the
easement program. At the beginning of
the planning process, the Service
initiated public involvement for the
proposal to protect habitats primarily
through acquisition of conservation
easements for management as part of the
Refuge System. The Service spent time
discussing the proposed project with
landowners; conservation organizations;
Federal, State and county governments;
tribes; and other interested groups and
individuals. For initial public scoping,
the Service held three open-house
meetings, on November 30, December 1,
and December 2, 2009, in Alma,
Wichita, and Cottonwood Falls, Kansas,
respectively. These open houses were
announced in local media.
In compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Service
prepared an environmental assessment
(EA) that evaluated two alternatives and
their potential impacts on the project
area. The Service released the draft EA
and land protection plan (LPP), on April
14, 2010, for a 30-day public review
period. The draft documents were made
available to Federal elected officials and
agencies, State elected officials and
agencies, Native American tribes with
aboriginal or tribal interests, and other
members of the public that were
identified during the scoping process.
The Service held three additional openhouse public meetings to discuss the
draft EA and land protection plan LPP,
on April 21, 22, and 23, 2010—at El
Dorado, Cottonwood Falls, and Alma,
Kansas, respectively. These meetings
were announced in advance in local
media. Approximately 148 landowners,
citizens, and elected representatives
attended the meetings. The Service
received 7 letters from agencies,
organizations, and other entities, and 24
general public comments. After all
comments were received, they were
reviewed and incorporated into the EA
and administrative record.
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19:08 Feb 16, 2012
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Based on the documentation
contained in the EA, a Finding of No
Significant Impact was signed on July
30, 2010, for the establishment of the
Flint Hills Legacy Conservation Area.
Dated: December 23, 2011.
Noreen E. Walsh,
Deputy Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie
Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–3756 Filed 2–16–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLAZ910000.L14300000.DB0000.
LXSS058A0000]
Notice of Availability of the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Restoration Design Energy Project
and Land Use Plan Amendments
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA); the Council
on Environmental Quality and the
Department of the Interior regulations
implementing NEPA; and the Federal
Land Policy and Management Act of
1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) Arizona State Office
has prepared a Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for the
Restoration Design Energy Project
(RDEP) to evaluate proposed
amendments to several Resource
Management Plans (RMPs) to identify
lands across Arizona that may be
suitable for developing renewable solar
and wind energy, and to establish a
baseline set of environmental protection
measures for such projects. By this
notice, the BLM is announcing the
beginning of a 90-day public review and
comment period on the Draft EIS.
DATES: To ensure comments will be
considered, the BLM must receive
written comments on the RDEP 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 local media, newspapers,
mailings, and the BLM Web site at:
https://www.blm.gov/az/st/en.html.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on the RDEP Draft EIS by any of the
following methods.
• Email: az_arra_rdep@blm.gov.
SUMMARY:
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• Fax: Attn: Lane Cowger, (602) 417–
9454; and
• Mail or other delivery service:
BLM–Arizona State Office, Attn:
Restoration Design Energy Project, One
North Central Avenue, Suite 800,
Phoenix, AZ 85004–4427.
Please be sure to include your name,
any organization you represent, and
return address with your comment.
Copies of the Draft EIS are available
at the BLM–Arizona State Office, One
North Central Avenue, Suite 800,
Phoenix, Arizona 85004, or it can be
downloaded from the project Web site:
https://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/
energy/arra_solar.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kathy Pedrick, BLM Project Manager;
Telephone: 602–417–9235; Mail: One
North Central Avenue, Suite 800,
Phoenix, Arizona 85004–4427; or email:
az_arra_rdep@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 RDEP
supports the Secretary of the Interior’s
goals to build America’s new energy
future and to protect and restore
treasured landscapes. The purpose of
the RDEP is to conduct statewide
planning that fosters environmentally
responsible production of solar and
wind energy and allows the permitting
of future solar and wind energy
development projects to proceed in a
more efficient and standardized manner.
The RDEP would amend BLM land use
plans to identify geographic areas in
Arizona best suited for solar and wind
energy development, including solar
and wind technologies, and to establish
a baseline set of environmental
protection measures for such projects.
The BLM is proposing to identify
Renewable Energy Development Areas
(REDAs), BLM-administered lands that
may be suitable for the development of
solar and wind facilities, and a Solar
Energy Zone (SEZ) with a priority for
utility-scale (greater than 20 megawatts)
solar development. These areas include
disturbed sites and lands with low
resource sensitivity and few
environmental conflicts. Through
scoping and outreach activities,
disturbed sites have been identified
throughout Arizona, including former
landfills, brownfields, mines, isolated
BLM parcels, and Central Arizona
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 33 / Friday, February 17, 2012 / Notices
Project canal rights-of-way areas.
Additionally, the BLM proposes to
establish unified management actions,
design features, and best management
practices applicable to solar and wind
energy development on BLMadministered lands in Arizona. The
REDAs would identify where solar and
wind energy development is likely to be
compatible with resource objectives and
would be suitable for the development
of utility- or distributed-scale solar and
wind facilities. The SEZ would be
prioritized for utility-scale (greater than
20 megawatts) solar development.
The Draft EIS evaluates six action
alternatives and the No Action
Alternative. Identifying lands as REDAs
was an iterative process that provides a
wide range of alternatives. Alternative 1
identifies about 321,500 acres of REDAs
on BLM-administered land that are
formerly disturbed sites or lands with
low resource sensitivity. It seeks to
provide maximum flexibility for
locating small- to large-scale projects
without consideration of other physical
constraints, such as distance to
transmission or load. Alternative 2 seeks
to reduce environmental impacts by
only including the REDAs identified in
Alternative 1 that are within 5 miles of
designated utility corridors and existing
or proposed transmission lines. Under
Alternative 2, about 218,600 acres of
BLM-administered land are identified as
REDAs. Alternative 3 seeks to reduce
disturbance and environmental impacts
by identifying about 129,800 acres of
REDAs that are near the point of
demand, such as cities, towns, or
industrial centers. Alternative 4 seeks to
address potential water issues by
instituting specific design features for
321,500 acres of REDAs to avoid
impacts on sensitive watersheds,
groundwater supply, and water quality.
Alternative 5 focuses on opportunities
to facilitate solar and wind energy
development through land tenure
adjustments by identifying about 43,700
acres of REDAs on BLM-administered
land that have been identified through
prior planning processes to be suitable
for disposal. Alternative 6 was
developed through a collaborative
process and identifies about 237,100
acres of REDAs within 5 miles of
designated utility corridors and existing
transmission lines or near a point of
demand, includes design features to
protect water resources, and provides
for land tenure adjustment of lands
previously identified for disposal.
In addition to identifying REDAs, the
RDEP is serving as a step-down process
to the Solar Energy Development
Programmatic EIS (Solar Programmatic
EIS) for utility-scale solar development.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:08 Feb 16, 2012
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In this regard, the BLM is also proposing
to identify the Agua Caliente SEZ in
eastern Yuma County to facilitate the
development of utility-scale solar
projects. The proposed SEZ was
developed based on a screening process
that included the following criteria:
available large contiguous parcels of
BLM land (greater than 2,500 acres);
proximity to transmission; limited
known environmental or cultural
constraints; proximity to roads and
infrastructure; and proximity to existing
solar developments. Based on input
from cooperating agencies and the
public, the Draft EIS analyzes three
footprints for the proposed Agua
Caliente SEZ: 2,760 acres, 6,770 acres,
and 20,600 acres.
Alternative 6 with 237,100 acres of
REDAs and a 6,770-acre SEZ is the
agency’s preferred alternative because it
is the result of extensive input from
cooperating agencies and the public and
best meets the stated purpose of the
RDEP. The preferred alternative is the
BLM’s preliminary preference but does
not represent a final BLM decision. The
preferred alternative could change
between publication of the Draft EIS and
Final EIS based on public comments;
new information; or changes in laws,
regulations, or BLM policies.
The following BLM RMPs are
proposed for amendment to incorporate
the identification of REDAs and
environmental protection measures, as
appropriate: Bradshaw-Harquahala RMP
(2010); Arizona Strip Field Office RMP
(2008); Kingman Resource Area RMP
(1995); Lake Havasu Field Office RMP
(2007); Lower Gila South RMP (1988, as
amended 2005); Lower Gila North
Management Framework Plan (1983, as
amended 2005); Phoenix RMP (1988);
Safford District RMP (1991); and Yuma
Field Office RMP (2010). Additionally,
the Yuma Field Office RMP would be
amended to identify the Agua Caliente
SEZ and to change the Visual Resource
Management class for portions of lands
within the SEZ.
This EIS will not eliminate the need
for site-specific environmental review
for future individual solar and wind
energy development proposals; the BLM
will make decisions on a case-by-case
basis whether to authorize individual
solar and wind energy development
projects in conformance with the
amended RMP on the basis of this EIS.
The BLM retains the discretion to deny
solar and wind right-of-way
applications based on site-specific
issues and concerns, even in those areas
available or open for application in the
existing land use plan. The RDEP is not
proposing any new exclusion or
avoidance areas. Solar and wind energy
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9695
developments proposed outside of
REDAs or a SEZ would be considered
on a case-by-case basis using applicable
State and national policy direction and
guidance from existing land use plan
decisions.
The Draft EIS analyzes impacts of the
alternatives on land use authorizations;
military airspace; air quality; minerals/
geology and soils; farm lands (prime or
unique); water quality and quantity;
floodplains, wetlands, and riparian
zones; vegetation (including invasive,
nonnative species); wildlife; migratory
birds; BLM-designated sensitive animal
and plant species; cultural resources;
Native American religious concerns;
paleontological resources; visual
resources; livestock grazing; recreation;
special designations (including areas of
critical environmental concern and
wilderness); lands with wilderness
characteristics; national scenic and
historic trails; noise; public health and
safety and fire management; hazardous
or solid waste; social and economic
values; and environmental justice.
The Draft EIS is in conformance with
other Federal, State, and local plans,
including the ongoing Solar
Programmatic EIS that is currently being
prepared by the U.S. Department of
Energy and the BLM. The Solar
Programmatic EIS proposes to amend
land use plans to identify SEZs for
utility-scale production of solar energy
and to establish national program
guidance, mitigation measures, and
management practices for utility-scale
solar energy development on BLMadministered lands. Throughout
development of the RDEP, the BLM has
engaged eight cooperating agencies,
State and local governments, tribes, the
Arizona Resource Advisory Council,
and stakeholders in order to obtain
input on defining the REDAs and the
future solar and wind energy footprint
in Arizona.
Please note that public comments and
information submitted, including
names, street addresses, and email
addresses of persons who submit
comments, will be available for public
review and disclosure at the Bureau of
Land Management Arizona State Office,
One North Central Avenue Suite 800,
Phoenix, Arizona, during regular
business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.),
Monday through Friday, except
holidays.
Before including your address, phone
number, email 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
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 33 / Friday, February 17, 2012 / Notices
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Authority: 40 CFR 1503.1, 1506.6, 1506.10,
and 43 CFR 1610.2.
Raymond Suazo,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2012–3630 Filed 2–16–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–$$–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLMT–06000–01–L10200000–PG0000]
Notice of Public Meeting; Central
Montana Resource Advisory Council
AGENCY:
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
the number of persons wishing to
comment and time available, the time
for individual oral comments may be
limited.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary
L. ‘‘Stan’’ Benes, Lewistown District
Manager, Lewistown Field Office, 920
NE Main, Lewistown, MT 59457, (406)
538–1900, gary_benes@blm.gov. Persons
who use a telecommunications device
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–
800–677–8339 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.
BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P
[FR Doc. 2012–3757 Filed 2–16–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–DN–P
In accordance with 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 (BLM) Central
Montana Resource Advisory Council
(RAC) will meet as indicated below.
DATES: The meeting will be held March
6 and 7, 2012. The March 6 meeting will
begin at 10 a.m. with a 30-minute public
comment period and will adjourn at
5:30 p.m. The March 7 meeting will
begin at 8 a.m. with a 30-minute public
comment period at 10 a.m. and will
adjourn at 12:30 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meetings will be in the
Bureau of Land Management’s Central
Montana District Office, at 920 NE Main
Street, in Lewistown, MT.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 15member council advises the Secretary of
the Interior on a variety of management
issues associated with public land
management in Montana. During these
meetings the council will participate in/
discuss/act upon these topics/activities:
Round-table discussion among council
members, district managers’ updates,
recent weed control efforts/
accomplishments, one-time permits on
the Upper Missouri River, Northern
Continental Divide Grizzly Bear
Conservation Strategy, Judith Moccasin
Travel Plan, amenity fee proposal, oil
and gas fracking, presentation led by the
council’s Category 2, reserved water
rights compact commission process, and
administrative details.
All RAC meetings are open to the
public. The public may present written
comments to the RAC. Each formal RAC
meeting will also have time allocated for
hearing public comments. Depending on
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
19:08 Feb 16, 2012
Jkt 226001
Helen M. Hankins,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2012–3763 Filed 2–16–12; 8:45 am]
Gary L. ‘‘Stan’’ Benes,
Lewistown District Manager.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
for rentals and royalties at rates of $5
per acre or fraction thereof, per year and
162⁄3 percent, respectively. The lessee
has paid the required $500
administrative fee and $163 to
reimburse the Department for the cost of
this Federal Register notice. The lessee
has met all the requirements for
reinstatement of the lease as set out in
Section 31(d) and (e) of the Mineral
Lands Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C.
188), and the BLM is proposing to
reinstate lease COC30486 effective June
1, 2011, under the original terms and
conditions of the lease and the
increased rental and royalty rates cited
above.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCO922000–L13100000–FI0000;
COC68134]
[LLCO922000–L13100000–FI0000;
COC30486]
Notice of Proposed Reinstatement of
Terminated Oil and Gas Lease
COC30486
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Proposed
Reinstatement of Terminated Oil and
Gas Lease.
AGENCY:
Under the provisions of 30
U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR
3108.2–3(a) and (b)(1), the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) received a
petition for reinstatement of oil and gas
lease COC30486 from Encana Oil & Gas
(USA) Inc., for lands in Mesa County,
Colorado. The petition was filed on time
and was accompanied by all the rentals
due since the date the lease terminated
under the law.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Milada Krasilinec, BLM Land Law
Examiner, Fluid Minerals Adjudication,
at (303) 239–3767.
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 lessee
has agreed to the amended lease terms
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00077
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Notice of Proposed Reinstatement of
Terminated Oil and Gas Lease
COC68134
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Proposed
Reinstatement of Terminated Oil and
Gas Lease.
AGENCY:
Under the provisions of 30
U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR
3108.2–3(a) and (b)(1), the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) received a
petition for reinstatement of oil and gas
lease COC68134 from Western
Operation Company, for lands in
Morgan County, Colorado. The petition
was filed on time and was accompanied
by all the rentals due since the date the
lease terminated under the law.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Milada Krasilinec, BLM Land Law
Examiner, Fluid Minerals Adjudication,
at (303) 239–3767.
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 lessee
has agreed to the amended lease terms
for rentals and royalties at rates of $10
per acre or fraction thereof, per year and
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\17FEN1.SGM
17FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 33 (Friday, February 17, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9694-9696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3630]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLAZ910000.L14300000.DB0000.LXSS058A0000]
Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement for the Restoration Design Energy Project and Land Use Plan
Amendments
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA); the Council on Environmental Quality and the
Department of the Interior regulations implementing NEPA; and the
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau
of Land Management (BLM) Arizona State Office has prepared a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Restoration Design Energy
Project (RDEP) to evaluate proposed amendments to several Resource
Management Plans (RMPs) to identify lands across Arizona that may be
suitable for developing renewable solar and wind energy, and to
establish a baseline set of environmental protection measures for such
projects. By this notice, the BLM is announcing the beginning of a 90-
day public review and comment period on the Draft EIS.
DATES: To ensure comments will be considered, the BLM must receive
written comments on the RDEP 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 local media, newspapers, mailings, and
the BLM Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/az/st/en.html.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the RDEP Draft EIS by any of the
following methods.
Email: az_arra_rdep@blm.gov.
Fax: Attn: Lane Cowger, (602) 417-9454; and
Mail or other delivery service: BLM-Arizona State Office,
Attn: Restoration Design Energy Project, One North Central Avenue,
Suite 800, Phoenix, AZ 85004-4427.
Please be sure to include your name, any organization you
represent, and return address with your comment.
Copies of the Draft EIS are available at the BLM-Arizona State
Office, One North Central Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix, Arizona 85004, or
it can be downloaded from the project Web site: https://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/energy/arra_solar.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Pedrick, BLM Project Manager;
Telephone: 602-417-9235; Mail: One North Central Avenue, Suite 800,
Phoenix, Arizona 85004-4427; or email: az_arra_rdep@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 RDEP supports the Secretary of the
Interior's goals to build America's new energy future and to protect
and restore treasured landscapes. The purpose of the RDEP is to conduct
statewide planning that fosters environmentally responsible production
of solar and wind energy and allows the permitting of future solar and
wind energy development projects to proceed in a more efficient and
standardized manner. The RDEP would amend BLM land use plans to
identify geographic areas in Arizona best suited for solar and wind
energy development, including solar and wind technologies, and to
establish a baseline set of environmental protection measures for such
projects.
The BLM is proposing to identify Renewable Energy Development Areas
(REDAs), BLM-administered lands that may be suitable for the
development of solar and wind facilities, and a Solar Energy Zone (SEZ)
with a priority for utility-scale (greater than 20 megawatts) solar
development. These areas include disturbed sites and lands with low
resource sensitivity and few environmental conflicts. Through scoping
and outreach activities, disturbed sites have been identified
throughout Arizona, including former landfills, brownfields, mines,
isolated BLM parcels, and Central Arizona
[[Page 9695]]
Project canal rights-of-way areas. Additionally, the BLM proposes to
establish unified management actions, design features, and best
management practices applicable to solar and wind energy development on
BLM-administered lands in Arizona. The REDAs would identify where solar
and wind energy development is likely to be compatible with resource
objectives and would be suitable for the development of utility- or
distributed-scale solar and wind facilities. The SEZ would be
prioritized for utility-scale (greater than 20 megawatts) solar
development.
The Draft EIS evaluates six action alternatives and the No Action
Alternative. Identifying lands as REDAs was an iterative process that
provides a wide range of alternatives. Alternative 1 identifies about
321,500 acres of REDAs on BLM-administered land that are formerly
disturbed sites or lands with low resource sensitivity. It seeks to
provide maximum flexibility for locating small- to large-scale projects
without consideration of other physical constraints, such as distance
to transmission or load. Alternative 2 seeks to reduce environmental
impacts by only including the REDAs identified in Alternative 1 that
are within 5 miles of designated utility corridors and existing or
proposed transmission lines. Under Alternative 2, about 218,600 acres
of BLM-administered land are identified as REDAs. Alternative 3 seeks
to reduce disturbance and environmental impacts by identifying about
129,800 acres of REDAs that are near the point of demand, such as
cities, towns, or industrial centers. Alternative 4 seeks to address
potential water issues by instituting specific design features for
321,500 acres of REDAs to avoid impacts on sensitive watersheds,
groundwater supply, and water quality. Alternative 5 focuses on
opportunities to facilitate solar and wind energy development through
land tenure adjustments by identifying about 43,700 acres of REDAs on
BLM-administered land that have been identified through prior planning
processes to be suitable for disposal. Alternative 6 was developed
through a collaborative process and identifies about 237,100 acres of
REDAs within 5 miles of designated utility corridors and existing
transmission lines or near a point of demand, includes design features
to protect water resources, and provides for land tenure adjustment of
lands previously identified for disposal.
In addition to identifying REDAs, the RDEP is serving as a step-
down process to the Solar Energy Development Programmatic EIS (Solar
Programmatic EIS) for utility-scale solar development. In this regard,
the BLM is also proposing to identify the Agua Caliente SEZ in eastern
Yuma County to facilitate the development of utility-scale solar
projects. The proposed SEZ was developed based on a screening process
that included the following criteria: available large contiguous
parcels of BLM land (greater than 2,500 acres); proximity to
transmission; limited known environmental or cultural constraints;
proximity to roads and infrastructure; and proximity to existing solar
developments. Based on input from cooperating agencies and the public,
the Draft EIS analyzes three footprints for the proposed Agua Caliente
SEZ: 2,760 acres, 6,770 acres, and 20,600 acres.
Alternative 6 with 237,100 acres of REDAs and a 6,770-acre SEZ is
the agency's preferred alternative because it is the result of
extensive input from cooperating agencies and the public and best meets
the stated purpose of the RDEP. The preferred alternative is the BLM's
preliminary preference but does not represent a final BLM decision. The
preferred alternative could change between publication of the Draft EIS
and Final EIS based on public comments; new information; or changes in
laws, regulations, or BLM policies.
The following BLM RMPs are proposed for amendment to incorporate
the identification of REDAs and environmental protection measures, as
appropriate: Bradshaw-Harquahala RMP (2010); Arizona Strip Field Office
RMP (2008); Kingman Resource Area RMP (1995); Lake Havasu Field Office
RMP (2007); Lower Gila South RMP (1988, as amended 2005); Lower Gila
North Management Framework Plan (1983, as amended 2005); Phoenix RMP
(1988); Safford District RMP (1991); and Yuma Field Office RMP (2010).
Additionally, the Yuma Field Office RMP would be amended to identify
the Agua Caliente SEZ and to change the Visual Resource Management
class for portions of lands within the SEZ.
This EIS will not eliminate the need for site-specific
environmental review for future individual solar and wind energy
development proposals; the BLM will make decisions on a case-by-case
basis whether to authorize individual solar and wind energy development
projects in conformance with the amended RMP on the basis of this EIS.
The BLM retains the discretion to deny solar and wind right-of-way
applications based on site-specific issues and concerns, even in those
areas available or open for application in the existing land use plan.
The RDEP is not proposing any new exclusion or avoidance areas. Solar
and wind energy developments proposed outside of REDAs or a SEZ would
be considered on a case-by-case basis using applicable State and
national policy direction and guidance from existing land use plan
decisions.
The Draft EIS analyzes impacts of the alternatives on land use
authorizations; military airspace; air quality; minerals/geology and
soils; farm lands (prime or unique); water quality and quantity;
floodplains, wetlands, and riparian zones; vegetation (including
invasive, nonnative species); wildlife; migratory birds; BLM-designated
sensitive animal and plant species; cultural resources; Native American
religious concerns; paleontological resources; visual resources;
livestock grazing; recreation; special designations (including areas of
critical environmental concern and wilderness); lands with wilderness
characteristics; national scenic and historic trails; noise; public
health and safety and fire management; hazardous or solid waste; social
and economic values; and environmental justice.
The Draft EIS is in conformance with other Federal, State, and
local plans, including the ongoing Solar Programmatic EIS that is
currently being prepared by the U.S. Department of Energy and the BLM.
The Solar Programmatic EIS proposes to amend land use plans to identify
SEZs for utility-scale production of solar energy and to establish
national program guidance, mitigation measures, and management
practices for utility-scale solar energy development on BLM-
administered lands. Throughout development of the RDEP, the BLM has
engaged eight cooperating agencies, State and local governments,
tribes, the Arizona Resource Advisory Council, and stakeholders in
order to obtain input on defining the REDAs and the future solar and
wind energy footprint in Arizona.
Please note that public comments and information submitted,
including names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who
submit comments, will be available for public review and disclosure at
the Bureau of Land Management Arizona State Office, One North Central
Avenue Suite 800, Phoenix, Arizona, during regular business hours (8
a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays.
Before including your address, phone number, email 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
[[Page 9696]]
to withhold your personal identifying information from public review,
we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Authority: 40 CFR 1503.1, 1506.6, 1506.10, and 43 CFR 1610.2.
Raymond Suazo,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2012-3630 Filed 2-16-12; 8:45 am]
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