Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed KRoad Moapa Solar Generation Facility, Clark County, NV, 15794-15795 [2012-6203]

Download as PDF 15794 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 52 / Friday, March 16, 2012 / Notices mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 10 Bldgs. Holloman AFB Holloman NM 88330 Landholding Agency: Air Force Property Number: 18201210056 Status: Unutilized Directions: 1250, 1251, 1262, 1263, 816, 850, 909, 1166, 96, 629 Comments: Nat’l security concerns; no public access and no alternative method to gain access Reasons: Secured Area 2 Bldgs. Holloman AFB Holloman NM 88330 Landholding Agency: Air Force Property Number: 18201210058 Status: Unutilized Directions: 1266, 1268 Comments: Nat’l security concerns; no public access and no alternative method to gain access Reasons: Secured Area South Carolina 2 Bldgs. Shaw AFB Sumter SC 29152 Landholding Agency: Air Force Property Number: 18201210060 Status: Underutilized Directions: 3419, 3423 Comments: Nat’l security concerns; no public access and no alternative method to gain access Reasons: Secured Area B–1501 Shaw AFB Sumter SC 29152 Landholding Agency: Air Force Property Number: 18201210061 Status: Underutilized Comments: Nat’l security concerns; no public access and no alternative method to gain access Reasons: Secured Area B523 Shaw AFB Sumter SC 29152 Landholding Agency: Air Force Property Number: 18201210064 Status: Unutilized Comments: Nat’l security concerns; no public access and no alternative method to gain access Reasons: Secured Area South Carolina 6 Bldgs. Tinker Rd. Bellows AFB SC Landholding Agency: Air Force Property Number: 18201210065 Status: Unutilized Directions: 453, 454, 544, 801, 804, 806 Comments: Nat’l security concerns; no public access and no alternative method to gain access Reasons: Secured Area B–1713 Shaw AFB Sumter SC 29152 Landholding Agency: Air Force Property Number: 18201210078 Status: Underutilized VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:56 Mar 15, 2012 Jkt 226001 Comments: National security concerns; no public access and no alternative method to gain access Reasons: Secured Area Tennessee B–1524 and B–2219 Arnold AFB Arnold AFB TN 37389 Landholding Agency: Air Force Property Number: 18201210042 Status: Underutilized Comments: National security concerns; no public access and no alternative method to gain access Reasons: Secured Area Virginia 7 Bldgs. Willow St. Langley AFB VA 23665 Landholding Agency: Air Force Property Number: 18201210059 Status: Underutilized Directions: 141, 142, 143, 147, 148, 720, 1329 Comments: Nat’l security concerns; no public access and no alternative method to gain access Reasons: Secured Area Land Virginia 8.5 Acres Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek VA Landholding Agency: Navy Property Number: 77201210003 Status: Unutilized Comments: National security concerns; no public access and no alternative method to gain access Reasons: Secured Area [FR Doc. 2012–6053 Filed 3–15–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210–67–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Indian Affairs Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed KRoad Moapa Solar Generation Facility, Clark County, NV Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability. AGENCY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as the lead Federal agency, with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians (Tribe) as Cooperating Agencies, has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the proposed KRoad Moapa Solar Generation Facility on the Moapa River Indian Reservation (Reservation) in Clark County, Nevada. This notice also announces the FEIS is now available on SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00078 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 a public Web site and in hard copy at the addresses below. DATES: The Record of Decision (ROD) on the proposed action will be issued no sooner than 30 days after the release of the FEIS. ADDRESSES: You may request a hard copy by writing or contacting Ms. Amy Heuslein, Regional Environmental Protection Officer, BIA Western Regional Office Branch of Environmental Quality Services, 2600 North Central Avenue, 4th Floor Mail Room, Phoenix, Arizona 85004–3008; telephone (602) 379–6750; fax (602) 379–3833; email: amy.heuslein@bia.gov. The DEIS may be found on the following Web site: https:// projects2.pirnie.com/MoapaSolar/. Hard copies of the document will be available at the BIA Western Regional Office, 2600 North Central Avenue, 12th Floor, Suite 210, Phoenix, Arizona; the BIA Southern Paiute Agency, 180 North 200 East, Suite 111, St. George, Utah; and BLM Southern Nevada District Office, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89130. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Heuslein or Garry Cantley, BIA Western Regional Office, Branch of Environmental Quality Services, 2600 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004–3008, telephone number (602) 379–6750. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: KRoad Moapa Solar LLC (KRoad) is proposing to construct a 350 megawatt (MW) solar generation facility and associated infrastructure on the Tribe’s reservation; develop a 12 kV transmission line and water line; and obtain two rights-of-way (ROWs) grants for an up to 500 kV transmission line and access road on BLM land and within a BLMadministered utility corridor. The Proposed Project would provide land lease income, sustainable renewable resources, new jobs, and other benefits for the Tribe by using solar resources from reservation lands where exposure to levels of high solar radiation exists. The Proposed Project would also assist utilities in meeting their renewable energy goals, by providing electricity generated from solar resources from tribal lands that may be efficiently connected to existing transmission lines in a manner that minimizes adverse site impacts. The BIA’s purpose and need for the proposed Federal action is to respond to the proposed solar energy ground lease and other agreements entered into by the Tribe with KRoad, and the approval of ROWs for KRoad to construct, operate, and maintain an up to 350 MW solar photovoltaic electricity generating E:\FR\FM\16MRN1.SGM 16MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 52 / Friday, March 16, 2012 / Notices facility on the reservation. The BLM’s purpose and need for the proposed Federal action also would be to respond to KRoad’s application for an up to 500 kV transmission line and access road ROWs within an existing utility corridor, of which 5 miles are located on the reservation and 0.5 miles is located on BLM land just south of the reservation boundary, pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and BLM’s ROWs regulations. The BIA and BLM will adopt the EIS to make decisions on the land lease and ROW application under their jurisdiction while the EPA and USACE may adopt the document to make decisions under their authorities. The Tribe may also use the EIS to make decisions under their Tribal Environmental Policy Ordinance and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may use the EIS to support its decision under the Endangered Species Act. Authority: This notice is published pursuant to 40 CFR 1506.10(a) of the Council of Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR part 1500 et seq.) and 43 CFR 46.305 of the Department of Interior Regulations (43 CFR part 46), the procedural requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.), and is in accordance with the exercise of authority delegated to the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs by 209 DM 8. Dated: March 9, 2012. Larry Echo Hawk, Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs. [FR Doc. 2012–6203 Filed 3–15–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–W7–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLUTG01100–12–L13110000–EJ0000] Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Gasco Energy Inc. Uinta Basin Natural Gas Development Project, Uintah County, UT AGENCY: Salt Lake Meridian, Utah T. 9 S., R. 15–19 E. T. 10 S., R. 14–19 E. T. 11 S., R. 15–18 E. Bureau of Land Management, Interior. Notice of Availability. ACTION: Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, and associated regulations, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that evaluates, analyzes, and discloses to the public anticipated impacts of the Gasco Energy Inc. proposal to develop natural gas leases in Uintah and Duchesne Counties, Utah. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:10 Mar 15, 2012 Jkt 226001 This notice announces a 30-day availability period prior to preparation of a Record of Decision (ROD). DATES: A ROD may be issued 30 calendar days following the date on which the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability of the Final EIS in the Federal Register. ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final EIS have been sent to affected Federal, state, and local government agencies and other stakeholders. Copies of the Final EIS are available for public inspection at the BLM Vernal Field Office, 170 South 500 East, Vernal, Utah, and at the following Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/ fo/vernal/planning/nepa_.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Howard, Environmental Coordinator; 435–781–4400; 170 South 500 East, Vernal, Utah, 84078; email: BLM_UT_Vernal_Comments@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 BLM prepared the Final EIS in response to Gasco’s proposal to explore and develop their Federal oil and gas leases. The Final EIS analysis allows the BLM to choose a course of action that fulfills its responsibilities under Federal laws when future plans and applications related to this proposal or in the project area are received. The Gasco Project Area encompasses 206,826 acres in Uintah and Duchesne Counties within the following townships. Under the Proposed Action (Alternative A), Gasco Energy Inc. would develop their existing oil and gas leases by drilling 1,491 wells from the same number of well pads over a period of 15 years, and by constructing 143 acres of evaporative ponds to dispose of produced water. The Proposed Action would result in approximately 7,584 acres of surface disturbance (about 4 percent of the total project area). In response to the Proposed Action (Alternative A), the BLM published a Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS in the Federal Register on February 10, 2006 [71 FR 7059]. The BLM used the resulting scoping comments to help PO 00000 Frm 00079 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 15795 identify impacts expected as a result of the proposed action, and to develop Alternatives B through E. The BLM held a 90-day public comment period for the Draft EIS from October 1, 2010 through December 30, 2010, as announced through the Federal Register.Public comments focused on impacts to cultural resources within Nine Mile Canyon, the Green River and associated recreation activities, 100-year floodplains and endangered fish critical habitat, water quality (surface and ground), air quality, lands with wilderness characteristics, and valid existing lease rights. No single alternative in the Draft EIS (Alternatives A through E) adequately addressed the concerns raised, so the BLM, in close coordination with the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), used attributes of all five alternatives to create a new alternative, Alternative F. All aspects of Alternative F are contained entirely within the range of alternatives analyzed in the Draft EIS, so a determination was made that preparation of a Supplement to the Draft EIS was not necessary. Under Alternative F, the Agency Preferred Alternative, up to 1,298 new gas wells would be drilled from 575 well pads over a period of 15 years, resulting in approximately 3,604 acres of disturbance (about 2 percent of the total project area). Water evaporation facilities were reduced to 78 acres. This is adequate for the first 5 years of the project while other disposal options are developed and implemented. The BLM also incorporated the measures to minimize impacts to resources, while allowing for the development of valid existing rights. No surface disturbance would occur below the rim of Nine Mile Canyon, within one-half mile of the Green River, in 100-year floodplains, or endangered fish critical habitat. A Programmatic Agreement (PA) was prepared in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act to address potential cultural resource impacts. A water monitoring plan was developed to address water quality impacts. Extensive applicant-committed measures, including an adaptive management strategy, were developed or refined to minimize air quality impacts. Directional drilling was also incorporated to the maximum extent possible. The BLM prepared the Final EIS in coordination with the FWS and EPA as described above, and in coordination with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Uintah and Duchesne Counties, who participated as cooperating agencies E:\FR\FM\16MRN1.SGM 16MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 52 (Friday, March 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15794-15795]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6203]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed KRoad Moapa 
Solar Generation Facility, Clark County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs (BIA) as the lead Federal agency, with the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), United States 
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians 
(Tribe) as Cooperating Agencies, has prepared a Final Environmental 
Impact Statement (FEIS) for the proposed KRoad Moapa Solar Generation 
Facility on the Moapa River Indian Reservation (Reservation) in Clark 
County, Nevada. This notice also announces the FEIS is now available on 
a public Web site and in hard copy at the addresses below.

DATES: The Record of Decision (ROD) on the proposed action will be 
issued no sooner than 30 days after the release of the FEIS.

ADDRESSES: You may request a hard copy by writing or contacting Ms. Amy 
Heuslein, Regional Environmental Protection Officer, BIA Western 
Regional Office Branch of Environmental Quality Services, 2600 North 
Central Avenue, 4th Floor Mail Room, Phoenix, Arizona 85004-3008; 
telephone (602) 379-6750; fax (602) 379-3833; email: 
amy.heuslein@bia.gov. The DEIS may be found on the following Web site: 
https://projects2.pirnie.com/MoapaSolar/. Hard copies of the document 
will be available at the BIA Western Regional Office, 2600 North 
Central Avenue, 12th Floor, Suite 210, Phoenix, Arizona; the BIA 
Southern Paiute Agency, 180 North 200 East, Suite 111, St. George, 
Utah; and BLM Southern Nevada District Office, 4701 N. Torrey Pines 
Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89130.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Heuslein or Garry Cantley, BIA 
Western Regional Office, Branch of Environmental Quality Services, 2600 
North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004-3008, telephone number 
(602) 379-6750.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: KRoad Moapa Solar LLC (KRoad) is proposing 
to construct a 350 megawatt (MW) solar generation facility and 
associated infrastructure on the Tribe's reservation; develop a 12 kV 
transmission line and water line; and obtain two rights-of-way (ROWs) 
grants for an up to 500 kV transmission line and access road on BLM 
land and within a BLM-administered utility corridor. The Proposed 
Project would provide land lease income, sustainable renewable 
resources, new jobs, and other benefits for the Tribe by using solar 
resources from reservation lands where exposure to levels of high solar 
radiation exists. The Proposed Project would also assist utilities in 
meeting their renewable energy goals, by providing electricity 
generated from solar resources from tribal lands that may be 
efficiently connected to existing transmission lines in a manner that 
minimizes adverse site impacts.
    The BIA's purpose and need for the proposed Federal action is to 
respond to the proposed solar energy ground lease and other agreements 
entered into by the Tribe with KRoad, and the approval of ROWs for 
KRoad to construct, operate, and maintain an up to 350 MW solar 
photovoltaic electricity generating

[[Page 15795]]

facility on the reservation. The BLM's purpose and need for the 
proposed Federal action also would be to respond to KRoad's application 
for an up to 500 kV transmission line and access road ROWs within an 
existing utility corridor, of which 5 miles are located on the 
reservation and 0.5 miles is located on BLM land just south of the 
reservation boundary, pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act and BLM's ROWs regulations. The BIA and BLM will adopt 
the EIS to make decisions on the land lease and ROW application under 
their jurisdiction while the EPA and USACE may adopt the document to 
make decisions under their authorities. The Tribe may also use the EIS 
to make decisions under their Tribal Environmental Policy Ordinance and 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may use the EIS to support its 
decision under the Endangered Species Act.

    Authority:  This notice is published pursuant to 40 CFR 
1506.10(a) of the Council of Environmental Quality Regulations (40 
CFR part 1500 et seq.) and 43 CFR 46.305 of the Department of 
Interior Regulations (43 CFR part 46), the procedural requirements 
of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 
U.S.C. 4371 et seq.), and is in accordance with the exercise of 
authority delegated to the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs by 
209 DM 8.

    Dated: March 9, 2012.
Larry Echo Hawk,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2012-6203 Filed 3-15-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-W7-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.