Notice of Availability of the Alta East Wind Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report and Proposed California Desert Conservation Area Plan Amendment, Kern County, CA, 38823-38824 [2012-16005]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 126 / Friday, June 29, 2012 / Notices transmission line and access road ROW’s within an existing BLM administered utility corridor, of which five 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 ROW regulations. The transmission corridor and access road ROW will be approximately 150 feet wide by approximately 5.5 miles long, for approximately 100 acres. The transmission line and access road supports the KRoad solar project by providing access to the transmission grid. The Final EIS analyzed three alternatives: The Proposed Action, Alternative I; Reduced Solar Facility Footprint and Alternative 500kV Transmission line; and the No Action Alternative. These alternatives were shaped in part by comments received from the public and internal BLM, BIA, and Tribal review. The BLM Proposed Action (Selected Alternative) includes an up to 500kV transmission line ROW and parallel access road. The transmission line is approximately 5.5 miles long, with five miles being within the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians reservation (Pub. L. 96– 491) in a BLM administered utility corridor, and the remaining half mile on BLM lands. The transmission line ROW would be approximately 5.5 miles long by 150 feet wide and encompass approximately 100 acres. The access road ROW will be within the transmission line ROW foot print and will be approximately 16–24 feet wide and approximately 5.5 miles long. The transmission line and access road provide access to the Crystal substation operated by NV Energy. The No Action Alternative assumed the BLM ROW’s would not be issued. The NOA (77 FR 15750) for the Final EIS, was published in the Federal Register by the EPA on March 16, 2012. The publication of the NOA for the Final EIS initiated a 30-day review period on the Final EIS. The comment period ended on April 16, 2012. The BLM and the BIA received two letters as a result of the NOA. The BLM and the BIA determined that there were no significant new information presented in the letters that would require reissuance of the Draft or Final EIS. A final response comment table is attached to the ROD as (Attachment B). Because the Record of Decision was approved by the Secretary of the Interior, it is not subject to administrative appeal (43 CFR 4.410(a)(3)). VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:52 Jun 28, 2012 Jkt 226001 Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6 and 1506.10. Michael J. Pool, Acting Director, Bureau of Land Management. [FR Doc. 2012–16011 Filed 6–28–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CACA–052537, LLCAD05000, L51010000.FX0000, LVRWB11B4520] Notice of Availability of the Alta East Wind Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report and Proposed California Desert Conservation Area Plan Amendment, Kern County, CA AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Kern County, California, have prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/ Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and a Draft California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan Amendment (PA) for the Alta East Wind Project (AEWP), and by this notice the BLM is announcing the opening of the comment period. DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Draft EIS/EIR/ PA 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 AEWP by any of the following methods: • Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/ en/fo/ridgecrest/ alta_east_wind_project.html. • Email: altaeast@blm.gov. • Fax: 951 697–5299. • Mail: ATTN: Jeffery Childers, Project Manager, BLM California Desert District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, California 92553–9046. Copies of the Draft EIS/EIR/PA are available in the California Desert District Office at the above address, in the BLM Ridgecrest Field Office, 300 S. Richmond Road, Ridgecrest, California PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 38823 93555, and on the BLM Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/ cdd.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have your name added to our mailing list, contact Jeffery Childers, telephone 951 697– 5308; address BLM California Desert District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, California 92553–9046; email jchilders@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: Alta Windpower Development, LLC (AWD) has requested a right-of-way (ROW) authorization to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission the AEWP. The Project would be located on about 3,200 acres on the north and south sides of State Route 58 in southeastern Kern County, California. The project area is approximately 3 miles northwest of the town of Mojave and approximately 11 miles east of the city of Tehachapi. The proposed project would include up to 106 wind turbines, access roads, energy collection lines, and ancillary facilities on 3,200 acres, of which 2,083 acres are on public land under the jurisdiction of the BLM and 1,117 acres are on private land under the jurisdiction of Kern County. The Project could produce up to 318 Megawatts (mW). The BLM’s purpose and need for the AEWP is to respond to AWD’s application for a ROW grant to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission a wind energy facility on public lands in compliance with FLPMA, BLM ROW regulations, and other applicable Federal laws. The BLM will decide whether to grant, grant with modification, or deny a ROW to AWD for the proposed AEWP. The BLM is also proposing to amend the CDCA Plan by designating the project area as either available or unavailable for wind energy projects. The CDCA Plan (1980, as amended), while recognizing the potential compatibility of wind energy generation facilities with other uses on public lands, requires that all sites proposed for power generation or transmission not already identified in the Plan be considered through the plan amendment process. If the BLM decides to grant a ROW for this project, the CDCA Plan would be amended as required. E:\FR\FM\29JNN1.SGM 29JNN1 38824 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 126 / Friday, June 29, 2012 / Notices mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES In addition to the proposed action and a no action alternative, the BLM is analyzing a reconfigured site layout alternative with up to 106 turbines, an alternative that would allow up to 97 turbines, and an alternative that would allow up to 87 turbines. The Draft EIS/ EIR/PA also analyzes two no-project alternatives that would deny a ROW for the project but amend the CDCA Plan to find the project area either (1) available for future wind energy generation projects; or (2) unavailable for future wind energy generation projects. The Draft EIS/EIR/PA evaluates the potential impacts of the proposed AEWP on air quality and greenhouse gas emissions, biological resources including Golden Eagles and California Condors, special status species, cultural resources, geology and soils, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, land use, noise, recreation, traffic, visual resources, wilderness characteristics, cumulative effects, and areas with high potential for renewable energy development. A Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS/ EIR/PA for the AEWP was published in the Federal Register on July 15, 2011 (FR 41817–41819). The BLM held one joint public scoping meeting with Kern County in Mojave on August 4, 2011. The formal scoping period ended on August 16, 2011. 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 at the above address during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 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 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, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2. Thomas Pogacnik, Deputy State Director, California. [FR Doc. 2012–16005 Filed 6–28–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–40–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management National Park Service [COF000–LLCOF00000–L19900000–XZ0000] Notice of Meeting, Front Range Resource Advisory Council Winter Use Plan, Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Yellowstone National Park AGENCY: AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. SUMMARY: 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) Front Range Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will meet as indicated below. DATES: The meeting will be held on August 8, 2012, from 9:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ADDRESSES: Bank of the West, 146 G. Street, Salida, Colorado 81201. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denise Adamic, Front Range RAC Coordinator, BLM Royal Gorge Field ˜ Office, 3028 E. Main St., Canon City, CO 81212. Phone: (719) 269–8553. Email: dadamic@blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 15member Council advises the Secretary of the Interior, through the BLM, on a variety of planning and management issues associated with public land management in the BLM Front Range District, which includes the Royal Gorge Field Office (RGFO) and the San Luis Valley Field Office. Planned topics of discussion items include: Field Manager updates as well as recreation and resource management issues at the Cache Creek Placer Mining Area. There will be an afternoon field trip to Cache Creek. The public is encouraged to make oral comments to the Council at 9:45 a.m. or written statements may be submitted for the Council’s consideration. Summary minutes for the RAC meetings will be maintained in the RGFO and will be available for public inspection and reproduction during regular business hours within thirty (30) days following the meeting. Previous meeting minutes and agendas are available at: www.blm.gov/co/st/en/ BLM_Resources/racs/frrac/ co_rac_minutes_front.html. Helen M. Hankins, State Director. [FR Doc. 2012–15980 Filed 6–28–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:52 Jun 28, 2012 Jkt 226001 [2310–0070–422] PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 National Park Service, Interior. Notice of Availability of the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Winter Use Plan, Yellowstone National Park. ACTION: SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Draft SEIS) for a Winter Use Plan for Yellowstone National Park, located in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. DATES: The National Park Service will accept comments from the public for 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability. The NPS intends to hold public meetings in Jackson, WY on July 16, 2012; West Yellowstone, MT on July 17, 2012; Bozeman, MT on July 18, 2012; and Cody, WY on July 19, 2012. Additional details regarding the public meeting locations and times can be found at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ YELL (click on the link to the 2012 Supplemental Winter Use Plan EIS, and then on the Meeting Notices link). More information regarding Yellowstone in the winter, including educational materials and a detailed history of winter use in Yellowstone, is available at https://www.nps.gov/yell/ planvisit/winteruse/index.htm. ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public review and comment online at https:// parkplanning.nps.gov/YELL (click on the link to the 2012 Supplemental Winter Use Plan EIS), and at Yellowstone National Park headquarters, Mammoth Hot Springs, WY. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wade Vagias, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, (307) 344– 2035. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Four alternatives are considered in the Draft SEIS. Alternative 1, the no-action alternative, would not permit public over-snow vehicle (OSV) use in Yellowstone but would allow for approved non-motorized use to continue. Alternative 1 has been identified as the environmentally preferable alternative. Alternative 2 E:\FR\FM\29JNN1.SGM 29JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 126 (Friday, June 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38823-38824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16005]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CACA-052537, LLCAD05000, L51010000.FX0000, LVRWB11B4520]


Notice of Availability of the Alta East Wind Project Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report and Proposed 
California Desert Conservation Area Plan Amendment, Kern County, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Kern 
County, California, have prepared a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS)/Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and a Draft 
California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan Amendment (PA) for the 
Alta East Wind Project (AEWP), and by this notice the BLM is announcing 
the opening of the comment period.

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the Draft EIS/EIR/PA 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 AEWP by any of the 
following methods:
     Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/ridgecrest/alta_east_wind_project.html.
     Email: altaeast@blm.gov.
     Fax: 951 697-5299.
     Mail: ATTN: Jeffery Childers, Project Manager, BLM 
California Desert District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, 
Moreno Valley, California 92553-9046.
    Copies of the Draft EIS/EIR/PA are available in the California 
Desert District Office at the above address, in the BLM Ridgecrest 
Field Office, 300 S. Richmond Road, Ridgecrest, California 93555, and 
on the BLM Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Jeffery Childers, 
telephone 951 697-5308; address BLM California Desert District Office, 
22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, California 92553-
9046; email jchilders@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: Alta Windpower Development, LLC (AWD) has 
requested a right-of-way (ROW) authorization to construct, operate, 
maintain, and decommission the AEWP. The Project would be located on 
about 3,200 acres on the north and south sides of State Route 58 in 
southeastern Kern County, California. The project area is approximately 
3 miles northwest of the town of Mojave and approximately 11 miles east 
of the city of Tehachapi. The proposed project would include up to 106 
wind turbines, access roads, energy collection lines, and ancillary 
facilities on 3,200 acres, of which 2,083 acres are on public land 
under the jurisdiction of the BLM and 1,117 acres are on private land 
under the jurisdiction of Kern County. The Project could produce up to 
318 Megawatts (mW).
    The BLM's purpose and need for the AEWP is to respond to AWD's 
application for a ROW grant to construct, operate, maintain, and 
decommission a wind energy facility on public lands in compliance with 
FLPMA, BLM ROW regulations, and other applicable Federal laws. The BLM 
will decide whether to grant, grant with modification, or deny a ROW to 
AWD for the proposed AEWP. The BLM is also proposing to amend the CDCA 
Plan by designating the project area as either available or unavailable 
for wind energy projects. The CDCA Plan (1980, as amended), while 
recognizing the potential compatibility of wind energy generation 
facilities with other uses on public lands, requires that all sites 
proposed for power generation or transmission not already identified in 
the Plan be considered through the plan amendment process. If the BLM 
decides to grant a ROW for this project, the CDCA Plan would be amended 
as required.

[[Page 38824]]

    In addition to the proposed action and a no action alternative, the 
BLM is analyzing a reconfigured site layout alternative with up to 106 
turbines, an alternative that would allow up to 97 turbines, and an 
alternative that would allow up to 87 turbines. The Draft EIS/EIR/PA 
also analyzes two no-project alternatives that would deny a ROW for the 
project but amend the CDCA Plan to find the project area either (1) 
available for future wind energy generation projects; or (2) 
unavailable for future wind energy generation projects.
    The Draft EIS/EIR/PA evaluates the potential impacts of the 
proposed AEWP on air quality and greenhouse gas emissions, biological 
resources including Golden Eagles and California Condors, special 
status species, cultural resources, geology and soils, hazards and 
hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, land use, noise, 
recreation, traffic, visual resources, wilderness characteristics, 
cumulative effects, and areas with high potential for renewable energy 
development.
    A Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS/EIR/PA for the AEWP was 
published in the Federal Register on July 15, 2011 (FR 41817-41819). 
The BLM held one joint public scoping meeting with Kern County in 
Mojave on August 4, 2011. The formal scoping period ended on August 16, 
2011.
    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 at the above 
address during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 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 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, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2.

Thomas Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director, California.
[FR Doc. 2012-16005 Filed 6-28-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P
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