Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, a Possible Land Use Plan Amendment, and a Public Lands Segregation for the Proposed Soda Mountain Solar Project, CA, 64824-64825 [2012-26046]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 205 (Tuesday, October 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64824-64825]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26046]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CACA 049584, L51010000.FX0000.LVRWB09B3130]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, a 
Possible Land Use Plan Amendment, and a Public Lands Segregation for 
the Proposed Soda Mountain Solar Project, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), 
together with San Bernardino County, intend to prepare a joint 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Environmental Impact Report (EIR), 
which may include an amendment to the California Desert Conservation 
Area (CDCA) Plan, for the Soda Mountain Solar Project (Project). By 
this notice, the BLM is announcing the beginning of the scoping process 
to solicit public comments and identify issues related to the EIS/Plan 
Amendment (PA).

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS/
EIR/PA. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until November 
23, 2012. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be 
announced at least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers, 
and the BLM Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd.html. In 
order to be included in the analysis, all comments must be received 
prior to the close of the 30-day scoping period or 15 days after the 
last public meeting, whichever is later. We will provide additional 
opportunities for public participation as appropriate.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 
related to the Soda Mountain Solar Project by any of the following 
methods:
     Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd.html.
     Email: Sodamtnsolar@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, CA 92553-9046.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the BLM 
California Desert District Office at the above address.

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: The applicant, Soda Mountain Solar, LLC, has 
requested a right-of-way (ROW) authorization to construct, operate, 
maintain and decommission a maximum 350 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic 
facility and necessary ancillary facilities, including a project 
substation, access road, realignment of an existing designated route 
(Rasor Road), operations and maintenance buildings, and lay down areas. 
The project is proposed on 4,397 acres with the solar field occupying 
approximately 2,691 acres. This Notice informs the public that the BLM 
intends to prepare a Draft CDCA Plan amendment and associated EIS/EIR 
with San Bernardino County for the Project and announces the beginning 
of the scoping process to seek public input on environmental issues and 
planning criteria.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, 
including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS/
EIR. At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary 
issues: Air quality and greenhouse gas emissions; biological resources, 
including special status species, cultural resources, geology and 
soils; hazards and hazardous materials; hydrology and water quality; 
land use; noise; recreation; traffic; visual resources; cumulative 
effects; and areas with high potential for renewable energy 
development.
    You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria in writing 
to the BLM at any public scoping meeting, or you may submit them to the 
BLM using one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above. 
Comments must be received by the close of the 30-day scoping period or 
within 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later.
    Pursuant to the BLM's CDCA Plan, sites associated with power 
generation or transmission not identified in the Plan will be 
considered through the plan amendment process to determine the 
suitability of the site for renewable energy development. Since the 
proposed Project site was not previously identified as suitable, 
authorization of the Project would require amendment of the CDCA Plan. 
By this notice, the BLM is complying with requirements in 43 CFR 
1610.2(c) to notify the public of potential amendments to the CDCA Plan 
predicated on the findings in the EIS/EIR. If a land use plan amendment 
is necessary, the BLM will integrate the land use planning process with 
the NEPA process for the Project. A preliminary list of the potential 
planning criteria that will be used to help guide and define the scope 
of the plan amendment includes:
    1. The plan amendment will be completed in compliance with FLPMA, 
NEPA, and all other relevant Federal laws, executive orders, and BLM 
policies;
    2. Existing valid plan decisions will not be changed and any new 
plan decisions will not conflict with existing plan decisions; and
    3. The plan amendment(s) will recognize valid existing rights.
    Pursuant to 43 CFR 2091.3-1(e) and 43 CFR 2804.25(e), the BLM is 
segregating the following described public lands, located in the State 
of California, subject to valid existing rights, from operation of the 
public land laws and mining laws, but not the mineral leasing or the 
material sale laws.

San Bernardino Meridian

T. 12 N., R. 7 E.,
    Sec. 1, unsurveyed;
    Sec. 2, unsurveyed;
    Sec. 11, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\;NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\NW\1/4\, and 
SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 12, unsurveyed;
    Sec. 13, unsurveyed;
    Sec. 14, N\1/2\NE\1/4\.
T.13 N., R. 7 E.,
    Sec. 25, unsurveyed;
    Sec. 36, NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, and S\1/2\;.

[[Page 64825]]

T. 12 N., R. 8 E.,
    Sec. 6, unsurveyed;
    Sec. 7, unsurveyed;
    Sec. 18, unsurveyed.
T. 13 N., R. 8 E.,
    Sec. 17, unsurveyed;
    Sec. 18, unsurveyed;
    Sec. 19, unsurveyed;
    Sec. 20, unsurveyed;
    Sec. 30, unsurveyed;
    Sec. 31, unsurveyed.
    Containing 9,662 acres, more or less, in San Bernardino County, 
California.

    In order to process the ROW application filed on the above 
described lands and continue to maintain the status quo, the BLM is 
segregating the above-described lands for a period of 2 years, subject 
to valid existing rights. The BLM has determined that this segregation 
is necessary for the orderly administration of the public lands.
    The segregation period will terminate upon the date that is the 
earliest of the following: (1) The BLM issues a decision granting, 
granting with modifications, or denying the ROW application for the 
solar energy generation proposal; (2) Publication of a Federal Register 
notice of termination of the segregation; or (3) Automatically at the 
end of the segregation period provided for herein, without further 
administrative action by the BLM. The segregation made under this 
authority is effective only for a period of up to 2 years, without the 
possibility of extension.
    The BLM will use the NEPA public participation requirements to 
assist the agency in satisfying the public involvement requirements 
under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 
U.S.C. 470(f)) as provided for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). The information 
about historic and cultural resources within the area potentially 
affected by the proposed Project and CDCA Plan amendment will assist 
the BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources in the 
context of both NEPA and Section 106 of the NHPA.
    The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other 
policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and 
potential impacts to cultural resources, will be given due 
consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with tribes 
and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the 
proposed action that the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate 
in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be asked by the 
BLM to participate in the development of the environmental analysis as 
a cooperating agency.
    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.
    The BLM will evaluate identified issues to be addressed in the plan 
amendment, and will place them into one of three categories:
    1. Issues to be resolved in the plan amendment;
    2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action; 
or
    3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan amendment.
    The BLM will provide an explanation in the Scoping Report or the 
Draft EIS/EIR as to why an issue was placed in category two or three. 
The public is also encouraged to help identify any management questions 
and concerns that should be addressed in the plan. The BLM will work 
collaboratively with interested parties to identify the management 
decisions that are best suited to local, regional, and national needs 
and concerns.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.2, 43 CFR 2091.3-1(e), 
and 43 CFR 2804.25(e).

Thomas Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director, California.
[FR Doc. 2012-26046 Filed 10-22-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P