Impact Report for the Proposed Stateline Solar Farm, San Bernardino County, CA and Draft California Desert Conservation Area Land Use Plan Amendments, 70182-70183 [2012-28392]

Download as PDF 70182 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 226 / Friday, November 23, 2012 / Notices Housing Assistance and Grant Administration, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Room 6134, Washington, DC, 20410– 4000, telephone number 202–708–3000 (this is not a toll-free number). Persons with hearing- or speech-impairments may access this number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at 800–877–8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 4, 2012 (77 FR 60712), HUD published a notice in the Federal Register requesting information from the general public, PHAs, owners and management agents, public housing residents, multifamily housing residents and other stakeholders to help inform HUD on how it might best support housing providers and residents in implementing smoke-free policies for both public housing and multifamily housing. In the October 4, 2012 notice, HUD provided a list of topics for which HUD is seeking information and established a comment due date of November 5, 2012. In response to recent requests for additional time to submit public comments, HUD is announcing through this notice that it is reopening the public comment period for an additional 60-day period. Interested persons should refer to the October 4, 2012 notice for the list of topics to which HUD is seeking information. Dated: November 19, 2012. Aaron Santa Anna, Assistant General Counsel, Regulations Division, Office of General Counsel. [FR Doc. 2012–28519 Filed 11–21–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210–67–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR United States Geological Survey [GX13EN05ESB0500] Reopening of Nomination Period for Members of the Advisory Committee on Climate Change and Natural Resource Science U.S. Geological Survey, Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The U.S. Department of the Interior published a notice announcing the establishment of the Advisory Committee on Climate Change and Natural Resource Science (Committee), and inviting nominations for membership on the Committee. The closing date for nominations was November 19, 2012. This Federal Register Notice reopens the nomination mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:03 Nov 21, 2012 Jkt 229001 and comment period for 30 days. If you have already submitted information to be considered for appointment to the Committee you do not have to resubmit it. DATES: Written nominations must be received by December 24, 2012. ADDRESSES: Send nominations to: Robin O’Malley, Policy and Partnership Coordinator, National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Mail Stop 400, Reston, VA 20192, romalley@usgs.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robin O’Malley, Policy and Partnership Coordinator, National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Mail Stop 400, Reston, VA 20192, romalley@usgs.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 4, 2012, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) published a notice announcing the establishment of the Advisory Committee on Climate Change and Natural Resource Science (Committee), and inviting nominations for membership on the committee. The Committee will provide advice on matters and actions relating to the establishment and operations of the U.S. Geological Survey National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center and the DOI Climate Science Centers. In doing so, the Committee will obtain input from Federal, state, tribal, local government, nongovernmental organizations, private sector entities, and academic institutions. The Department has determined that additional time is required to enable members to be nominated for the committee. We are seeking nominations for individuals to be considered as Committee members. Nominations should include a resume that describes the nominee’s qualifications in enough detail to enable us to make an informed decision regarding meeting the membership requirements of the Committee and to contact a potential member. Members of the Committee will be composed of approximately 25 members from both the Federal Government, and the following interests: (1) State and local governments, including state membership entities; (2) Nongovernmental organizations, including those whose primary mission is professional and scientific and those whose primary mission is conservation and related scientific and advocacy activities; (3) American Indian tribes and other Native American entities; (4) PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Academia; (5) Individual landowners; and (6) Business interests. In addition, the Committee may include scientific experts, and will include rotating representation from one or more of the institutions that host the DOI Climate Science Centers. The Committee will meet approximately 2–4 times annually, and at such times as designated by the DFO. The Secretary of the Interior will appoint members to the Committee. Members appointed as special Government employees are required to file on an annual basis a confidential financial disclosure report. No individual who is currently registered as a Federal lobbyist is eligible to serve as a member of the Committee. Dated: November 16, 2012. Marcia McNutt, Director, USGS. [FR Doc. 2012–28414 Filed 11–21–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4311–MP–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLCAD09000, L51010000.LVRWB09B2380.FX0000] Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Stateline Solar Farm, San Bernardino County, CA and Draft California Desert Conservation Area Land Use Plan Amendments Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: 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) has prepared a Draft California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan Amendment and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the Stateline Solar Farm Project (Stateline) and by this notice 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 Plan Amendment and Draft EIS/EIR 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 SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\23NON1.SGM 23NON1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 226 / Friday, November 23, 2012 / Notices activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Stateline Draft Plan Amendment and Draft EIS/EIR by any of the following methods: • Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/ en/fo/cdd.html. • Email: statelinesolar@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 Copies of the Stateline Draft Plan Amendment and Draft EIS/EIR are available for public inspection at BLM California Desert District Office at the above address; or on the Internet at https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/ cdd.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffery Childers, Project Manager; telephone 951–697–5308; address BLM California Desert District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 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: First Solar Development, Inc. (First Solar) has requested a right-of-way (ROW) authorization to construct, operate, maintain and decommission the 300megawatt (MW) Stateline Project from the BLM and a separate well permit from the County of San Bernardino. The BLM is responding to the ROW application as required by FLPMA. The proposed project located on BLMadministered lands would include access roads, a photovoltaic arrays, an electrical substation, a meteorological station, a monitoring and maintenance facility, water wells, and a 2.3-mile generation tie-line on up to 2,143 acres. The project location is in San Bernardino County approximately 2 miles south of the Nevada-California border and 0.5 miles west of Interstate 15. The BLM’s purpose and need for the Stateline EIS/EIR is to respond to First Solar’s application for a ROW grant to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission a photovoltaic solar energy facility on public lands in compliance with FLPMA, BLM ROW VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:03 Nov 21, 2012 Jkt 229001 regulations, and other applicable Federal laws. The BLM will decide whether to grant, grant with modification, or deny a ROW to First Solar. In connection with its consideration of the Stateline ROW application, the BLM is proposing to amend the CDCA Plan by designating the project area as either suitable or unsuitable for solar energy development. The CDCA Plan (1980, as amended), recognized the potential compatibility of solar energy generation facilities with other uses on public lands; however, it requires that all sites proposed for power generation or transmission not already identified in the plan be considered through the plan amendment process. While connected, the decision to amend the CDCA plan is separate from the decision to approve the ROW application. As part of its consideration of project impacts, the BLM may also amend the CDCA Plan to address cumulative impacts of this and other developments in the Ivanpah Valley watershed. Specifically, the BLM will consider whether to expand the boundaries of the Ivanpah Desert Wildlife Management Area (DWMA). The Draft Plan Amendment and Draft EIS/EIR analyze four project development alternatives, including the proposed action, which is analyzed as Alternative 1: 300 MWs of development on 2,143 acres. The other alternatives include—Alternative 2: 300 MWs of development on 2,385 acres; Alternative 3: 300 MWs of development on 2,151 acres; and Alternative 4: 232 MWs of development on 1,766 acres. In addition to project-related impacts, all project development alternatives analyze potential expansion of the current boundaries of the Ivanpah DWMA. The management prescriptions for the Ivanpah DWMA are defined in Appendix A, Section A.2, of the Northern and Eastern Mojave Desert Management Plan Amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area Plan (July 2002). If the DWMA is expanded, these management prescriptions will be applied to the expansion. The Draft Plan Amendment and Draft EIS/EIR also analyze three No Project alternatives—Alternative 5: No Action; Alternative 6: No Project and amendment of the CDCA Plan to find the Project area unsuitable for solar development; and Alternative 7: No Project and amendment of the CDCA Plan to find the Project area suitable for solar development. The Draft Plan Amendment and EIS/ EIR evaluate the potential impacts of the proposed Stateline on air quality and greenhouse gas emissions, biological PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 70183 resources, cultural resources, special status species, geology and soils, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, land use, noise, recreation, traffic, visual resources, lands with wilderness characteristics, cumulative effects and areas with high potential for renewable energy development. A Notice of Intent to Prepare a Draft Plan Amendment and EIS/EIR for the Stateline Project was published in the Federal Register on August 4, 2011 (76 FR 47235). The BLM held one joint public scoping meeting with San Bernardino County at the Primm Valley Golf Course on August 31, 2011. The formal scoping period ended on September 6, 2011. Please note that public comments will be available for public review at the above address 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 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, Natural Resources. [FR Doc. 2012–28392 Filed 11–21–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–40–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS–NER–BOHA–11636; 1727 SZS] Notice of Meeting for Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area Advisory Council National Park Service, Interior. Notice of meeting. AGENCY: ACTION: Under section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) the National Park Service (NPS) is hereby giving notice that the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area Advisory Council will hold a meeting. This meeting is open to the public. Topics to be discussed include a report from the Council’s environmental interest group, a summer review of park operations, activation of the nominating committee, and public SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\23NON1.SGM 23NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 226 (Friday, November 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70182-70183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28392]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCAD09000, L51010000.LVRWB09B2380.FX0000] Notice of Availability of a 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental


Impact Report for the Proposed Stateline Solar Farm, San 
Bernardino County, CA and Draft California Desert Conservation Area 
Land Use Plan Amendments

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) has 
prepared a Draft California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan 
Amendment and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental 
Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the Stateline Solar Farm Project 
(Stateline) and by this notice 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 Plan Amendment and Draft EIS/EIR 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

[[Page 70183]]

activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media 
releases, and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Stateline Draft Plan 
Amendment and Draft EIS/EIR by any of the following methods:
     Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd.html.
     Email: statelinesolar@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
    Copies of the Stateline Draft Plan Amendment and Draft EIS/EIR are 
available for public inspection at BLM California Desert District 
Office at the above address; or on the Internet at https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffery Childers, Project Manager; 
telephone 951-697-5308; address BLM California Desert District Office, 
22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 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: First Solar Development, Inc. (First Solar) 
has requested a right-of-way (ROW) authorization to construct, operate, 
maintain and decommission the 300-megawatt (MW) Stateline Project from 
the BLM and a separate well permit from the County of San Bernardino. 
The BLM is responding to the ROW application as required by FLPMA. The 
proposed project located on BLM-administered lands would include access 
roads, a photovoltaic arrays, an electrical substation, a 
meteorological station, a monitoring and maintenance facility, water 
wells, and a 2.3-mile generation tie-line on up to 2,143 acres. The 
project location is in San Bernardino County approximately 2 miles 
south of the Nevada-California border and 0.5 miles west of Interstate 
15.
    The BLM's purpose and need for the Stateline EIS/EIR is to respond 
to First Solar's application for a ROW grant to construct, operate, 
maintain, and decommission a photovoltaic solar 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 First Solar. In connection with its 
consideration of the Stateline ROW application, the BLM is proposing to 
amend the CDCA Plan by designating the project area as either suitable 
or unsuitable for solar energy development. The CDCA Plan (1980, as 
amended), recognized the potential compatibility of solar energy 
generation facilities with other uses on public lands; however, it 
requires that all sites proposed for power generation or transmission 
not already identified in the plan be considered through the plan 
amendment process. While connected, the decision to amend the CDCA plan 
is separate from the decision to approve the ROW application. As part 
of its consideration of project impacts, the BLM may also amend the 
CDCA Plan to address cumulative impacts of this and other developments 
in the Ivanpah Valley watershed. Specifically, the BLM will consider 
whether to expand the boundaries of the Ivanpah Desert Wildlife 
Management Area (DWMA).
    The Draft Plan Amendment and Draft EIS/EIR analyze four project 
development alternatives, including the proposed action, which is 
analyzed as Alternative 1: 300 MWs of development on 2,143 acres. The 
other alternatives include--Alternative 2: 300 MWs of development on 
2,385 acres; Alternative 3: 300 MWs of development on 2,151 acres; and 
Alternative 4: 232 MWs of development on 1,766 acres. In addition to 
project-related impacts, all project development alternatives analyze 
potential expansion of the current boundaries of the Ivanpah DWMA. The 
management prescriptions for the Ivanpah DWMA are defined in Appendix 
A, Section A.2, of the Northern and Eastern Mojave Desert Management 
Plan Amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area Plan (July 
2002). If the DWMA is expanded, these management prescriptions will be 
applied to the expansion.
    The Draft Plan Amendment and Draft EIS/EIR also analyze three No 
Project alternatives--Alternative 5: No Action; Alternative 6: No 
Project and amendment of the CDCA Plan to find the Project area 
unsuitable for solar development; and Alternative 7: No Project and 
amendment of the CDCA Plan to find the Project area suitable for solar 
development.
    The Draft Plan Amendment and EIS/EIR evaluate the potential impacts 
of the proposed Stateline on air quality and greenhouse gas emissions, 
biological resources, cultural resources, special status species, 
geology and soils, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water 
quality, land use, noise, recreation, traffic, visual resources, lands 
with wilderness characteristics, cumulative effects and areas with high 
potential for renewable energy development.
    A Notice of Intent to Prepare a Draft Plan Amendment and EIS/EIR 
for the Stateline Project was published in the Federal Register on 
August 4, 2011 (76 FR 47235). The BLM held one joint public scoping 
meeting with San Bernardino County at the Primm Valley Golf Course on 
August 31, 2011. The formal scoping period ended on September 6, 2011.
    Please note that public comments will be available for public 
review at the above address 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 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, Natural Resources.
[FR Doc. 2012-28392 Filed 11-21-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P
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