Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the EDF Renewable Energy Desert Harvest Solar Field Project and California Desert Conservation Area Plan Amendment, Riverside County, California, 17717-17718 [2013-06672]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 56 / Friday, March 22, 2013 / Notices
mkurtina@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.
BLM
Colorado has received two ROW
applications within two designated
Solar Energy Zones (SEZs) serialized as
COC–074761 (Los Mogotes East SEZ)
and COC–074763 (De Tilla Gulch SEZ).
Applications for solar energy
development are processed as ROW
authorizations under Title V of the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976. The regulations at 43 CFR
2804.23 authorize the BLM to determine
whether competition exists among ROW
applications filed for the same facility or
system. The regulations also allow the
BLM to resolve any such competition by
using competitive bidding procedures.
The BLM will review submissions
from interested parties in response to
this notice and determine whether
competition exists to develop solar
energy projects in the De Tilla Gulch
and Los Mogotes East SEZs. If the BLM
determines sufficient competition
exists, the BLM may use a competitive
bidding process, consistent with the
regulations, to select a preferred
applicant in one or both of the SEZs.
The first parcel is called De Tilla
Gulch SEZ, and consists of
approximately 1,064 acres of public
land within sections 29, 30, 31, 32, and
33 of T. 45 N., R. 9 E., New Mexico
Principal Meridian, Saguache County,
Colorado. This parcel lies
approximately seven miles east of the
town of Saguache, Colorado. The second
parcel is called Los Mogotes East SEZ,
and consists of approximately 2,641
acres of public land within sections 1,
12, 13, 24, and 25 of T. 34N., R. 8 E.,
New Mexico Principal Meridian,
Conejos County, Colorado. This parcel
lies three miles west of the town of
Romeo, Colorado. A map of both SEZs
can be viewed and downloaded at:
https://solareis.anl.gov/maps/index.cfm.
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: 43 CFR 2804.23.
Helen M. Hankins,
BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2013–06507 Filed 3–21–13; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[CACA–049491, LLCAD01500 L51010000
FX0000 LVRWB12B4920]
Notice of Availability of the Record of
Decision for the EDF Renewable
Energy Desert Harvest Solar Field
Project and California Desert
Conservation Area Plan Amendment,
Riverside County, California
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) announces the
availability of the Record of Decision
(ROD)/Approved Amendment to the
California Desert Conservation Area
(CDCA) Plan, for the Desert Harvest
Solar Project (DHSP), in Riverside
County, California. The Secretary of the
Interior approved the ROD on March 13,
2013, which constitutes the final
decision of the Department.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD/
Approved Amendment to the CDCA
Plan are available upon request from the
BLM Field Manager, Palm SpringsSouth Coast Field Office, 1201 Bird
Center Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262
and the BLM California Desert District
Office, 22835 Calle San Juan de Los
Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553, or via
the Internet at the following Web site:
https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/
palmsprings/Solar_Projects/
Desert_Harvest_Solar_Project.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Frank McMenimen, BLM Project
Manager, telephone 760–833–7150; mail
1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs,
California 92262; email
fmcmenimen@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: EDF
Renewable Energy (formerly enXco
Development Corporation) (Applicant)
has requested right-of-way (ROW) grant
authorization to construct, operate,
maintain, and decommission an up to
150-megawatt (MW), nominal capacity,
alternating current, solar photovoltaic
(PV) energy generation facility and
necessary ancillary facilities including
an operations and maintenance (O&M)
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17717
facility, site security, on-site substation,
switchyard, access road, and a 220kilovolt (kV) generation interconnection
line (gen-tie line). The project site is
located approximately 6 miles north of
Interstate 10 and the rural community of
Desert Center and 3 miles north of Lake
Tamarisk, between the cities of
Coachella and Blythe.
The project site is in the California
Desert District within the planning
boundary of the CDCA Plan, which is
the applicable Resource Management
Plan for the project site and the
surrounding areas. The CDCA Plan,
while recognizing the potential
compatibility of solar generation
facilities on public lands, requires that
all sites associated with power
generation or transmission not already
identified in the Plan be considered
through the BLM’s land use plan
amendment process. As a result, prior to
approval of a ROW grant to the DHSP,
the BLM must amend the CDCA Plan to
allow the solar generating project on
that site. Additionally, the CDCA Plan
also requires that transmission lines
above 161 kV be placed within a
federally designated utility corridor or
that the transmission line be specifically
allowed outside a corridor through a
plan amendment process. Since there is
no designated corridor from DHSP
generation tie-in transmission line, the
CDCA Plan must also be amended to
allow that line outside of a designated
corridor. The approved Amendment to
the CDCA Plan specifically revises the
CDCA Plan to allow for the
development of the DHSP and ancillary
facilities on land managed by the BLM.
The BLM selected alternative would
result in construction of a solar farm,
capable of generating up to 150 MW of
electricity, and is within the range of
alternatives analyzed in the Final
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
The Notice of Availability of the Final
EIS for the DHSP and proposed CDCA
Plan Amendment was published in the
Federal Register on November 2, 2012
(77 FR 66183).
Publication of the Notice of
Availability for the Final EIS and
Proposed CDCA Plan Amendment
initiated a 30-day protest period for the
proposed amendment to the CDCA Plan.
At the close of the 30-day protest
period, six protests were received and
resolved. Their resolution is
summarized in the Director’s Protest
Summary Report, available online at
https://www.blm.gov/pgdata/content/wo/
en/prog/planning/planning_overview/
protest_resolution.html. The proposed
amendment to the CDCA Plan was not
modified as a result of the protest
resolution, however, the BLM did
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17718
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 56 / Friday, March 22, 2013 / Notices
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:
Searchlight Wind Energy, LLC, (SWE) a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Duke
Energy, applied to the BLM for a rightof-way (ROW) grant on public lands to
develop a 200-megawatt (MW) wind
energy facility. The ROW application
area encompasses approximately 18,949
acres of BLM-administered public lands
adjacent to Searchlight, Nevada, about
60 miles southeast of Las Vegas, in Clark
County, Nevada. An updated inventory
of lands with wilderness characteristics
was completed and no lands with
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6.
wilderness characteritics were found
Jamie Connell,
within the project area. The area was
Acting Deputy Director, Bureau of Land
segregated from mineral entry in the
Management.
Notice of Availability of the Draft
[FR Doc. 2013–06672 Filed 3–21–13; 8:45 am]
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
BILLING CODE 4310–40–P
for the Searchlight Wind Energy Project.
In connection with the SWE proposal,
Western Area Power Administration
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
(Western) submitted a ROW application
to the BLM for construction and
Bureau of Land Management
operation of an electrical
[LLNVSO3100 L51010000 ER0000
interconnection facility/switchyard
LVRWF12F8740.241A; 13–08807; MO#
adjacent to the existing Davis-Mead
4500048381; TAS: 14X5017]
transmission line that would
interconnect the power generated from
Notice of Availability of a Record of
the wind facility to Western’s electrical
Decision for the Searchlight Wind
grid system. The Western application
Energy Project, Clark County, NV
was also analyzed as part of the
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
Searchlight Wind Energy Project
Interior.
Environmental Impact Statement. The
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
proposed project is in conformance with
the 1998 Las Vegas Resource
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land
Management Plan, pages 2–26 and 2–27
Management (BLM) announces the
and the Record of Decision, October 5,
availability of the Record of Decision
1998, pages 19 and 20.
(ROD) for the Searchlight Wind Energy
The Environmental Protection Agency
Project. The Department of the Interior
(EPA) and the BLM published the
Secretary signed the ROD on March 13,
Notice of Availability of the Draft
2013, which constitutes the final
Environmental Impact Statement
decision of the Department.
concurrently in the Federal Register (77
ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD are
FR 2979 and 77 FR 2999) on January 20,
available upon request and for public
2012, starting a 60-day comment period
inspection at the Southern Nevada
on the Draft EIS.
District Office, Bureau of Land
The EPA published the Notice of
Management, 4701 N. Torrey Pines
Availability of the Final Environmental
Drive, Las Vegas, NV, 89130 or on the
Impact Statement in the Federal
internet at https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/ Register (77 FR 74479) on December 14,
fo/lvfo/blm_programs/energy/
2012 and the BLM notice (77 FR 74865)
searchlight_wind_energy.html.
was published on December 18, 2012.
Printed and electronic copies of the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Draft EIS and Final EIS are available at
Gregory Helseth, Renewable Energy
the Southern Nevada District Office and
Project Manager, telephone 702–515–
posted on the Internet at https://
5173; address 4701 N. Torrey Pines
www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo/
Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130; email
blm_programs/energy/search
ghelseth@blm.gov. Persons who use a
light_wind_energy.html. Three
telecommunications device for the deaf
alternatives were analyzed in the EIS—
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 a 96 wind turbine layout, an 87 wind
turbine layout, and a no-action
to contact the above individual during
alternative. The 87 wind turbine
normal business hours. The FIRS is
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
provide some clarifications and
modifications to project mitigation
measures. These clarifications and
modifications were minor and do not
warrant supplementation of the Final
EIS. Simultaneously with the protest
period, the Governor of California
conducted a consistency review for the
proposed CDCA Plan Amendment to
identify any inconsistencies with State
or local plans, policies, or programs. No
inconsistencies were identified.
Because the decisions described in
the ROD are approved by the Secretary
of the Interior, they are not subject to
administrative appeal (43 CFR 4.410(a)
(3)).
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alternative is the BLM’s preferred
alternative. The BLM received 6
comment submissions during the 30-day
availability period following the release
of the Final EIS. In response to those
comments, the BLM incorporated 7
additional mitigation measures and
made minor editorial changes to clarify
language in the ROD.
The ROD approves, with all
mitigation measures identified in the
Final EIS and additional mitigation
measures identified in the ROD, the 87
wind turbine alternative, including
associated infrastructure, and the
switching station proposed by Western.
Because this decision is approved by
the Secretary of the Interior, it is not
subject to administrative appeal (43 CFR
4.410(a)(3)).
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6 and 40 CFR
1506.10.
Jamie Connell,
Acting Deputy Director for Operations Bureau
of Land Management.
[FR Doc. 2013–06673 Filed 3–21–13; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[CACA 048728, LLCAD06000,
L51010000.LVRWB09B2510.FX0000]
Notice of Availability of the Record of
Decision for the McCoy Solar Energy
Project, Riverside County, California
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) announces the
availability of the Record of Decision
(ROD) to grant a Right-of-Way (ROW)
and amend the California Desert
Conservation Area Plan (CDCA Plan) for
the McCoy Solar Energy Project (MSEP),
a photovoltaic solar electricity
generation project. The Secretary of the
Interior approved the ROD on March 13,
2013, which constitutes the final
decision of the Department.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD/
Approved Amendment to the CDCA
Plan are available upon request from the
Field Manager, Palm Springs/South
Coast Field Office 1201 Bird Center
Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262, and the
California Desert District Office, 22835
Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno
Valley, CA 92553–9046, or via the
Internet at the following Web site:
https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/
palmsprings/Solar_Projects/
McCoy.html.
E:\FR\FM\22MRN1.SGM
22MRN1
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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 56 (Friday, March 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17717-17718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06672]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[CACA-049491, LLCAD01500 L51010000 FX0000 LVRWB12B4920]
Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the EDF
Renewable Energy Desert Harvest Solar Field Project and California
Desert Conservation Area Plan Amendment, Riverside County, California
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability
of the Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved Amendment to the California
Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan, for the Desert Harvest Solar
Project (DHSP), in Riverside County, California. The Secretary of the
Interior approved the ROD on March 13, 2013, which constitutes the
final decision of the Department.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD/Approved Amendment to the CDCA Plan are
available upon request from the BLM Field Manager, Palm Springs-South
Coast Field Office, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262 and
the BLM California Desert District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan de Los
Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553, or via the Internet at the following
Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/palmsprings/Solar_Projects/Desert_Harvest_Solar_Project.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank McMenimen, BLM Project Manager,
telephone 760-833-7150; mail 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs,
California 92262; email fmcmenimen@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: EDF Renewable Energy (formerly enXco
Development Corporation) (Applicant) has requested right-of-way (ROW)
grant authorization to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission
an up to 150-megawatt (MW), nominal capacity, alternating current,
solar photovoltaic (PV) energy generation facility and necessary
ancillary facilities including an operations and maintenance (O&M)
facility, site security, on-site substation, switchyard, access road,
and a 220-kilovolt (kV) generation interconnection line (gen-tie line).
The project site is located approximately 6 miles north of Interstate
10 and the rural community of Desert Center and 3 miles north of Lake
Tamarisk, between the cities of Coachella and Blythe.
The project site is in the California Desert District within the
planning boundary of the CDCA Plan, which is the applicable Resource
Management Plan for the project site and the surrounding areas. The
CDCA Plan, while recognizing the potential compatibility of solar
generation facilities on public lands, requires that all sites
associated with power generation or transmission not already identified
in the Plan be considered through the BLM's land use plan amendment
process. As a result, prior to approval of a ROW grant to the DHSP, the
BLM must amend the CDCA Plan to allow the solar generating project on
that site. Additionally, the CDCA Plan also requires that transmission
lines above 161 kV be placed within a federally designated utility
corridor or that the transmission line be specifically allowed outside
a corridor through a plan amendment process. Since there is no
designated corridor from DHSP generation tie-in transmission line, the
CDCA Plan must also be amended to allow that line outside of a
designated corridor. The approved Amendment to the CDCA Plan
specifically revises the CDCA Plan to allow for the development of the
DHSP and ancillary facilities on land managed by the BLM. The BLM
selected alternative would result in construction of a solar farm,
capable of generating up to 150 MW of electricity, and is within the
range of alternatives analyzed in the Final Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS). The Notice of Availability of the Final EIS for the
DHSP and proposed CDCA Plan Amendment was published in the Federal
Register on November 2, 2012 (77 FR 66183).
Publication of the Notice of Availability for the Final EIS and
Proposed CDCA Plan Amendment initiated a 30-day protest period for the
proposed amendment to the CDCA Plan. At the close of the 30-day protest
period, six protests were received and resolved. Their resolution is
summarized in the Director's Protest Summary Report, available online
at https://www.blm.gov/pgdata/content/wo/en/prog/planning/planning_overview/protest_resolution.html. The proposed amendment to the CDCA
Plan was not modified as a result of the protest resolution, however,
the BLM did
[[Page 17718]]
provide some clarifications and modifications to project mitigation
measures. These clarifications and modifications were minor and do not
warrant supplementation of the Final EIS. Simultaneously with the
protest period, the Governor of California conducted a consistency
review for the proposed CDCA Plan Amendment to identify any
inconsistencies with State or local plans, policies, or programs. No
inconsistencies were identified.
Because the decisions described in the ROD are approved by the
Secretary of the Interior, they are not subject to administrative
appeal (43 CFR 4.410(a) (3)).
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6.
Jamie Connell,
Acting Deputy Director, Bureau of Land Management.
[FR Doc. 2013-06672 Filed 3-21-13; 8:45 am]
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