Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians' Proposed 534-Acre Trust Acquisition and Casino Project, Riverside County, California, 71639-71640 [2013-28444]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 230 / Friday, November 29, 2013 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
[AAK6006201 134A2100DD
AOR3B3030.999900]
Final Environmental Impact Statement
for the Soboba Band of Luiseno
Indians’ Proposed 534-Acre Trust
Acquisition and Casino Project,
Riverside County, California
Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
This notice advises the public
that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
as lead agency, with the City of San
Jacinto and the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) as cooperating
agencies, intends to file a final
environmental impact statement (FEIS)
with the EPA for the Soboba Band of
Luiseno Indians’ (Tribe) proposed feeto-trust acquisition and hotel/casino
project to be located in Riverside
County, California. This notice also
announces that the FEIS is now
available for public review.
DATES: The Record of Decision on the
application will be issued on or after 30
days from the date the EPA publishes its
Notice of Availability in the Federal
Register. Any comments on the FEIS
must arrive on or before that date.
ADDRESSES: Mail or hand carry written
comments to Amy Dutschke, Regional
Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Pacific Region, 2800 Cottage Way,
Sacramento, California 95825. See
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for
directions on submitting comments and
the public availability of the FEIS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John
Rydzik, (916) 978–6051, or at
john.rydzik@bia.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Tribe
has requested the BIA to acquire into
trust 34 parcels totaling 534.91+/¥
acres of land currently held in fee by the
Tribe, of which the Tribe proposes to
develop approximately 55 acres into a
destination hotel/casino complex
(Proposed Action). Approximately 300
acres (56 percent) of the project site is
incorporated in the City of San Jacinto,
California, while the remainder is
within unincorporated Riverside
County, California. The proposed hotel
and casino complex would be generally
located at the intersection of Soboba
Road and Lake Park Drive, in Riverside
County and abut the existing Soboba
Springs Country Club.
The Tribe proposes to relocate its
existing casino, which presently resides
on trust lands, to the project site. In
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SUMMARY:
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17:56 Nov 27, 2013
Jkt 232001
addition to the fee-to-trust action and
casino relocation, the Proposed Action
also includes the development of a 300room hotel, casino, restaurants, retail
establishments, a convention center, an
events arena, and a spa and fitness
center, within a 729,500+/¥ square-foot
complex. The Proposed Action also
includes a Tribal fire station, and a 12pump gas station with a 6,000 squarefoot convenience store.
In addition to the Proposed Action
described above, the FEIS included the
following alternatives: (1) Reduced
Hotel/Casino Complex, (2) Hotel and
Convention Center with No Casino
Relocation, (3) Commercial Enterprise
with No Casino or Hotel, and (4) No
Action Alternative. The BIA must
conduct a complete evaluation of the
criteria listed in 25 CFR part 151 prior
to making a final decision. The BIA
may, in its Record of Decision, select an
alternative other than the Proposed
Action, including the No Action
Alternative or another alternative
analyzed in the FEIS.
Environmental issues addressed
within the FEIS included land
resources, water resources, air quality,
biological resources, cultural/
paleontological resources, economic and
socioeconomic conditions,
transportation, land use, agriculture,
public services, hazardous materials,
noise, visual resources, and recreational
resources. The FEIS examines the direct,
indirect, and cumulative effects of each
alternative on these resources.
Mitigation measures to address adverse
impacts are also identified in the FEIS.
The BIA has afforded other
government agencies and the public
opportunities to participate in the
preparation of this EIS. On December
12, 2007, the BIA sent out cooperating
agency letters to various agencies, of
which the City of San Jacinto and the
EPA agreed to participate. The BIA
published a Notice of Intent in the
Federal Register on December 14, 2007,
describing the Proposed Action,
announcing the BIA’s intent to prepare
an EIS for the Proposed Action, and
inviting comments. The public
comment period was extended to
January 25, 2008, to ensure that all
parties had an opportunity to submit
comments; however, comments received
after this deadline and until March 11,
2008, were accepted. The BIA held a
public hearing on January 8, 2008, at the
Hemet Public Library. Prior to public
circulation, an administrative version of
the Draft EIS was circulated to the
cooperating agencies (EPA and City of
San Jacinto) for review and comment.
Comments were taken into
consideration and changes were made
PO 00000
Frm 00079
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
71639
based on these comments before the
public release of the document. The
Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS
was published in the Federal Register
on July 2, 2009. A public hearing was
held in the City of Hemet on August 5,
2009. Approximately 250 comments
were received during the comment
period, including those submitted or
recorded at the public hearing.
Comments were considered in the
preparation of the FEIS; responses to the
comments are included in Appendix E
of the FEIS and relevant information
was revised in the FEIS as appropriate
to address those comments.
Locations where the FEIS is Available
for Review: The FEIS is available for
public review at the San Jacinto Public
Library, 500 Idyllwild Drive, San
Jacinto, California 92583, telephone
(951) 654–8635; and the Hemet Public
Library, 2nd Floor, 300 E. Latham,
Hemet, California 92543, telephone
(951) 765–2440. An electronic version of
the FEIS can also be viewed at the
following Web site: https://www.sobobansn.gov.
Directions for Submitting Comments:
Please include your name, return
address, and the caption, ‘‘‘‘FEIS
Comments, Soboba Horseshoe Grande
Fee-to-Trust Project’’ on the first page of
your written comments and submit
comments to the BIA address listed in
the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
To obtain a compact disk copy of the
FEIS, please provide your name and
address in writing or by voicemail to
John Rydzik, Chief of the Division of
Environmental, Cultural Resources
Management and Safety, at the address
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this
notice, or at the telephone number listed
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONACT
section of this notice. Note that
individual paper copies of the FEIS will
be provided only upon payment of
applicable printing expenses by the
requestor for the number of copies
requested.
Public Comment Availability:
Comments, including the names and
addresses of respondents, will be
available for public review at the BIA
mailing address shown in the
ADDRESSES section, during regular
business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except
holidays. Before including your address,
telephone 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 may ask us in your
comment to withhold your personal
identifying information from public
E:\FR\FM\29NON1.SGM
29NON1
71640
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 230 / Friday, November 29, 2013 / Notices
review, we cannot guarantee that we
will be able to do so.
Authority: This notice is published in
accordance with the Council on
Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR
part 1500 et seq.) and the Department of the
Interior regulations (43 CFR part 46)
implementing the procedural requirements of
the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.),
and is accordance with the exercise of
authority delegated to the Assistant
Secretary-Indian Affairs by part 209 of the
Departmental Manual.
Dated: November 12, 2013.
Kevin Washburn,
Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2013–28444 Filed 11–27–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–W7–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCAD08000,
L51010000.FX0000.LVRWB09B3130]
Notice of Availability of the Draft Joint
Environmental Impact Statement and
Environmental Impact Report and
California Desert Conservation Area
Plan Amendment for the Proposed
Soda Mountain Solar Project, San
Bernardino County, CA
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, the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft
Joint Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) and Environmental Impact Report
(EIR) and California Desert Conservation
Area (CDCA) Plan Amendment for the
Soda Mountain Solar Project (Project),
San Bernardino County, California, 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 EIS/EIR
and Draft CDCA Plan Amendment
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 Soda Mountain Solar
Project Draft EIS/EIR and Draft CDCA
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:56 Nov 27, 2013
Jkt 232001
Plan Amendment 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, Attn: Jose M.
Najar.
• Mail: California Desert District
Office, Attn: Jose M. Najar, 22835 Calle
San Juan de los Lagos, Moreno Valley,
CA 92553.
Copies of the Soda Mountain Solar
Project Draft Joint EIS/EIR and CDCA
Plan Amendment are available in the
California Desert District Office at the
above address and at the Barstow Field
Office, 2601 Barstow Road, Barstow, CA
92311.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jose
M. Najar, Project Manager, telephone
951–697–5387; address 22835 Calle San
Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA
92553; email sodamtnsolar@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
has received a right-of-way (ROW)
application from Soda Mountain Solar,
LLC, to construct, operate, maintain,
and decommission a solar photovoltaic
(PV) power plant facility proposed on
4,179 acres with solar fields occupying
approximately 2,557 acres of BLMadministered public lands in San
Bernardino County, California. The
Project would utilize solar panels and
would be built in several phases. The
Project would connect to the existing
Los Angeles Department of Water and
Power 500kV transmission line to the
west of the project using a transmission
interconnect from the proposed
substation. The Project would not
require any expansion of the existing
transmission line or any upgrades.
The Project would be adjacent to
Interstate 15 (I–15), South of Blue Bell
Mine Road, about 6 miles southwest of
Baker, California, and 12 miles
northeast of Barstow, California.
The proposed project site is located
near the National Park Service’s Mojave
National Preserve, Soda Mountain and
Cady Mountains Wilderness Study
Areas, and the Rasor Off Highway
Vehicle and Afton Canyon Special
Recreation Management Areas within
the BLM’s CDCA. A portion of the Blue
Bell Mine Road lies north adjacent to
the project site at its closest point, and
runs approximately east to west.
PO 00000
Frm 00080
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
All proposed project components
would be located on BLM-administered
lands subject to a ROW grant. The
proposed Project components would
include solar array fields; access roads;
collector lines; a substation with
switchyard and interconnection;
ancillary buildings; six groundwater
production, test, and observation water
wells; water tanks; a water treatment
and storage facility; brine ponds;
warehouses; fencing; berms; other
infrastructure; and laydown areas. The
existing roads would provide access to
the proposed project site. New minor
internal roads would be constructed
among collector lines, substation, arrays
and sub arrays, and other ancillary
facilities. The interconnection to the
proposed substation and collector lines
from the arrays would be via
underground trench, including
underground trenching of I–15. Once
approved and operational, the proposed
Project is expected to have up to 358
megawatts of generating capacity. In
connection with its decision on the
proposed Soda Mountain Solar project,
the BLM will also include consideration
of potential amendments to the CDCA
land use plan, as analyzed in the Draft
EIS/EIR alternatives. The CDCA plan,
while recognizing the potential
compatibility of solar energy facilities
on public lands, requires that all sites
associated with power generation or
transmission not identified in the Plan
be considered through the land use plan
amendment process. The BLM is
deciding whether to amend the CDCA
Plan to identify the Soda Mountain
Solar project site as available or
unavailable for solar development.
The Draft EIS/EIR describes the
following six alternatives: Alternative A:
The Proposed Action—358 MW on
2,557 acres; Alternative B: 264 MW
project on 2,127 acres; Alternative C:
298 MW project on 2,354 acres;
Alternative D: 250 MW project on 2,134
acres; Alternative E: No action
alternative/no project approval—no
issuance of a ROW Grant, no county
approval of a groundwater well permit,
no Land Use Plan (LUP) amendment;
Alternative F: BLM approves project
with no county approval of a
groundwater well permit; and,
Alternative G: Planning decision
identifying the area as unsuitable for
solar, with no BLM ROW—LUP Plan
Amendment (PA), no issuance of a ROW
Grant, and no county approval of a
groundwater well permit. All of the
action alternatives, except Alternative E,
would include an amendment to the
CDCA Plan. Alternative A is the
preferred alternative in the Draft EIS.
E:\FR\FM\29NON1.SGM
29NON1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 230 (Friday, November 29, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71639-71640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28444]
[[Page 71639]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
[AAK6006201 134A2100DD AOR3B3030.999900]
Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Soboba Band of
Luiseno Indians' Proposed 534-Acre Trust Acquisition and Casino
Project, Riverside County, California
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian
Affairs (BIA) as lead agency, with the City of San Jacinto and the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as cooperating agencies, intends
to file a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) with the EPA for
the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians' (Tribe) proposed fee-to-trust
acquisition and hotel/casino project to be located in Riverside County,
California. This notice also announces that the FEIS is now available
for public review.
DATES: The Record of Decision on the application will be issued on or
after 30 days from the date the EPA publishes its Notice of
Availability in the Federal Register. Any comments on the FEIS must
arrive on or before that date.
ADDRESSES: Mail or hand carry written comments to Amy Dutschke,
Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pacific Region, 2800
Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 95825. See SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION for directions on submitting comments and the public
availability of the FEIS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Rydzik, (916) 978-6051, or at
john.rydzik@bia.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Tribe has requested the BIA to acquire
into trust 34 parcels totaling 534.91+/- acres of land currently held
in fee by the Tribe, of which the Tribe proposes to develop
approximately 55 acres into a destination hotel/casino complex
(Proposed Action). Approximately 300 acres (56 percent) of the project
site is incorporated in the City of San Jacinto, California, while the
remainder is within unincorporated Riverside County, California. The
proposed hotel and casino complex would be generally located at the
intersection of Soboba Road and Lake Park Drive, in Riverside County
and abut the existing Soboba Springs Country Club.
The Tribe proposes to relocate its existing casino, which presently
resides on trust lands, to the project site. In addition to the fee-to-
trust action and casino relocation, the Proposed Action also includes
the development of a 300-room hotel, casino, restaurants, retail
establishments, a convention center, an events arena, and a spa and
fitness center, within a 729,500+/- square-foot complex. The Proposed
Action also includes a Tribal fire station, and a 12-pump gas station
with a 6,000 square-foot convenience store.
In addition to the Proposed Action described above, the FEIS
included the following alternatives: (1) Reduced Hotel/Casino Complex,
(2) Hotel and Convention Center with No Casino Relocation, (3)
Commercial Enterprise with No Casino or Hotel, and (4) No Action
Alternative. The BIA must conduct a complete evaluation of the criteria
listed in 25 CFR part 151 prior to making a final decision. The BIA
may, in its Record of Decision, select an alternative other than the
Proposed Action, including the No Action Alternative or another
alternative analyzed in the FEIS.
Environmental issues addressed within the FEIS included land
resources, water resources, air quality, biological resources,
cultural/paleontological resources, economic and socioeconomic
conditions, transportation, land use, agriculture, public services,
hazardous materials, noise, visual resources, and recreational
resources. The FEIS examines the direct, indirect, and cumulative
effects of each alternative on these resources. Mitigation measures to
address adverse impacts are also identified in the FEIS.
The BIA has afforded other government agencies and the public
opportunities to participate in the preparation of this EIS. On
December 12, 2007, the BIA sent out cooperating agency letters to
various agencies, of which the City of San Jacinto and the EPA agreed
to participate. The BIA published a Notice of Intent in the Federal
Register on December 14, 2007, describing the Proposed Action,
announcing the BIA's intent to prepare an EIS for the Proposed Action,
and inviting comments. The public comment period was extended to
January 25, 2008, to ensure that all parties had an opportunity to
submit comments; however, comments received after this deadline and
until March 11, 2008, were accepted. The BIA held a public hearing on
January 8, 2008, at the Hemet Public Library. Prior to public
circulation, an administrative version of the Draft EIS was circulated
to the cooperating agencies (EPA and City of San Jacinto) for review
and comment. Comments were taken into consideration and changes were
made based on these comments before the public release of the document.
The Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS was published in the
Federal Register on July 2, 2009. A public hearing was held in the City
of Hemet on August 5, 2009. Approximately 250 comments were received
during the comment period, including those submitted or recorded at the
public hearing. Comments were considered in the preparation of the
FEIS; responses to the comments are included in Appendix E of the FEIS
and relevant information was revised in the FEIS as appropriate to
address those comments.
Locations where the FEIS is Available for Review: The FEIS is
available for public review at the San Jacinto Public Library, 500
Idyllwild Drive, San Jacinto, California 92583, telephone (951) 654-
8635; and the Hemet Public Library, 2nd Floor, 300 E. Latham, Hemet,
California 92543, telephone (951) 765-2440. An electronic version of
the FEIS can also be viewed at the following Web site: https://www.soboba-nsn.gov.
Directions for Submitting Comments: Please include your name,
return address, and the caption, ````FEIS Comments, Soboba Horseshoe
Grande Fee-to-Trust Project'' on the first page of your written
comments and submit comments to the BIA address listed in the ADDRESSES
section of this notice.
To obtain a compact disk copy of the FEIS, please provide your name
and address in writing or by voicemail to John Rydzik, Chief of the
Division of Environmental, Cultural Resources Management and Safety, at
the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice, or at the
telephone number listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONACT section
of this notice. Note that individual paper copies of the FEIS will be
provided only upon payment of applicable printing expenses by the
requestor for the number of copies requested.
Public Comment Availability: Comments, including the names and
addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the
BIA mailing address shown in the ADDRESSES section, during regular
business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
holidays. Before including your address, telephone 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 may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal
identifying information from public
[[Page 71640]]
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Authority: This notice is published in accordance with the
Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR part 1500 et
seq.) and the Department of the Interior regulations (43 CFR part
46) implementing the procedural requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4371 et
seq.), and is accordance with the exercise of authority delegated to
the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs by part 209 of the
Departmental Manual.
Dated: November 12, 2013.
Kevin Washburn,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2013-28444 Filed 11-27-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-W7-P
