Notice of Competitive Auction for Solar Energy Development on Public Lands in the State of Nevada, 31129-31131 [2014-12542]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 104 (Friday, May 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31129-31131]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-12542]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNV930000.L13400000.KH0000.LXSS189F0000; MO 4500065257]


Notice of Competitive Auction for Solar Energy Development on 
Public Lands in the State of Nevada

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Southern Nevada District 
Office will accept competitive bids to select preferred applicants to 
submit right-of-way (ROW) applications and plans of development for 
solar energy projects on up to approximately 3,083 acres of public land 
in Clark County, Nevada.

DATES: The BLM will hold an oral auction at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on 
June 30, 2014. Prior to the oral auction, sealed bids will be accepted 
and carried forward to the oral auction. Sealed bids must be received, 
not postmarked, by the BLM Southern Nevada District Office at the 
address listed below on or before June 26, 2014.

ADDRESSES: The BLM will hold the oral auction at the City of North Las 
Vegas Council Chambers, 2250 Las Vegas Blvd., North Las Vegas, NV 
89030. Sealed bids, including the bidder qualification fee deposit and 
required documentation, must be submitted to the Bureau of Land 
Management, Attention: Gregory L. Helseth, 4701 North Torrey Pines 
Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130. Electronic bid submissions will not be 
accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory L. Helseth, Renewable Energy 
Project Manager, by telephone at 702-515-5173 or by email at 
ghelseth@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: BLM Nevada has received several 
solicitations of interest and ROW applications within the Dry Lake 
Solar Energy Zone (SEZ). The BLM may use a competitive process when 
there are two or more applications for the same facility or system (43 
CFR 2804.23). Applications for solar energy development are processed 
as ROW authorizations pursuant to Title V of the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act.
    The BLM will use a competitive sealed and oral bid process to 
select a preferred applicant to submit a ROW application and plan of 
development for solar energy development in the Dry Lake SEZ.
    The competitive oral auction will begin at 10 a.m. Pacific Time on 
June 30, 2014, opening with the minimum bonus bid or the highest sealed 
bid over the minimum bonus bid, whichever is higher. Bidder 
registration begins at 9 a.m. Pacific Time on June 30, 2014. In order 
to bid, you must provide the bidder's name and personal or business 
address. Each bid can only contain the name of one bidder (i.e., 
citizen, association or partnership, corporation or municipality). A 
bidder qualification fee of $10,000, in the form of a cashier's or 
certified check made payable to the ``Bureau of Land Management'', is 
required from each bidder at the time of registration or with the 
sealed bid. Only one bidder qualification fee per bidder is required, 
regardless of the number of parcels bid on. A bidder that submits a 
sealed bid can also participate in the oral auction but will need to 
register the day of the auction. The bidder will need to provide a 
photocopy of the qualification fee that was submitted with the sealed 
bid or other documentation that the qualification fee was submitted to 
be able to register for the oral auction. Sealed bids must include the 
same required information and bidder qualification fee for 
registration. If a sealed bid is submitted prior to the oral auction, 
all bidding documents must be enclosed in a sealed envelope with the 
bidder's name and return address on the outside. Include the following 
notation on the front lower left hand corner of the sealed envelope: 
SEALED BID--DO NOT OPEN.
    A minimum bonus bid has been determined for each parcel. The 
minimum bonus bid represents 10 percent of the rent value of the land 
for 1 year ($203.06 per acre for Clark County) under the BLM's interim 
solar rental policy and is based on the interests acquired by a 
preferred applicant to file a ROW application in a SEZ. Minimum bonus 
bids for the six parcels are: Parcel 1--$14,462; Parcel 2--$4,524; 
Parcel 3--$15,406; Parcel 4--$14,803; Parcel 5--$10,309; and Parcel 6--
$3,101. Bidders must use a bid statement to identify the bonus amount 
the bidder would pay to submit a ROW application and plan of 
development for each parcel. The bonus bid must meet or exceed the 
minimum bonus bid amount identified above for each parcel. The bid 
statement format and a complete description of the bid process are 
contained in an Invitation for Bids package available on the BLM Solar 
Energy Program Web site at: https://blmsolar.anl.gov/sez/nv/dry-lake/competitive-leasing/. All registered bidders will be notified of the 
results of the oral auction within 10 calendar days of the bid closing. 
Bonus bids from the successful high bidder(s) and an administrative fee 
of $45,317 for each parcel must be deposited within 10 calendar days of 
notification in the form of a cashier's or certified check made

[[Page 31130]]

payable to the ``Bureau of Land Management''.
    The $10,000 bidder qualification fee paid by the successful bidder 
at the time of registration or with the sealed bid will be applied to 
the bonus bid and the administrative fee due from the successful bidder 
for each parcel. Upon the BLM's acceptance of the bonus bid specified 
in the bid statement and the administrative fee, the successful bidder 
will become the preferred ROW applicant. The required administrative 
fee will be retained by the agency to recover administrative costs for 
conducting the competitive bid and environmental review processes. The 
bonus bid will be deposited with the U.S. Treasury. Neither amount will 
be returned or refunded to the successful high bidder(s) under any 
circumstance. Bidder qualification fees received from unsuccessful 
bidders will be returned, without interest, upon the BLM's acceptance 
of the high bidder's bonus bid.
    If there is no bid received for a parcel, then no preferred ROW 
applicant will be identified and no application will be processed for 
solar energy development under the procedures listed in this notice. In 
the case of tied bids, the BLM may re-offer the lands competitively to 
the tied bidders, or to all prospective bidders.
    The successful bidder(s) must submit a ROW application and plan of 
development to the BLM within 180 calendar days of notification of the 
results of the oral auction. Preferred ROW applicants will be required 
to reimburse the United States for the cost of processing an 
application consistent with the requirements of the regulations at 43 
CFR 2804.14.
    The cost recovery fees are based on the amount of time the BLM 
estimates it will take to process the ROW application and issue a 
decision. The BLM will begin processing the ROW application once the 
cost recovery fees are received as required by the regulations. Only 
interests in issued ROW grants are assignable under the existing 
regulations at 43 CFR 2807.21. The interests acquired by the successful 
bidder from this auction may not be assigned or sold to another party 
prior to the issuance of a ROW grant. The successful bidder, however, 
may continue to pursue their application if the successful bidder 
becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of a new third party.
    Bidders may submit bids for each of the six parcels of public land 
described below. The public lands made available by this notice include 
six parcels in the Dry Lake SEZ, consisting of approximately 3,083 
acres of public land. All parcels lie within the Dry Lake SEZ, 
approximately 15 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada.
    Parcel 1 as shown on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory 
(NREL) GIS map titled ``Dry Lake SEZ'', dated April 2014, contains an 
aggregate of 712.2 acres, more or less, as described below:

Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada

T. 17 S., R. 63 E.,
    Sec. 33, lots 9, 10, 13 and 14, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, (excluding that 
portion of land utilized as tortoise habitat connectivity as shown 
on the ``Dry Lake SEZ Non-Development Acres Tortoise Corridor'' map 
dated February 11, 2014);
    Sec. 34, lots 1 thru 4, NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, and N\1/2\S\1/
2\, (excluding that portion of land utilized as tortoise habitat 
connectivity as shown on the ``Dry Lake SEZ Non- Development Acres 
Tortoise Corridor'' map dated February 11, 2014, and excluding that 
portion lying southeasterly of the westerly right-of-way for 
transmission line, BLM Nevada case file N 75607);
    Sec. 35, that portion lying northwesterly of the westerly right-
of-way for transmission line, BLM Nevada case file N 74510, and 
lying northwesterly of the westerly boundary for transmission line 
switchyard, BLM Nevada case file N 75025.
T. 18 S., R. 63 E.,
    Sec. 3, Beginning at the section corner of sections 3, 4, 33 and 
34, Townships 17 and 18 South, Range 63 East; thence S. 89[deg]23' 
E., along the section line, to the intersection with the westerly 
right-of-way for transmission line, BLM Nevada case file N 75607; 
thence southwesterly, along westerly right-of-way for transmission 
line, BLM Nevada case file N 75607, to a point where the westerly 
right-of-way for transmission line, BLM Nevada case file N 75607 
changes course and commences westerly; thence westerly, along 
northerly right-of-way for transmission line, BLM Nevada case file N 
75607, to an intersection with the centerline of U.S. Highway No. 
93; thence N. 44[deg]07.8' W., along the centerline of U.S. Highway 
No. 93, to an intersection with the section line of sections 3 and 
4; thence N. 0[deg]02.2' E., along the section line, to the section 
corner of sections 3, 4, 33 and 34, and the Point Of Beginning;
    Sec. 4, lot 5.

    Parcel 2 as shown on NREL GIS map titled ``Dry Lake SEZ'', dated 
April 2014, contains of an aggregate of 222.8 acres, more or less, as 
described below:

Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada

T. 17 S., R. 63 E.,
    Sec. 35, Beginning at the intersection of the section line of 
sections 2 and 35, Townships 17 and 18 South, Range 63 East with the 
westerly right-of-way for transmission line, BLM Nevada case file N 
75025; thence N. 89[deg]23' W., along the section line, to an 
intersection with the easterly right-of-way for transmission line, 
BLM Nevada case file N 75607; thence northeasterly, along easterly 
right-of-way for transmission line, BLM Nevada case file N 75607, to 
an intersection with the westerly right-of-way for transmission 
line, BLM Nevada case file N 75025 (if right-of-ways do not 
intersect, extend them until they do); thence southeasterly, along 
westerly right-of-way for transmission line, BLM Nevada case file N 
75025, to an intersection with the section line of sections 2 and 
35, and the Point Of Beginning;
T. 18 S., R. 63 E.,
    Sec. 2, Beginning at the intersection of the section line of 
sections 2 and 35, Townships 17 and 18 South, Range 63 East, with 
the westerly right-of-way for transmission line, BLM Nevada case 
file N 75025; thence N. 89[deg]23' W., along the section line, to an 
intersection with the easterly right-of-way for transmission line, 
BLM Nevada case file N 75607; thence southwesterly, along easterly 
right-of-way for transmission line, BLM Nevada case file N 75607, to 
an intersection with the section line of sections 2 and 3; thence S. 
0[deg]04' W., along the section line, to an intersection with the 
northerly right-of-way for an oil and gas pipeline, BLM Nevada case 
file N 42581; thence easterly, along the northerly right-of-way for 
an oil and gas pipeline, BLM Nevada case file N 42581, to an 
intersection with the westerly right-of-way for transmission line, 
BLM Nevada case file N 75025; thence northwesterly, along westerly 
right-of-way for transmission line, to the intersection with the 
section line of sections 2 and 35, and the Point Of Beginning;
    Sec. 3, Beginning at the intersection of the section line of 
sections 2 and 3, with the easterly right-of-way for transmission 
line, BLM Nevada case file N 75607; thence S. 0[deg]04' W., along 
the section line, to an intersection with the northerly right-of-way 
for an oil and gas pipeline, BLM Nevada case file N 42581; thence 
westerly, along the northerly right-of-way for an oil and gas 
pipeline, BLM Nevada case file N 42581, to an intersection with the 
easterly right-of-way for transmission line, BLM Nevada case file N 
75607 (if right-of-ways do not intersect, extend them until they 
do); thence northeasterly, along the easterly right-of-way for 
transmission line, BLM Nevada case file N 75607, to an intersection 
with the section line of sections 2 and 3, and the Point Of 
Beginning.

    Parcel 3 as shown on NREL GIS map titled ``Dry Lake SEZ'', dated 
April 2014, contains of an aggregate of 758.7 acres, more or less, as 
described below:

Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada

T. 18 S., R. 63 E.,
    Sec. 1, SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\ (excluding that portion of land 
identified as non- development on Argonne National

[[Page 31131]]

Laboratory map titled ``Developable Area for the Proposed Dry Lake 
SEZ'', dated July 2012, and excluding that portion of land 
southwesterly of the westerly right-of-way for transmission line, 
BLM Nevada case file N 75025, and excluding that portion of land 
hereinafter described in Parcel 4;
    Sec. 2, S\1/2\, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\ (excluding that 
portion of land north of the southerly right-of-way for an oil and 
gas pipeline, BLM Nevada case file N 4258;
    Sec. 3, lots 9, 10, 13 and 14, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, 
S\1/2\NW\1/4\, (excluding that portion of land north of the 
southerly right-of-way for an oil and gas pipeline, BLM Nevada case 
file N 42581.

    Parcel 4 as shown on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory 
(NREL) GIS map titled ``Dry Lake SEZ'', dated April 2014, contains an 
aggregate of 729.0 acres, more or less, as described below:

Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada

T. 18 S., R. 63 E.,
    Sec. 1, S\1/2\SW\1/4\ (excluding that portion of land previously 
described in Parcel 3, excluding that portion of land identified as 
non-development on Argonne National Laboratory map titled 
``Developable Area for the Proposed Dry Lake SEZ'', dated July 2012, 
and excluding that portion of land northeasterly of the westerly 
right-of-way for transmission line, BLM Nevada case file N 75025);
    Sec. 10, lot 1;
    Sec. 11, lots 1, 3 thru 5, and 9, NE\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\, SE\1/
4\SE\1/4\, NE\1/4\NW\1/4\ (excluding that portion of land identified 
as non-development on Argonne National Laboratory map titled 
``Developable Area for the Proposed Dry Lake SEZ'', dated July 
2012);
    Sec. 12, W\1/2\ (excluding that portion of land identified as 
non-development on Argonne National Laboratory map titled 
``Developable Area for the Proposed Dry Lake SEZ'', dated July 2012, 
and excluding that portion of land southeasterly of the 
northwesterly right-of-way for utility corridor line, BLM Nevada 
case file N 52787, and excluding that portion of land southeasterly 
of the northwesterly right-of-way for utility corridor, identified 
in Public Law 96-491 and extended through this area;
    Sec. 14, lot 1 (excluding that portion of land southeasterly of 
the northwesterly right- of-way for utility corridor line, BLM 
Nevada case file N 52787;

    Parcel 5 as shown on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory 
(NREL) GIS map titled ``Dry Lake SEZ'', dated April 2014, contains an 
aggregate of 507.7 acres, more or less, as described below:

Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada

T. 17 S., R. 63 E.,
    Sec. 36, (excluding that portion of land identified as non-
development on Argonne National Laboratory map titled ``Developable 
Area for the Proposed Dry Lake SEZ'', dated July 2012, and excluding 
that portion of land westerly of the easterly right-of-way for 
pipeline, BLM Nevada case file N 81555, and excluding that portion 
of land westerly of the northeasterly property boundary of Harry 
Allen Generating station);
T. 17 S., R. 64 E.,
    Sec. 31, W\1/2\, that portion of land westerly of the westerly 
boundary of land identified as non-development on Argonne National 
Laboratory map titled ``Developable Area for the Proposed Dry Lake 
SEZ'', dated July 2012;
T. 18 S., R. 63 E.,
    Sec. 1, that portion of land northeasterly of the northeasterly 
right-of-way for transmission line, BLM Nevada case file N 61363, 
easterly of easterly right-of-way for pipeline, BLM Nevada case file 
N 81555, and northwesterly of northwesterly boundary for power 
compressor station.

    Parcel 6 as shown on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory 
(NREL) GIS map titled ``Dry Lake SEZ'', dated April 2014, contains an 
aggregate of 152.7 acres, more or less, as described below:

Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada

T. 17 S., R. 64 E.,
    Sec. 31, that portion of land northwesterly of the westerly 
right-of-way for utility corridor, identified in Public Law 96-491 
extended through this area and easterly of the easterly boundary of 
land identified as non-development on Argonne National Laboratory 
map titled ``Developable Area for the Proposed Dry Lake SEZ'', dated 
July 2012;
T. 18 S., R. 63 E.,
    Sec. 1, that portion of land northwesterly of the westerly 
right-of-way for utility corridor, identified in Public Law 96-491 
extended through this area and northeasterly of the northeasterly 
right-of-way for transmission line, BLM Nevada case file N 61363 
(excluding that portion of land identified as non-development on 
Argonne National Laboratory map titled ``Developable Area for the 
Proposed Dry Lake SEZ'', dated July 2012, and excluding that portion 
of land hereinbefore described as Parcel 5, and excluding that 
portion of land within the right-of-way for transmission line, BLM 
Nevada case file N 42581, and excluding that portion of land 
identified within the boundaries for power compressor station);
T. 18 S., R. 64 E.,
    Sec. 6, that portion of land northwesterly of the westerly 
right-of-way for utility corridor, identified in Public Law 96-491 
extended through this area.

    Detailed information about the Dry Lake SEZ, including maps, can be 
viewed and downloaded at: https://blmsolar.anl.gov/sez/nv/dry-lake/.
    Solar photovoltaic (PV) and parabolic trough technologies are the 
preferred technologies for solar development in the Dry Lake SEZ. Solar 
power tower development could potentially impact military operations in 
the area.
    The ``Solar Regional Mitigation Strategy for the Dry Lake Solar 
Energy Zone'' was released with publication of a public interest Notice 
for the Dry Lake SEZ on March 17, 2014. The Mitigation Strategy 
describes off-site mitigation actions and costs that the BLM will 
consider when processing the ROW application for a solar energy project 
in the Dry Lake SEZ. The Mitigation Strategy is available online at 
https://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/wo/blm_library/tech_notes.Par.29872.File.dat/TN_444.pdf.
    The BLM will host a webinar for interested bidders on Tuesday, June 
17 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time to discuss the bidding 
process and answer any questions regarding the competitive auction 
scheduled for June 30, 2014, for the Dry Lake SEZ. Documents for the 
auction will be posted to the BLM Solar Energy Program Web site prior 
to the webinar at: https://blmsolar.anl.gov/sez/nv/dry-lake/competitive-leasing/. The dial-in number for the webinar is: 1-888-850-4523; 
Passcode 473080. The URL for the webinar is: https://anl.adobeconnect.com/blmsezauction/. For more information regarding the 
auction and the webinar contact Greg Helseth, Renewable Energy Project 
Manager, by telephone at 702-515-5173 or by email at ghelseth@blm.gov.

    Authority:  43 CFR 2804.23.

Karen Mouritsen,
Deputy Assistant Director, Energy, Minerals and Realty Management.
[FR Doc. 2014-12542 Filed 5-29-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P