Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Aiya Solar Project on the Moapa River Indian Reservation, Clark County, NV, 69522-69523 [2014-27642]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 225 / Friday, November 21, 2014 / Notices
Directions for Submitting Public
Comments
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Please include your name, return
address, and the caption ‘‘Programmatic
EIS, Colville Reservation IRMP’’ on the
first page of any written comments you
submit. You may also submit comments
at the public scoping meetings.
The public scoping meetings will be
held to seek comments from the Tribal
Business Council, resource managers,
agency representatives, and community
members concerning the planning and
environmental issues surrounding the
use of natural resources of the Colville
Reservation. The meetings will be held
at various Colville Reservation
communities and notices will be
published in Omak-Okanogan County
Chronicle, the Statesman Examiner, the
Star, and the Tribal Tribune. Additional
information will also be posted at the
Tribe’s Web site:
www.colvilletribes.com.
Public Availability of Comments
Comments, including names and
addresses of respondents, will be
available for public review at the BIA
address shown in the ADDRESSES section
of this notice, during regular business
hours, 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.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Authority
This notice is published in
accordance with sections 1503.1 of the
Council on Environmental Quality
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through
1508) and Sec. 46.305 of the Department
of the Interior Regulations (43 CFR Part
46), implementing the procedural
requirements of NEPA, as amended (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and is in the
exercise of authority delegated to the
Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs, by
part 209 of the Departmental Manual.
Dated: November 10, 2014.
Kevin Washburn,
Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2014–27682 Filed 11–20–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–W7–P
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[AAK6006201 145A2100DD
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Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
Aiya Solar Project on the Moapa River
Indian Reservation, Clark County, NV
Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In order to comply with the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), the Bureau of Indian Affairs
(BIA), as lead agency in cooperation
with the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians
(Moapa Band), the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM), and other Federal
agencies, intend to prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS)
that will evaluate a photovoltaic solar
energy generation project on the Moapa
River Indian Reservation and a
transmission line located on tribal
lands, private lands and Federal lands
administered and managed by BLM in
Clark County, Nevada.
This notice announces the beginning
of the scoping process to solicit public
comments and identify potential issues
related to the EIS. It also announces that
two public scoping meetings will be
held in Nevada to identify potential
issues, alternatives, and mitigation to be
considered in the EIS.
DATES: The dates and locations of the
public scoping meetings will be
published in the Las Vegas Sun, Las
Vegas Review-Journal, and Moapa
Valley Progress 15 days before the
scoping meetings. Written comments on
the scope of the EIS or implementation
of the proposal must arrive by December
22, 2014.
ADDRESSES: You may mail, email, or
hand carry written comments to either
Mr. Paul Schlafly, Natural Resource
Specialist, Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Southern Paiute Agency, 180 North 200
East Suite 111, P.O. Box 720, St. George,
Utah 84770; telephone: (435) 674–9720;
email: paul.schlafly@bia.gov, or Mr.
Chip Lewis, Acting Regional
Environmental Compliance Officer, BIA
Western Regional Office, 2600 North
Central Avenue, 4th Floor Mailroom,
Phoenix, Arizona 85004; telephone:
(602) 379–6782; email: chip.lewis@
bia.gov.
SUMMARY:
The
proposed Federal action, taken under 25
U.S.C. 415, is BIA’s approval of a solar
energy ground lease and associated
agreements entered into by the Moapa
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PO 00000
Frm 00102
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Band with a subsidiary of First Solar,
Inc. (First Solar) to provide for
construction and operation of an up-to
100 megawatt (MW) alternating current
solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity
generation facility located entirely on
the Moapa River Indian Reservation and
specifically on lands held in trust by
BIA for the Moapa Band. The proposed
230 kilovolt (kV) generation-tie
transmission line required for
interconnection may be located on
Tribal lands, private lands and/or
Federal lands administered and
managed by BLM. First Solar has
accordingly requested that the BIA and
BLM additionally approve right-of-ways
(ROWs) authorizing the construction
and operation of the transmission line.
Together, the proposed solar energy
facility, transmission line, and other
associated facilities will make up the
proposed Moapa River Solar Project
(Project).
The Project would be located in
Township 14 South, Range 66 East,
Sections 29, 30, 31, and 32 Mount
Diablo Meridian, Nevada. The
generation facility would generate
electricity using First Solar’s PV panels.
Also included would be inverters, a
collection system, an on-site substation
to step-up the voltage to transmissionlevel voltage at 230 kV, an operations
and maintenance building, and other
related facilities. A single overhead 230
kV generation-tie transmission line,
approximately 1.5 to 3 miles long,
would connect the solar project to either
NV Energy’s Reid-Gardner 230kV
substation or the proposed Reid Gardner
Collector Substation, which is under
development by NV Energy.
Construction of the Project is
expected to take approximately 12 to 15
months. First Solar is expected to
operate the energy facility for 30 years,
with two options to renew the lease for
an additional 10 years, if mutually
acceptable to the Moapa Tribe and First
Solar. The Project is expected to be built
in one phase of up to 100 MW, per the
demand of potential off-takers or
utilities. During construction, the PV
panels will be placed on top of fixed-tilt
and/or single-axis tracking mounting
systems that are set on steel posts
embedded in the ground. Other
foundation design techniques may be
used depending on the site topography
and conditions. No water will be used
to generate electricity during operations.
Water will be needed during
construction for dust control and a
minimal amount will be needed during
operations for landscape irrigation and
administrative and sanitary water use
on site. The water supply required for
the Project would be leased from the
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 225 / Friday, November 21, 2014 / Notices
Moapa Band and the EIS will consider
the impacts of alternative sources and
delivery methods.
The purposes of the Project are to: (1)
Help to provide a long-term, diverse,
and viable economic revenue base and
job opportunities for the Moapa Band;
(2) help Nevada and neighboring States
to meet their State renewable energy
needs; and (3) allow the Moapa Band, in
partnership with First Solar, to optimize
the use of the lease site while
maximizing the potential economic
benefit to the Tribe.
The BIA will prepare the EIS in
cooperation with the Moapa Band, BLM,
and possibly the Army Corps of
Engineers, Environmental Protection
Agency, and National Park Service. In
addition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS) will provide input on
the analysis. The resulting EIS will aim
to: (1) Provide agency decision makers,
the Moapa Band, and the general public
with a comprehensive understanding of
the impacts of the proposed Project and
alternatives on the Reservation; (2)
describe the cumulative impacts of
increased development on the
Reservation; and (3) identify and
propose mitigation measures that would
minimize or prevent significant adverse
impacts. Consistent with these
objectives, the EIS will analyze the
proposed Project and appurtenant
features, viable alternatives including
other interconnection options, modified
footprint alternatives, alternate routing
for Project ROWs, and the No Action
alternative. Other alternatives may be
identified in response to issues raised
during the scoping process.
The EIS will provide a framework for
BIA and BLM to make determinations
and to decide whether to take the
aforementioned Federal actions. In
addition, BIA will use and coordinate
the NEPA commenting process to satisfy
its obligations under Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act (16
U.S.C. 470f) as provided for in 36 CFR
800.2(d)(3). Tribal consultations will be
conducted in accordance with policy,
and tribal concerns will be given due
consideration, including impacts on
Indian trust assets. Other Federal
agencies may rely on the EIS to make
decisions under their authority and the
Moapa Band may also use the EIS to
make decisions under their Tribal
Environmental Policy Ordinance. The
USFWS will review the EIS for
consistency with the Endangered
Species Act, as amended, and other
implementing acts, and may rely on the
EIS to support its decisions and
opinions regarding the Project.
Issues to be covered during the
scoping process may include, but would
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18:36 Nov 20, 2014
Jkt 235001
not be limited to, Project impacts on:
Air quality, geology and soils, surface
and groundwater resources, biological
resources, threatened and endangered
species, cultural resources,
socioeconomic conditions, land use,
aesthetics, environmental justice, and
Indian trust resources. In addition to
those already identified above, Federal,
State, and local agencies, along with
other stakeholders that may be
interested or affected by the BIA’s
decision on the proposed Project, are
invited to participate in the scoping
process.
Directions for Submitting Comments
Please include your name, return
address, and the caption ‘‘EIS, First
Solar Solar Project,’’ on the first page of
any written comments. You may also
submit comments at the public scoping
meetings.
The public scoping meetings will be
held to further describe the Project and
identify potential issues and alternatives
to be considered in the EIS. The first
public scoping meeting will be held on
the Reservation and the other public
scoping meeting will be held in Las
Vegas, Nevada. The dates of the public
scoping meetings will be included in
notices to be posted in the Las Vegas
Sun, Las Vegas Review-Journal, and
Moapa Valley Progress 15 days before
the meetings.
Public Comment Availability
Comments, including names and
addresses of respondents, will be
available for public review at the
mailing address shown in the
ADDRESSES section during regular
business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 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.
Authority
This notice is published in
accordance with 40 CFR 1501.7 of the
Council of Environmental Quality
regulations and 43 CFR 46.235 of the
Department of the Interior Regulations
implementing the procedural
requirements of the NEPA (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.), and in accordance with
the exercise of authority delegated to the
Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs by
part 209 of the Department Manual.
PO 00000
Frm 00103
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
69523
Dated: November 14, 2014.
Kevin K. Washburn,
Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2014–27642 Filed 11–20–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–W7–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNVS00560.L58530000.EU0000.241A.XXX;
MO# 4500068492]
Notice of Realty Action: NonCompetitive Direct Sale of the
Reversionary Interest in a Recreation
and Public Purpose Act (R&PP) Patent,
in Clark County, NV (N–90426)
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The reversionary interest held
by the United States in a 5.22-acre
parcel of public land is determined
suitable for direct sale and release to the
Paradise Bible Baptist Church, under
the authority of the Federal Land Policy
and Management Act, as amended. The
purpose of the direct sale is to dispose
of the reversionary interest clause in the
patented lands, which represents certain
restrictions and conditions that prevents
the Paradise Bible Baptist Church from
using the land for other purposes.
DATES: Interested parties may submit
written comments regarding the direct
sale and release of reversionary interest
until January 5, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM),
Las Vegas Field Manager, 4701 N.
Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada
89130, or email: ddickey@blm.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dorothy Jean Dickey, 702–515–5119, or
ddickey@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: On
February 5, 1998, a 5.22-acre parcel was
patented (patent number 27–98–0017) to
the Paradise Bible Baptist Church under
the authority of the R&PP Act of June
14, 1926, as amended, 43 U.S.C. 869 et
seq. The purpose for which the land can
be used is restricted by a reversionary
clause in the patent, which returns title
to the United States if the tract is used
for other purposes not provided for in
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\21NON1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 225 (Friday, November 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69522-69523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27642]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
[AAK6006201 145A2100DD AOR3030.999900]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
Aiya Solar Project on the Moapa River Indian Reservation, Clark County,
NV
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In order to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), as lead agency in
cooperation with the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians (Moapa Band), the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and other Federal agencies, intend to
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that will evaluate a
photovoltaic solar energy generation project on the Moapa River Indian
Reservation and a transmission line located on tribal lands, private
lands and Federal lands administered and managed by BLM in Clark
County, Nevada.
This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to
solicit public comments and identify potential issues related to the
EIS. It also announces that two public scoping meetings will be held in
Nevada to identify potential issues, alternatives, and mitigation to be
considered in the EIS.
DATES: The dates and locations of the public scoping meetings will be
published in the Las Vegas Sun, Las Vegas Review-Journal, and Moapa
Valley Progress 15 days before the scoping meetings. Written comments
on the scope of the EIS or implementation of the proposal must arrive
by December 22, 2014.
ADDRESSES: You may mail, email, or hand carry written comments to
either Mr. Paul Schlafly, Natural Resource Specialist, Bureau of Indian
Affairs, Southern Paiute Agency, 180 North 200 East Suite 111, P.O. Box
720, St. George, Utah 84770; telephone: (435) 674-9720; email:
paul.schlafly@bia.gov, or Mr. Chip Lewis, Acting Regional Environmental
Compliance Officer, BIA Western Regional Office, 2600 North Central
Avenue, 4th Floor Mailroom, Phoenix, Arizona 85004; telephone: (602)
379-6782; email: chip.lewis@bia.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed Federal action, taken under 25
U.S.C. 415, is BIA's approval of a solar energy ground lease and
associated agreements entered into by the Moapa Band with a subsidiary
of First Solar, Inc. (First Solar) to provide for construction and
operation of an up-to 100 megawatt (MW) alternating current solar
photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation facility located entirely on
the Moapa River Indian Reservation and specifically on lands held in
trust by BIA for the Moapa Band. The proposed 230 kilovolt (kV)
generation-tie transmission line required for interconnection may be
located on Tribal lands, private lands and/or Federal lands
administered and managed by BLM. First Solar has accordingly requested
that the BIA and BLM additionally approve right-of-ways (ROWs)
authorizing the construction and operation of the transmission line.
Together, the proposed solar energy facility, transmission line, and
other associated facilities will make up the proposed Moapa River Solar
Project (Project).
The Project would be located in Township 14 South, Range 66 East,
Sections 29, 30, 31, and 32 Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada. The
generation facility would generate electricity using First Solar's PV
panels. Also included would be inverters, a collection system, an on-
site substation to step-up the voltage to transmission-level voltage at
230 kV, an operations and maintenance building, and other related
facilities. A single overhead 230 kV generation-tie transmission line,
approximately 1.5 to 3 miles long, would connect the solar project to
either NV Energy's Reid-Gardner 230kV substation or the proposed Reid
Gardner Collector Substation, which is under development by NV Energy.
Construction of the Project is expected to take approximately 12 to
15 months. First Solar is expected to operate the energy facility for
30 years, with two options to renew the lease for an additional 10
years, if mutually acceptable to the Moapa Tribe and First Solar. The
Project is expected to be built in one phase of up to 100 MW, per the
demand of potential off-takers or utilities. During construction, the
PV panels will be placed on top of fixed-tilt and/or single-axis
tracking mounting systems that are set on steel posts embedded in the
ground. Other foundation design techniques may be used depending on the
site topography and conditions. No water will be used to generate
electricity during operations. Water will be needed during construction
for dust control and a minimal amount will be needed during operations
for landscape irrigation and administrative and sanitary water use on
site. The water supply required for the Project would be leased from
the
[[Page 69523]]
Moapa Band and the EIS will consider the impacts of alternative sources
and delivery methods.
The purposes of the Project are to: (1) Help to provide a long-
term, diverse, and viable economic revenue base and job opportunities
for the Moapa Band; (2) help Nevada and neighboring States to meet
their State renewable energy needs; and (3) allow the Moapa Band, in
partnership with First Solar, to optimize the use of the lease site
while maximizing the potential economic benefit to the Tribe.
The BIA will prepare the EIS in cooperation with the Moapa Band,
BLM, and possibly the Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection
Agency, and National Park Service. In addition, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS) will provide input on the analysis. The
resulting EIS will aim to: (1) Provide agency decision makers, the
Moapa Band, and the general public with a comprehensive understanding
of the impacts of the proposed Project and alternatives on the
Reservation; (2) describe the cumulative impacts of increased
development on the Reservation; and (3) identify and propose mitigation
measures that would minimize or prevent significant adverse impacts.
Consistent with these objectives, the EIS will analyze the proposed
Project and appurtenant features, viable alternatives including other
interconnection options, modified footprint alternatives, alternate
routing for Project ROWs, and the No Action alternative. Other
alternatives may be identified in response to issues raised during the
scoping process.
The EIS will provide a framework for BIA and BLM to make
determinations and to decide whether to take the aforementioned Federal
actions. In addition, BIA will use and coordinate the NEPA commenting
process to satisfy its obligations under Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f) as provided for in 36 CFR
800.2(d)(3). Tribal consultations will be conducted in accordance with
policy, and tribal concerns will be given due consideration, including
impacts on Indian trust assets. Other Federal agencies may rely on the
EIS to make decisions under their authority and the Moapa Band may also
use the EIS to make decisions under their Tribal Environmental Policy
Ordinance. The USFWS will review the EIS for consistency with the
Endangered Species Act, as amended, and other implementing acts, and
may rely on the EIS to support its decisions and opinions regarding the
Project.
Issues to be covered during the scoping process may include, but
would not be limited to, Project impacts on: Air quality, geology and
soils, surface and groundwater resources, biological resources,
threatened and endangered species, cultural resources, socioeconomic
conditions, land use, aesthetics, environmental justice, and Indian
trust resources. In addition to those already identified above,
Federal, State, and local agencies, along with other stakeholders that
may be interested or affected by the BIA's decision on the proposed
Project, are invited to participate in the scoping process.
Directions for Submitting Comments
Please include your name, return address, and the caption ``EIS,
First Solar Solar Project,'' on the first page of any written comments.
You may also submit comments at the public scoping meetings.
The public scoping meetings will be held to further describe the
Project and identify potential issues and alternatives to be considered
in the EIS. The first public scoping meeting will be held on the
Reservation and the other public scoping meeting will be held in Las
Vegas, Nevada. The dates of the public scoping meetings will be
included in notices to be posted in the Las Vegas Sun, Las Vegas
Review-Journal, and Moapa Valley Progress 15 days before the meetings.
Public Comment Availability
Comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be
available for public review at the mailing address shown in the
ADDRESSES section during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 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.
Authority
This notice is published in accordance with 40 CFR 1501.7 of the
Council of Environmental Quality regulations and 43 CFR 46.235 of the
Department of the Interior Regulations implementing the procedural
requirements of the NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and in accordance
with the exercise of authority delegated to the Assistant Secretary--
Indian Affairs by part 209 of the Department Manual.
Dated: November 14, 2014.
Kevin K. Washburn,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2014-27642 Filed 11-20-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-W7-P
