Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and a Possible Land Use Plan Amendment for the Proposed Crescent Peak Wind Project, West of Searchlight in Clark County, Nevada; and a Notice of Public Lands Segregation, 11559-11561 [2018-05273]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 51 / Thursday, March 15, 2018 / Notices
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
settlement of their natural resource
damage claims with BP in an April 4,
2016, Consent Decree approved by the
United States District Court for the
Eastern District of Louisiana. Pursuant
to that Consent Decree, restoration
projects in the Florida Restoration Area
are now chosen and managed by the
Florida TIG. The Florida TIG is
composed of the following six Trustees:
State of Florida Department of
Environmental Protection and Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission;
DOI; NOAA; EPA; and USDA.
A notice of availability of the Draft
Phase V.2 Restoration Plan and
Supplemental Environmental
Assessment was published in the
Federal Register on November 8, 2017
(82 FR 51858). The public was provided
with a period to review and comment
on the Draft Restoration Plan, from
November 8, 2017, through December 8,
2017, and a public meeting was held on
November 16, 2017, in Port St. Joe,
Florida. The Florida TIG considered the
public comments received, which
informed the TIG’s analyses and
selection of the preferred restoration
alternative, the Salinas Park Addition
project, in the Final Phase V.2 RP/SEA.
A summary of the public comments
received, and the Florida TIG’s
responses to those comments, are
addressed in Chapter 6 of the Final
Phase V.2 RP/SEA. The FONSI is
included as Appendix C of the Final
Phase V.2 RP/SEA.
Background
In the 2011 Framework Agreement for
Early Restoration Addressing Injuries
Resulting from the Deepwater Horizon
Oil Spill (Framework Agreement), BP
agreed to provide to the Trustees up to
$1 billion toward early restoration
projects in the Gulf of Mexico to address
injuries to natural resources caused by
the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The
Framework Agreement represented a
preliminary step toward the restoration
of injured natural resources and was
intended to expedite the start of
restoration in the Gulf in advance of the
completion of the injury assessment
process. In the five phases of the early
restoration process, the Trustees
selected, and BP agreed to fund, a total
of 65 early restoration projects expected
to cost a total of approximately $877
million. The Trustees selected these
projects after public notice, public
meetings, and consideration of public
comments.
The April 4, 2016, Consent Decree
terminated and replaced the Framework
Agreement and provided that the
Trustees shall use remaining early
restoration funds as specified in the
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:34 Mar 14, 2018
Jkt 244001
early restoration plans and in
accordance with the Consent Decree.
The Trustees have determined that
decisions concerning any unexpended
early restoration funds are to be made
by the appropriate TIG, in this case the
Florida TIG.
Overview of the Final Phase V.2 RP/
SEA
The Final Phase V.2 RP/SEA/FONSI
is being released in accordance with
OPA, NRDA regulations found in the
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 15
CFR part 990, NEPA, the Consent
Decree, the Final PDARP/PEIS, the
Phase III ERP/PEIS and the Phase V
ERP/EA. The purpose of this notice is to
inform the public of the availability of
the Final Phase V.2 RP/SEA and FONSI.
The Florida TIG has selected to fund
the second phase of the Florida Coastal
Access Project in the Final Phase V.2
RP/SEA to address lost recreational
opportunities in Florida caused by the
Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In the Final
Phase V.2 RP/SEA, the Florida TIG
selected to fund one alternative, the
Salinas Park Addition, which involves
the acquisition and enhancement of a
6.6-acre coastal parcel. The Florida
Coastal Access Project was allocated
approximately $45.4 million in early
restoration funds, and the Salinas Park
Addition will cost approximately $3.2
million of the $6.4 million remaining
funds not utilized in the first phase of
the Florida Coastal Access Project.
Details on the second phase of the
Florida Coastal Access Project are
provided in the Final Phase V.2 RP/
SEA. Additional restoration planning
for the Florida Restoration Area will
continue.
Administrative Record
The documents comprising the
Administrative Record for the Final
Phase V.2 RP/SEA can be viewed at
https://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/
administrativerecord.
Authority
The authority of this action is the Oil
Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701 et
seq.) and its implementing Natural
Resource Damage Assessment
regulations found at 15 CFR part 990
and the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
Kevin D. Reynolds,
Designated Department of the Interior Natural
Resource Trustee Official for the Florida
Implementation Group.
[FR Doc. 2018–05137 Filed 3–14–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
PO 00000
Frm 00072
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
11559
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNVS01000. L51010000.PQ0000.
LVRWF09F1840; N–094470;
MO#4500108571; TAS: 14X5017]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement and a
Possible Land Use Plan Amendment
for the Proposed Crescent Peak Wind
Project, West of Searchlight in Clark
County, Nevada; and a Notice of Public
Lands Segregation
Bureau of Land Management,
Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
As requested by Crescent
Peak Renewables, LLC, and in
compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended (NEPA), the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM), Las Vegas Field
Office will prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS), which may
include a Plan Amendment to the 1998
Las Vegas Resource Management Plan
(RMP) or subsequent RMP, for a
proposed wind energy project located
on public lands 10 miles west of
Searchlight in Clark County, Nevada.
Publication of this Notice initiates the
scoping process and opens a 90-day
public comment period. The BLM is
considering a Plan Amendment to
change the Visual Resource
Management classification of the project
area. Through a separate ongoing
process, the 1998 Las Vegas RMP is
being revised. If the BLM issues a
Record of Decision (ROD) before the
RMP revision is completed, and a
change to the plan is determined to be
necessary, then the ROD would amend
the 1998 RMP. If the ROD comes after
RMP revision is completed, and a
change to the plan is necessary, then the
ROD would amend the revised RMP.
Publication of this Notice serves to
segregate the public lands from
appropriation under the public land
laws, including location under the
Mining Law, but not the Mineral
Leasing Act or the Materials Act, subject
to valid existing rights. This Notice
initiates the public scoping process and
the segregation.
DATES: Comments on issues may be
submitted in writing until June 13,
2018. The date(s) and location(s) of the
scoping meetings will be announced at
least 15 days prior in a news release and
on the BLM website at: https://bit.ly/
2tkVGC5.
Comments must be received prior to
the close of the scoping period or no
later than 15 days after the last public
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\15MRN1.SGM
15MRN1
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
11560
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 51 / Thursday, March 15, 2018 / Notices
meeting, whichever is later, to be
included in the Draft EIS. The BLM will
provide additional opportunities for
public participation upon publication of
the Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments related to
the project by any of the following
methods:
• Email: blm_nv_sndo_crescentpeak@
blm.gov.
• Fax: (702) 515–5155, attention
Gayle Marrs-Smith.
• Mail: BLM, Las Vegas Field Office,
Attn: Gayle Marrs-Smith, 4701 North
Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV
89130–2301.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information and/or to have your
name added to the mailing list, send
requests to: Gayle Marrs-Smith, Field
Manager, at telephone (702) 515–5199;
or address 4701 North Torrey Pines
Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130–2301; or
email blm_nv_sndo_crescentpeak@
blm.gov. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to
contact the above individual during
normal business hours. The FRS 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
November 16, 2015, Crescent Peak
Renewables, LLC, submitted an
application to BLM requesting
authorization to construct, operate,
maintain, and terminate an up-to-500
megawatt wind energy generation
facility—Crescent Peak Renewables (N–
94470). It would be located on four sites
and constructed in two phases. The
project area is 22 miles long (north and
south) and 5 miles wide (east and west),
covers 32,531 acres of public land and
is located 10 miles west of Searchlight,
Nevada.
Due to the size and potential impacts
of the Crescent Peak wind project, the
BLM is preparing an EIS. The purpose
of the public scoping process is to
identify relevant issues that will
influence the scope of the
environmental analysis, including
alternatives, and to guide the process for
developing the potential Plan
Amendment. The BLM has identified
the following preliminary issues:
biological resources, visual resources,
cultural resources, tribal interests,
recreation, and cumulative impacts.
The BLM will use the NEPA public
commenting process to satisfy the
public involvement process for Section
106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (NHPA) (54 U.S.C.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:34 Mar 14, 2018
Jkt 244001
306108), as provided for in 36 CFR
800.2(d)(3). The information about
historic and cultural resources within
the area potentially affected by the
project will assist the BLM in
identifying and evaluating impacts to
such resources in the context of both
NEPA and Section 106 of the NHPA.
The BLM will consult with Native
American tribes on a government-togovernment basis in accordance with
applicable laws, regulations, Executive
Order 13175, and other policies. Tribal
concerns will be given due
consideration, including impacts on
Indian Trust assets. The Federal, State,
and local agencies, along with other
stakeholders that may be interested or
affected by the BLM’s decision on this
project, are invited to participate in the
scoping process and, if eligible, may
request or be requested by the BLM to
participate as a cooperating agency.
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.
Segregation of the Public Lands
In 2013, the BLM published a Final
Rule, Segregation of Lands—Renewable
Energy (78 FR 25204), that amended the
regulations found in 43 CFR 2090 and
2800. The provisions of the Final Rule
allow the BLM to temporarily segregate
public lands within a solar or wind
application area from the operation of
the public land laws, including the
Mining Law, by publication of a Federal
Register Notice. This temporary
segregation does not affect valid existing
rights of mining claims located before
this segregation notice. The purpose of
this temporary segregation is to allow
for the orderly administration of the
public lands associated with the BLM’s
consideration of this renewable energy
ROW. Licenses, permits, cooperative
agreements, or discretionary land use
authorizations of a temporary nature
will not impact lands identified in this
Notice and may be allowed with the
approval of the authorized officer of the
BLM. The lands segregated under this
Notice are legally described as follows:
Mount Diablo Meridian, Clark County,
Nevada
Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada
T. 27 S., R. 61 E.,
PO 00000
Frm 00073
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Sec. 27, E1⁄2, E1⁄2NW1⁄4, and E1⁄2SW1⁄4;
Sec. 33, SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, E1⁄2SE1⁄4, and
S1⁄2SW1⁄4;
Sec. 34.
T. 28 S., R. 60 E.,
Sec. 1, lot 4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4, SW1⁄4, and
S1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 12;
Sec. 13, except Patented Mineral Survey
No. 2594.
T. 28 S., R. 61 E.,
Secs. 3 and 4;
Sec. 5, lot 1 and SE1⁄4NE1⁄4;
Sec. 6, S1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Secs. 7, 8, and 9;
Sec. 10, N1⁄2NE1⁄4, N1⁄2NW1⁄4, and
SE1⁄4SW1⁄4;
Sec. 13 and 14, except Patented Mineral
Survey No. 4490 and 4579;
Sec. 15, SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, SE1⁄4SW1⁄4, and SE1⁄4;
Sec. 16, N1⁄2NE1⁄4 and N1⁄2NW1⁄4;
Sec. 17;
Sec. 18, except Patented Mineral Survey
No. 2594;
Sec. 22, except Patented Mineral Survey
No. 2945 and 2940;
Sec. 23, except Patented Mineral Survey
No. 2776, 4799, and 4579;
Sec. 24, except Patented Mineral Survey
No. 4579;
Sec. 25, except Patented Mineral Survey
No. 2632;
Sec. 26, except Patented Mineral Survey
No. 2939, 2687, and 4799;
Sec. 27, except Patented Mineral Survey
No. 2939, 2687, and 2945;
Sec. 33, E1⁄2NE1⁄4 and E1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Secs. 34 and 35, except Patented Mineral
Survey No. 2687;
Sec. 36.
T. 28 S., R. 62 E.,
Secs. 18, 19, and 30;
Sec. 31, lots 5 thru 12, NE1⁄4, and
E1⁄2NW1⁄4.
T. 29 S., R. 61 E.,
Sec. 1, lots 1 thru 4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4, and
S1⁄2NW1⁄4, except Patented Mineral
Survey No. 3580;
Sec. 2, lots 1 thru 4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4, and
S1⁄2NW1⁄4;
Sec. 3, lots 1 thru 4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4, and
S1⁄2NW1⁄4;
Secs. 10 thru 15 and secs. 22 thru 26.
T. 29 S., R. 62 E.,
Sec. 6, lots 3 thru 7, SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, and
E1⁄2SW1⁄4;
Sec. 32, SE1⁄4SE1⁄4;
Sec. 33, NW1⁄4NE1⁄4, NE1⁄4NW1⁄4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4,
S1⁄2NW1⁄4, and S1⁄2.
T. 30 S., R. 62 E.,
Secs. 3 and 4;
Sec. 5, except Patented Mineral Survey No.
4803;
Secs. 6, 8, 9, and 10;
Sec. 15, except Patented Mineral Survey
No. 2652;
Secs. 16, 22 thru 26, and 36.
T. 30 S., R. 63 E.,
Secs. 30 and 31.
T. 31 S., R. 63 E.,
Sec. 6.
As provided in the Final Rule, the
segregation of lands in this Notice will
not exceed two years from the date of
publication of this Notice, though it can
E:\FR\FM\15MRN1.SGM
15MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 51 / Thursday, March 15, 2018 / Notices
be extended for up to two additional
years through publication of a new
notice in the Federal Register.
Termination of the segregation occurs
on the earliest of the following dates:
upon issuance of a decision by the
authorized officer granting, granting
with modifications, or denying the
application for a right-of-way;
automatically at the end of the
segregation; or upon publication of a
Federal Register Notice of termination
of the segregation.
Upon termination of segregation of
these lands, all lands subject to this
segregation will automatically reopen to
appropriation under the public land
laws.
(Authority: 43 CFR 2800 and 2090)
Gayle Marrs-Smith,
Las Vegas Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 2018–05273 Filed 3–14–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation
and Enforcement
[S1D1S SS08011000 SX066A0067F
178S180110; S2D2D SS08011000 SX066A00
33F 17XS501520; OMB Control Number
1029–0112]
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Requirements for Coal
Exploration
Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we,
the Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE)
are proposing to renew an information
collection related to requirements for
coal exploration.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before April 16,
2018
ADDRESSES: Send written comments on
this information collection request (ICR)
to the Office of Management and
Budget’s Desk Officer for the
Department of the Interior by email at
OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov; or via
facsimile to (202) 395–5806. Please
provide a copy of your comments to
John Trelease, Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement, 1849 C
Street NW, Mail Stop 4559, Washington,
DC 20240; or by email to jtrelease@
osmre.gov. Please reference OMB
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:34 Mar 14, 2018
Jkt 244001
Control Number 1029–0112 in the
subject line of your comments.
To
request additional information about
this ICR, contact John Trelease by email
at jtrelease@osmre.gov, or by telephone
at (202) 208–2783. You may also view
the ICR at https://www.reginfo.gov/
public/do/PRAMain.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, we provide the
general public and other Federal
agencies with an opportunity to
comment on new, proposed, revised,
and continuing collections of
information. This helps us assess the
impact of our information collection
requirements and minimize the public’s
reporting burden. It also helps the
public understand our information
collection requirements and provides
the requested data in the desired format.
A Federal Register notice with a 60day public comment period soliciting
comments on this collection of
information was published on
November 20, 2017 (82 FR 55114). No
comments were received.
We are again soliciting comments on
the proposed ICR that is described
below. We are especially interested in
public comment addressing the
following issues: (1) Is the collection
necessary to the proper functions of
OSMRE; (2) is the estimate of burden
accurate; (3) how might OSMRE
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
of the information to be collected; and
(4) how might OSMRE minimize the
burden of this collection on the
respondents, including through the use
of information technology.
Comments that you submit in
response to this notice are a matter of
public record. 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.
Title: 30 CFR part 772—Requirements
for coal exploration.
OMB Control Number: 1029–0112.
Abstract: OSMRE and State regulatory
authorities use the information collected
under 30 CFR part 772 to keep track of
coal exploration activities, evaluate the
need for an exploration permit, and
ensure that exploration activities
comply with the environmental
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
PO 00000
Frm 00074
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
11561
protection and reclamation
requirements of 30 CFR parts 772 and
815, and section 512 of SMCRA (30
U.S.C. 1262).
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: Persons
planning to conduct coal exploration
and State regulatory authorities.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Respondents: 320 coal operators and 24
State regulatory authorities.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 613.
Estimated Completion Time per
Response: Varies from .5 hours to 70
hours, depending on type of respondent
and activity.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 1,864 hours.
Respondent’s Obligation: Required to
Obtain or Retain a Benefit.
Frequency of Collection: One time.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour
Burden Cost: $288.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor and a person is not required to
respond to a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number.
The authority for this action is the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
Dated: March 12, 2018.
John A. Trelease,
Acting Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.
[FR Doc. 2018–05236 Filed 3–14–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–05–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation
and Enforcement
[S1D1S SS08011000 SX066A0067F
178S180110; S2D2D SS08011000 SX066A00
33F 17XS501520; OMB Control Number
1029–0040]
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Requirements for
Permits for Special Categories of
Mining
Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we,
the Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE)
are proposing to renew an information
collection relating to requirements for
permits for special categories of mining.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\15MRN1.SGM
15MRN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 51 (Thursday, March 15, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11559-11561]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05273]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNVS01000. L51010000.PQ0000. LVRWF09F1840; N-094470; MO#4500108571;
TAS: 14X5017]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and
a Possible Land Use Plan Amendment for the Proposed Crescent Peak Wind
Project, West of Searchlight in Clark County, Nevada; and a Notice of
Public Lands Segregation
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: As requested by Crescent Peak Renewables, LLC, and in
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Las Vegas Field
Office will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which may
include a Plan Amendment to the 1998 Las Vegas Resource Management Plan
(RMP) or subsequent RMP, for a proposed wind energy project located on
public lands 10 miles west of Searchlight in Clark County, Nevada.
Publication of this Notice initiates the scoping process and opens a
90-day public comment period. The BLM is considering a Plan Amendment
to change the Visual Resource Management classification of the project
area. Through a separate ongoing process, the 1998 Las Vegas RMP is
being revised. If the BLM issues a Record of Decision (ROD) before the
RMP revision is completed, and a change to the plan is determined to be
necessary, then the ROD would amend the 1998 RMP. If the ROD comes
after RMP revision is completed, and a change to the plan is necessary,
then the ROD would amend the revised RMP. Publication of this Notice
serves to segregate the public lands from appropriation under the
public land laws, including location under the Mining Law, but not the
Mineral Leasing Act or the Materials Act, subject to valid existing
rights. This Notice initiates the public scoping process and the
segregation.
DATES: Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until June 13,
2018. The date(s) and location(s) of the scoping meetings will be
announced at least 15 days prior in a news release and on the BLM
website at: https://bit.ly/2tkVGC5.
Comments must be received prior to the close of the scoping period
or no later than 15 days after the last public
[[Page 11560]]
meeting, whichever is later, to be included in the Draft EIS. The BLM
will provide additional opportunities for public participation upon
publication of the Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments related to the project by any of the
following methods:
Email: [email protected].
Fax: (702) 515-5155, attention Gayle Marrs-Smith.
Mail: BLM, Las Vegas Field Office, Attn: Gayle Marrs-
Smith, 4701 North Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130-2301.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have
your name added to the mailing list, send requests to: Gayle Marrs-
Smith, Field Manager, at telephone (702) 515-5199; or address 4701
North Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130-2301; or email
[email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at
1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business
hours. The FRS 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 November 16, 2015, Crescent Peak
Renewables, LLC, submitted an application to BLM requesting
authorization to construct, operate, maintain, and terminate an up-to-
500 megawatt wind energy generation facility--Crescent Peak Renewables
(N-94470). It would be located on four sites and constructed in two
phases. The project area is 22 miles long (north and south) and 5 miles
wide (east and west), covers 32,531 acres of public land and is located
10 miles west of Searchlight, Nevada.
Due to the size and potential impacts of the Crescent Peak wind
project, the BLM is preparing an EIS. The purpose of the public scoping
process is to identify relevant issues that will influence the scope of
the environmental analysis, including alternatives, and to guide the
process for developing the potential Plan Amendment. The BLM has
identified the following preliminary issues: biological resources,
visual resources, cultural resources, tribal interests, recreation, and
cumulative impacts.
The BLM will use the NEPA public commenting process to satisfy the
public involvement process for Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (NHPA) (54 U.S.C. 306108), as provided for in 36 CFR
800.2(d)(3). The information about historic and cultural resources
within the area potentially affected by the project will assist the BLM
in identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources in the context
of both NEPA and Section 106 of the NHPA.
The BLM will consult with Native American tribes on a government-
to-government basis in accordance with applicable laws, regulations,
Executive Order 13175, and other policies. Tribal concerns will be
given due consideration, including impacts on Indian Trust assets. The
Federal, State, and local agencies, along with other stakeholders that
may be interested or affected by the BLM's decision on this project,
are invited to participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may
request or be requested by the BLM to participate as a cooperating
agency.
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.
Segregation of the Public Lands
In 2013, the BLM published a Final Rule, Segregation of Lands--
Renewable Energy (78 FR 25204), that amended the regulations found in
43 CFR 2090 and 2800. The provisions of the Final Rule allow the BLM to
temporarily segregate public lands within a solar or wind application
area from the operation of the public land laws, including the Mining
Law, by publication of a Federal Register Notice. This temporary
segregation does not affect valid existing rights of mining claims
located before this segregation notice. The purpose of this temporary
segregation is to allow for the orderly administration of the public
lands associated with the BLM's consideration of this renewable energy
ROW. Licenses, permits, cooperative agreements, or discretionary land
use authorizations of a temporary nature will not impact lands
identified in this Notice and may be allowed with the approval of the
authorized officer of the BLM. The lands segregated under this Notice
are legally described as follows:
Mount Diablo Meridian, Clark County, Nevada
Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada
T. 27 S., R. 61 E.,
Sec. 27, E\1/2\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, and E\1/2\SW\1/4\;
Sec. 33, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, E\1/2\SE\1/4\, and S\1/2\SW\1/4\;
Sec. 34.
T. 28 S., R. 60 E.,
Sec. 1, lot 4, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
Sec. 12;
Sec. 13, except Patented Mineral Survey No. 2594.
T. 28 S., R. 61 E.,
Secs. 3 and 4;
Sec. 5, lot 1 and SE\1/4\NE\1/4\;
Sec. 6, S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
Secs. 7, 8, and 9;
Sec. 10, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\NW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SW\1/4\;
Sec. 13 and 14, except Patented Mineral Survey No. 4490 and
4579;
Sec. 15, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
Sec. 16, N\1/2\NE\1/4\ and N\1/2\NW\1/4\;
Sec. 17;
Sec. 18, except Patented Mineral Survey No. 2594;
Sec. 22, except Patented Mineral Survey No. 2945 and 2940;
Sec. 23, except Patented Mineral Survey No. 2776, 4799, and
4579;
Sec. 24, except Patented Mineral Survey No. 4579;
Sec. 25, except Patented Mineral Survey No. 2632;
Sec. 26, except Patented Mineral Survey No. 2939, 2687, and
4799;
Sec. 27, except Patented Mineral Survey No. 2939, 2687, and
2945;
Sec. 33, E\1/2\NE\1/4\ and E\1/2\SE\1/4\;
Secs. 34 and 35, except Patented Mineral Survey No. 2687;
Sec. 36.
T. 28 S., R. 62 E.,
Secs. 18, 19, and 30;
Sec. 31, lots 5 thru 12, NE\1/4\, and E\1/2\NW\1/4\.
T. 29 S., R. 61 E.,
Sec. 1, lots 1 thru 4, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, and S\1/2\NW\1/4\, except
Patented Mineral Survey No. 3580;
Sec. 2, lots 1 thru 4, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, and S\1/2\NW\1/4\;
Sec. 3, lots 1 thru 4, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, and S\1/2\NW\1/4\;
Secs. 10 thru 15 and secs. 22 thru 26.
T. 29 S., R. 62 E.,
Sec. 6, lots 3 thru 7, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, and E\1/2\SW\1/4\;
Sec. 32, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
Sec. 33, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\NW\1/4\, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, S\1/
2\NW\1/4\, and S\1/2\.
T. 30 S., R. 62 E.,
Secs. 3 and 4;
Sec. 5, except Patented Mineral Survey No. 4803;
Secs. 6, 8, 9, and 10;
Sec. 15, except Patented Mineral Survey No. 2652;
Secs. 16, 22 thru 26, and 36.
T. 30 S., R. 63 E.,
Secs. 30 and 31.
T. 31 S., R. 63 E.,
Sec. 6.
As provided in the Final Rule, the segregation of lands in this
Notice will not exceed two years from the date of publication of this
Notice, though it can
[[Page 11561]]
be extended for up to two additional years through publication of a new
notice in the Federal Register. Termination of the segregation occurs
on the earliest of the following dates: upon issuance of a decision by
the authorized officer granting, granting with modifications, or
denying the application for a right-of-way; automatically at the end of
the segregation; or upon publication of a Federal Register Notice of
termination of the segregation.
Upon termination of segregation of these lands, all lands subject
to this segregation will automatically reopen to appropriation under
the public land laws.
(Authority: 43 CFR 2800 and 2090)
Gayle Marrs-Smith,
Las Vegas Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 2018-05273 Filed 3-14-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P