Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Eagle Shadow Mountain Solar Project, Clark County, Nevada, 70205-70206 [2019-27531]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 245 / Friday, December 20, 2019 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
[AAK6006201 190A2100DD
AOR3030.999900]
Final Environmental Impact Statement
for the Proposed Eagle Shadow
Mountain Solar Project, Clark County,
Nevada
Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
This notice advises the public
that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA),
as the lead Federal agency, with the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS), Nevada Department of
Wildlife (NDOW), and the Moapa Band
of Paiute Indians (Band) as Cooperating
Agencies, intends to file a Final
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)
with the EPA for the proposed Eagle
Shadow Mountain Solar Project (ESM
Solar Project) on the Moapa River
Indian Reservation (Reservation) in
Clark County, Nevada. This notice also
announces that the FEIS is now
available for public review.
DATES: The FEIS is available at the
following website:
www.esmsolareis.com. In order to be
fully considered, written comments on
the FEIS must arrive no later than 30
days after EPA publishes its Notice of
Availability in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: You may mail, email, hand
carry or telefax written comments to Mr.
Chip Lewis, Regional Environmental
Protection Officer, BIA Western
Regional Office, Branch of
Environmental Quality Services, 2600
North Central Avenue, 4th Floor Mail
Room, Phoenix, Arizona 85004–3008;
fax (602) 379–3833; email: chip.lewis@
bia.gov.
SUMMARY:
Mr.
Chip Lewis, BIA Western Regional
Office, Branch of Environmental Quality
Services, 2600 North Central Avenue,
Phoenix, Arizona 85004–3008,
telephone (602) 379–6750; or Mr. Garry
Cantley at (602) 379–6750.
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 Band
with 326MK 8me LLC (Applicant), to
provide for construction, operation,
maintenance, and eventual
decommissioning of an up-to 300
megawatt (MW) alternating current solar
photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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18:30 Dec 19, 2019
Jkt 250001
facility located entirely on the Moapa
River Indian Reservation (Reservation)
and specifically on lands held in trust
by BIA for the Band. The proposed 230
kilovolt (kV) generation-tie transmission
line required for interconnection would
be located on Reservation lands,
Reservation lands within a designated
utility corridor and federal lands
administered and managed by BLM, and
private lands. In addition, the Applicant
would require the use of an existing
access road also located both within the
utility corridor and federal lands
managed by the BLM. The Applicant
has accordingly requested that the BIA
and BLM additionally approve rights-ofway (ROWs) authorizing the
construction and operation of the
transmission line and use of the existing
access road. Together, the proposed
solar energy facility, transmission line,
access road, and other associated
facilities make up the proposed ESM
Solar Project.
The solar facility would generate
electricity using PV panels. Also
included would be inverters, a
collection system, a potential battery
storage 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. An overhead 230 kV
generation-tie transmission line,
approximately 12.5 miles long, would
connect the solar project to NV Energy’s
Reid-Gardner 230 kV substation.
Construction of the ESM Solar Project
is expected to take approximately 16 to
18 months. The Applicant is expected to
operate the energy facility for 30 years,
with two options to renew the lease for
an additional 5 years each, if mutually
acceptable to the Band and Applicant.
During construction, the PV panels
would be placed on 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 would be used
to generate electricity during operations.
Water would be needed during
construction for dust control and a
minimal amount would be needed
during operations for panel washing and
administrative and sanitary water use
on site. The water supply required for
the Project would be leased from the
Band and would be provided via
existing nearby wells. Access to the
ESM Solar Project would be provided
via the existing access road that
connects to North Las Vegas Boulevard.
The purposes of the ESM Solar Project
are to: (1) Help to provide a long-term,
diverse, and viable economic revenue
base and job opportunities for the Band;
PO 00000
Frm 00060
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
70205
(2) help the state of Nevada to meet its
renewable energy needs; and (3) allow
the Band, in partnership with the
Applicant, to optimize the use of the
lease site while maximizing the
potential economic benefit to the Band.
The BIA and BLM will use the EIS to
make decisions on the land lease and
ROW applications under their
respective jurisdiction; the EPA may use
the document to make decisions under
its authorities; the Band may use the EIS
to make decisions under its
Environmental Policy Ordinance; and
the USFWS may use the EIS to support
its decision under the Endangered
Species Act.
Directions for Submitting Comments:
Please include your name, return
address and the caption: ‘‘FEIS
Comments, Proposed Eagle Shadow
Mountain Solar Project’’, on the first
page of your written comments.
Locations Where the FEIS is Available
for Review: The FEIS will be available
for review at: BIA Western Regional
Office, 2600 North Central Avenue, 12th
Floor, Suite 210, Phoenix, Arizona; BIA
Southern Paiute Agency, 180 North 200
East, Suite 111, St. George, Utah; and
the BLM Southern Nevada District
Office, 4701 North Torrey Pines Drive,
Las Vegas, Nevada. The FEIS is also
available on line at:
www.esmsolareis.com.
To obtain a compact disk copy of the
FEIS, please provide your name and
address in writing or by voicemail to
Mr. Chip Lewis or Mr. Garry Cantley.
Their contact information is listed in the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section of this notice. An individual
paper copy of the FEIS will be provided
only upon request.
Public Comment Availability: Written
comments, including names and
addresses of respondents will be
available for public review at the BIA
Western Regional Office, 2600 North
Central Avenue, 12th Floor, Suite 210,
Phoenix, Arizona during regular
business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 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 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.
Authority: This notice is published in
accordance with section 1503.1 of the
Council on Environmental Quality
regulations (40 CFR 1500 et seq.) and
E:\FR\FM\20DEN1.SGM
20DEN1
70206
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 245 / Friday, December 20, 2019 / Notices
the Department of the Interior
Regulations (43 CFR part 46)
implementing the procedural
requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act (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: December 17, 2019.
Tara Sweeney,
Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2019–27531 Filed 12–19–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[19X.LL.AZP01000.L1400000.EQ0000; AZA–
37401]
Notice of Realty Action: Classification
and Segregation for Lease/
Conveyance for Recreation and Public
Purposes for Proposed Poston Butte
Preserve in Pinal County, AZ
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of realty action.
AGENCY:
In accordance with Section 7
of the Taylor Grazing Act and Executive
Order 6910, as amended, the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) has examined
certain public lands in Pinal County,
Arizona, and has found them suitable
for classification for lease or conveyance
to the Town of Florence, under the
provisions of the Recreation and Public
Purposes (R&PP) Act of June 14, 1926,
as amended.
DATES: Interested parties may submit
written comments regarding this
proposed classification for lease or
conveyance on or before February 3,
2020.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Edward J. Kender, Field Manager, BLM
Lower Sonoran Field Office, 21605
North 7th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85027.
Detailed information including, but not
limited to, a proposed plan of
development and preliminary maps are
available for review during business
hours, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mountain
Standard Time, Monday through Friday,
except during Federal holidays, at the
BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sirita Benally, Realty Specialist, at the
location listed in the ADDRESSES section,
by phone at 623–580–5557, or by email
at sbenally@blm.gov. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS)
at 1–800–877–8339 to leave a message
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SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:30 Dec 19, 2019
Jkt 250001
or question for the above individual.
The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7
days a week. You will receive a reply
during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Town
of Florence has submitted a statement in
compliance with the regulations at 43
CFR 2741.4(b) and proposes to use the
land to develop a public park for
recreational purposes to meet future
recreational needs. The project consists
of non-motorized recreational trails,
trailheads, picnic facilities, restrooms,
perimeter fencing, site furnishings,
directional and interpretive signage, and
parking. The Town of Florence, has not
applied for more than the 6,400-acre
limitation for recreation uses in a year
(or 640 acres if a nonprofit corporation
or association), nor more than 640 acres
for each of the programs involving
public resources other than recreation.
The lands examined and identified as
suitable for lease or conveyance under
the R&PP Act are legally described as:
Gila and Salt River Meridian, Arizona
T. 4 S., R. 9 E.,
Section 26, that portion of the NW1⁄4 lying
north of the existing railroad right-ofway;
Section 27, N1⁄2NW1⁄4
The area described contains approximately
200 acres aggregate.
Lease or conveyance of the lands for
recreational or public purposes use is in
conformance with the BLM Lower
Sonoran Record of Decision & Approved
Resource Management Plan, approved
September 2012.
The parcels are not identified as
access points for recreation in
accordance with Secretary’s Order
3373—Evaluating Public Access in
Bureau of Land Management Public
Land Disposals and Exchanges. There
are no anticipated impacts from the
BLM-managed public land disposal on
recreational access to adjacent tracts of
publicly accessible lands.
All interested parties will receive a
copy of this notice once it is published
in the Federal Register. A copy of the
Federal Register notice with
information about this proposed realty
action will be published in the
newspaper of local circulation once a
week for three consecutive weeks. The
regulations at 43 CFR Subpart 2741
addressing requirements and procedures
for conveyances under the R&PP Act do
not require a public meeting.
Upon publication of this notice in the
Federal Register the lands will be
segregated from all forms of
appropriation under the public land
laws, including the United States
general mining laws, except for lease or
conveyance under the R&PP Act, leasing
PO 00000
Frm 00061
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
under the mineral leasing laws and
disposals under the mineral material
disposal laws.
The lease or conveyance of the land,
when issued, will be subject to the
following terms, conditions and
reservations:
1. The reservation to the United States of
a right-of-way thereon for ditches and canals
constructed by the authority of the United
States, Act of August 30, 1890 (43 U.S.C.
945);
2. Provisions of the R&PP Act and to all
applicable regulations of the Secretary of the
Interior;
3. All minerals shall be reserved to the
United States, together with the right to
prospect for, mine and remove such deposits
from the same under applicable law and such
regulations as the Secretary of the Interior
may prescribe; and subject to valid exiting
rights;
4. An appropriate indemnification clause
protecting the United States from claims
arising out of the lessee’s/patentee’s use,
occupancy, or occupations on the leased/
patented lands;
5. Any other reservations that the
authorized officer determines appropriate to
ensure public access and proper management
of Federal lands and interests therein; and
Additional terms, conditions and
reservations may be added that the
authorized officer deems appropriate.
Classification Comments: Interested
persons may submit comments
involving the suitability of the land for
development of public parks for
recreational purposes. Comments on the
classification are restricted to whether
the land is physically suited for the
proposal, whether the use will
maximize the future use or uses of the
land, whether the use is consistent with
local planning and zoning, or if the use
is consistent with state and Federal
programs.
Application Comments: Interested
persons may submit written comments,
including notification of any
encumbrances or other claims relating
to the land, information regarding
specific use proposed in the application,
whether the BLM followed proper
administrative procedures in reaching
the decision to segregate the lands, or
any other factor not directly related to
the suitability of the lands for the R&PP
lease/patent.
Any adverse comments will be
reviewed by the BLM State Director or
other authorized official of the
Department of the Interior, who may
sustain, vacate, or modify this realty
action. In the absence of any adverse
comments, the classification will
become effective on February 18, 2020.
The lands will not be offered for
conveyance until after the classification
becomes effective.
E:\FR\FM\20DEN1.SGM
20DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 245 (Friday, December 20, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70205-70206]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-27531]
[[Page 70205]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
[AAK6006201 190A2100DD AOR3030.999900]
Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Eagle
Shadow Mountain Solar Project, Clark County, Nevada
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian
Affairs (BIA), as the lead Federal agency, with the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), and
the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians (Band) as Cooperating Agencies,
intends to file a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) with the
EPA for the proposed Eagle Shadow Mountain Solar Project (ESM Solar
Project) on the Moapa River Indian Reservation (Reservation) in Clark
County, Nevada. This notice also announces that the FEIS is now
available for public review.
DATES: The FEIS is available at the following website:
www.esmsolareis.com. In order to be fully considered, written comments
on the FEIS must arrive no later than 30 days after EPA publishes its
Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: You may mail, email, hand carry or telefax written comments
to Mr. Chip Lewis, Regional Environmental Protection Officer, BIA
Western Regional Office, Branch of Environmental Quality Services, 2600
North Central Avenue, 4th Floor Mail Room, Phoenix, Arizona 85004-3008;
fax (602) 379-3833; email: [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Chip Lewis, BIA Western Regional
Office, Branch of Environmental Quality Services, 2600 North Central
Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004-3008, telephone (602) 379-6750; or Mr.
Garry Cantley at (602) 379-6750.
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 Band with 326MK 8me LLC
(Applicant), to provide for construction, operation, maintenance, and
eventual decommissioning of an up-to 300 megawatt (MW) alternating
current solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation facility located
entirely on the Moapa River Indian Reservation (Reservation) and
specifically on lands held in trust by BIA for the Band. The proposed
230 kilovolt (kV) generation-tie transmission line required for
interconnection would be located on Reservation lands, Reservation
lands within a designated utility corridor and federal lands
administered and managed by BLM, and private lands. In addition, the
Applicant would require the use of an existing access road also located
both within the utility corridor and federal lands managed by the BLM.
The Applicant has accordingly requested that the BIA and BLM
additionally approve rights-of-way (ROWs) authorizing the construction
and operation of the transmission line and use of the existing access
road. Together, the proposed solar energy facility, transmission line,
access road, and other associated facilities make up the proposed ESM
Solar Project.
The solar facility would generate electricity using PV panels. Also
included would be inverters, a collection system, a potential battery
storage 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. An overhead 230 kV generation-
tie transmission line, approximately 12.5 miles long, would connect the
solar project to NV Energy's Reid-Gardner 230 kV substation.
Construction of the ESM Solar Project is expected to take
approximately 16 to 18 months. The Applicant is expected to operate the
energy facility for 30 years, with two options to renew the lease for
an additional 5 years each, if mutually acceptable to the Band and
Applicant. During construction, the PV panels would be placed on
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 would be used
to generate electricity during operations. Water would be needed during
construction for dust control and a minimal amount would be needed
during operations for panel washing and administrative and sanitary
water use on site. The water supply required for the Project would be
leased from the Band and would be provided via existing nearby wells.
Access to the ESM Solar Project would be provided via the existing
access road that connects to North Las Vegas Boulevard.
The purposes of the ESM Solar Project are to: (1) Help to provide a
long-term, diverse, and viable economic revenue base and job
opportunities for the Band; (2) help the state of Nevada to meet its
renewable energy needs; and (3) allow the Band, in partnership with the
Applicant, to optimize the use of the lease site while maximizing the
potential economic benefit to the Band.
The BIA and BLM will use the EIS to make decisions on the land
lease and ROW applications under their respective jurisdiction; the EPA
may use the document to make decisions under its authorities; the Band
may use the EIS to make decisions under its Environmental Policy
Ordinance; and the USFWS may use the EIS to support its decision under
the Endangered Species Act.
Directions for Submitting Comments: Please include your name,
return address and the caption: ``FEIS Comments, Proposed Eagle Shadow
Mountain Solar Project'', on the first page of your written comments.
Locations Where the FEIS is Available for Review: The FEIS will be
available for review at: BIA Western Regional Office, 2600 North
Central Avenue, 12th Floor, Suite 210, Phoenix, Arizona; BIA Southern
Paiute Agency, 180 North 200 East, Suite 111, St. George, Utah; and the
BLM Southern Nevada District Office, 4701 North Torrey Pines Drive, Las
Vegas, Nevada. The FEIS is also available on line at:
www.esmsolareis.com.
To obtain a compact disk copy of the FEIS, please provide your name
and address in writing or by voicemail to Mr. Chip Lewis or Mr. Garry
Cantley. Their contact information is listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice. An individual paper copy of
the FEIS will be provided only upon request.
Public Comment Availability: Written comments, including names and
addresses of respondents will be available for public review at the BIA
Western Regional Office, 2600 North Central Avenue, 12th Floor, Suite
210, Phoenix, Arizona during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30
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 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.
Authority: This notice is published in accordance with section
1503.1 of the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 1500
et seq.) and
[[Page 70206]]
the Department of the Interior Regulations (43 CFR part 46)
implementing the procedural requirements of the National Environmental
Policy Act (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: December 17, 2019.
Tara Sweeney,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2019-27531 Filed 12-19-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P
