Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Desert Quartzite Solar Photovoltaic Project, Riverside County, CA, 2758-2759 [2020-00611]

Download as PDF khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 2758 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 11 / Thursday, January 16, 2020 / Notices Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to renew an information collection with revisions. DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before February 18, 2020. 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 the BLM at U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C Street NW, Room 2134LM, Washington, DC 20240, Attention: Chandra Little; or by email to cclittle@blm.gov. Please reference OMB Control Number 1004– 0207 in the subject line of your comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information about this ICR, contact Michael Wade by email at mwade@blm.gov, or by telephone at 303–239–3737. 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 provide 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 September 11, 2019 (84 FR 47970). 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 the BLM; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the BLM enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the BLM 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:49 Jan 15, 2020 Jkt 250001 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. This control number pertains to site security for Federal and Indian (except Osage Tribe) oil and gas leases. In this ICR, the BLM requests the removal of several activities involving the use of BLM Form 3160–5 (Sundry Notices and Reports on Wells). At the BLM’s request, OMB authorized transfer of those activities from control number 1004–0207 to control number 1004– 0137 (Onshore Oil and Gas Operations and Production). Title of Collection: Oil and Gas Facility Site Security. OMB Control Number: 1004–0207. Forms: None. Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection. Description of Respondents: Lessees, operators, purchasers, transporters, and any other person directly involved in producing, transporting, purchasing, selling, or measuring oil or gas through the point of royalty measurement or the point of first sale, whichever is later. Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 5,000. Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 93,975. Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 0.25 to 10 hours per response. Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 69,640. Respondent’s Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit. Frequency of Collection: On occasion. Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None. 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.). Chandra Little, Bureau of Land Management, Acting Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2020–00612 Filed 1–15–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–84–P PO 00000 Frm 00066 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLCAD06000 L51010000.ER0000 LVRWB09B2920 19X; MO 4500140990] Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Desert Quartzite Solar Photovoltaic Project, Riverside County, CA Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Record of Decision (ROD) to Authorize a Right-of-Way (ROW) and amend the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan for the Desert Quartzite Solar Photovoltaic Project, and by this Notice is announcing its availability. This decision is subject to appeal under Departmental regulations. DATES: The Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management signed the ROD on January 9, 2020. ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD are available for public inspection at the BLM-Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office at 1201 Bird Center Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262, and at the BLMCalifornia Desert District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553. Interested persons may also review the ROD on the internet at: https://tinyurl.com/yy8o33ld. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brandon G. Anderson, BLM Assistant District Manager, Project Support, telephone (951) 697–5215; address, Bureau of Land Management, California Desert District, 22835 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553; or email blm_ca_desert_quartzite_solar_ project@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–8339 to contact Mr. Anderson normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Desert Quartzite, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of First Solar Inc., applied for a ROW from the BLM to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission a 450-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic facility near the City of Blythe, Riverside County, California. The proposed project footprint is about SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\16JAN1.SGM 16JAN1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 11 / Thursday, January 16, 2020 / Notices 3,800 acres. The proposed project also includes construction of a 2.7 mile 230 kilovolt generation interconnection (gen-tie) transmission line connecting the project to the Southern California Edison (SCE) Colorado River Substation. The BLM also considered an amendment to the CDCA Plan that would be necessary to authorize the project. This is a joint Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for compliance with NEPA and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Riverside County is the lead agency under CEQA. On August 8, 2018, the BLM issued the Draft EIS/EIR and Draft Land Use Plan Amendment, which analyzed the impacts of the Proposed Action and two action alternatives, in addition to a No Action Alternative. Alternative 2, Resource Avoidance Alternative, would be a 450 MW Photovoltaic (PV) array on about 2,800 acres. It reduces effects to portions of the sand corridor and cultural resources. Alternative 3, Reduced Project Alternative, would be a 285 MW solar PV project on about 2,100 acres. Like the Proposed Action, under each of these alternatives, the BLM would amend the CDCA Plan to allow the project. Under the No Action Alternative, the BLM would deny the ROW application, and would not amend the CDCA Plan to allow the project. The Draft EIS/EIR and Draft Land Use Plan Amendment included analysis of the ROW application as it related to the following issues: (1) Impacts to cultural resources and tribal concerns; (2) Impacts to the sand transport corridor and Mojave fringe-toed lizard habitat and washes; (3) Impacts to BLM sensitive plants; (4) Impacts to avian species; (5) Impacts to visual resources; (6) Impact to air and water quality; and (7) Relationship between the proposed project and the CDCA Plan, as amended. The Draft EIS/EIR and Draft Land Use Plan Amendment was available for a 90day public comment period. The BLM held public meetings on September 26, 2018, and September 27, 2018, in Palm Desert and Blythe, CA respectively. Fourteen individuals attended the meeting on September 26, 2018, and 19 individuals attended the meeting on September 27, 2018. The BLM received two verbal comments during the September 27, 2018, public meeting and 22 comment letters during the comment period. Comments on the Draft EIS/EIR and Draft Land Use Plan Amendment received from the public and internal agency review were considered and incorporated, as appropriate, into the Final EIS/EIR and Proposed Land Use VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:49 Jan 15, 2020 Jkt 250001 Plan Amendment. Public comments resulted in the addition of clarifying text, but did not significantly change proposed land use plan decisions. A response to substantive comments is included in the Final EIS/EIR and Proposed Land Use Plan Amendment. Under Alternative 2 and Alternative 3, the gen-tie alignment was adjusted to avoid a potential conflict with a proposed transmission line project. The adjustment does not substantially change the environmental effects analysis. The BLM has selected Alternative 2, the Resource Avoidance Alternative, as the Agency Proposed Alternative in the Final EIS/EIR and Proposed Land Use Plan Amendment. The publication of the Desert Quartzite Final EIS/EIR and Proposed Land Use Amendment initiated a 30-day protest period, which closed on October 28, 2019. The BLM received two protests. The BLM has considered and resolved the protests on the Desert Quartzite Solar Project Final EIS/EIR and Proposed Land Use Amendment. The BLM’s protest resolution report to those protests can be found at https:// www.blm.gov/programs/planning-andnepa/public-participation/protestresolution-reports. In accordance with the regulations at 43 CFR 1610.3–2(e), the BLM submitted the Final EIS/EIR and Proposed Land Use Amendment for a 60-day Governor’s Consistency Review on September 27, 2019. The Governor did not respond with any findings of inconsistency. With this ROD, the BLM adopts the Agency Preferred Alternative and amends the CDCA Plan. Approval of these decisions constitutes the final decision of the Department of the Interior and, in accordance with the regulations at 43 CFR 4.410(a)(3), is not subject to appeal under Departmental regulations at 43 CFR part 4. Any challenge to these decisions, including the BLM Authorized Officer’s issuance of the right-of-way as approved by this decision, must be brought in the Federal district court. Joe Stout, Acting State Director. [FR Doc. 2020–00611 Filed 1–15–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–40–P PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 2759 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Notice of Lodging of Proposed Consent Decree Under the Clean Air Act and the Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act On January 10, 2020, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed Consent Decree with the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida in the lawsuit entitled United States of America v. Punch It Performance and Tuning, et al., Civil Action No. 6:19–cv– 01115–RBD–EJK. The Complaint in this Clean Air Act (‘‘CAA’’) case was filed against Punch It Performance and Tuning LLC; D N S Enterprises of Florida, Inc.; REI Research Group, Inc.; Michael Paul Schimmack; Vanessa Schimmack; and Lori Brown (‘‘Defendants’’) on June 14, 2019. The Complaint alleges civil violations of the CAA, and the fraudulent transfer of assets under the Federal Debt Collection and Procedures Act (‘‘FDCPA’’). Specifically, the Complaint alleges that certain Defendants manufactured and sold devices that defeat motor vehicle emission controls that are illegal under Section the CAA. The Complaint further alleges that, after the Defendants learned of federal enforcement efforts, assets were fraudulently transferred from two of the companies to Michael Paul Schimmack, Vanessa Schimmack, and Lori Brown in violation of the FDCPA. Under the proposed Consent Decree, the Defendants (1) will pay, in three installments over one year, $850,000 in civil penalties, (2) are prohibited from manufacturing or selling products in violation of the CAA, tampering with a vehicle’s emission control system, providing technical support for products that have already been sold in violation of the CAA, and transferring any intellectual property that could be used to manufacture defeat devices and (3) must periodically submit compliance reports and reports on their future involvement in the automotive industry. Both the payment schedule and the amount of civil penalties reflect Defendants’ documented limited financial ability to pay. The Publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on the proposed Consent Decree. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, and should refer to United States of America v. Punch It Performance and Tuning, et al., D.J. Ref. No. 90–5–2–1–11965. Comments may be submitted by either email or by mail: E:\FR\FM\16JAN1.SGM 16JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 11 (Thursday, January 16, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2758-2759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00611]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCAD06000 L51010000.ER0000 LVRWB09B2920 19X; MO 4500140990]


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Desert 
Quartzite Solar Photovoltaic Project, Riverside County, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a 
Record of Decision (ROD) to Authorize a Right-of-Way (ROW) and amend 
the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan for the Desert 
Quartzite Solar Photovoltaic Project, and by this Notice is announcing 
its availability. This decision is subject to appeal under Departmental 
regulations.

DATES: The Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management 
signed the ROD on January 9, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD are available for public inspection at the 
BLM-Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office at 1201 Bird Center Dr., Palm 
Springs, CA 92262, and at the BLM-California Desert District Office, 
22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553. Interested 
persons may also review the ROD on the internet at: https://tinyurl.com/yy8o33ld.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brandon G. Anderson, BLM Assistant 
District Manager, Project Support, telephone (951) 697-5215; address, 
Bureau of Land Management, California Desert District, 22835 Calle San 
Juan De Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553; or email 
[email protected]. Persons who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay 
Service at (800) 877-8339 to contact Mr. Anderson normal business 
hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a 
message or question. You will receive a reply during normal business 
hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Desert Quartzite, LLC, a wholly owned 
subsidiary of First Solar Inc., applied for a ROW from the BLM to 
construct, operate, maintain, and decommission a 450-megawatt (MW) 
solar photovoltaic facility near the City of Blythe, Riverside County, 
California. The proposed project footprint is about

[[Page 2759]]

3,800 acres. The proposed project also includes construction of a 2.7 
mile 230 kilovolt generation interconnection (gen-tie) transmission 
line connecting the project to the Southern California Edison (SCE) 
Colorado River Substation. The BLM also considered an amendment to the 
CDCA Plan that would be necessary to authorize the project. This is a 
joint Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/
EIR) for compliance with NEPA and the California Environmental Quality 
Act (CEQA). Riverside County is the lead agency under CEQA.
    On August 8, 2018, the BLM issued the Draft EIS/EIR and Draft Land 
Use Plan Amendment, which analyzed the impacts of the Proposed Action 
and two action alternatives, in addition to a No Action Alternative. 
Alternative 2, Resource Avoidance Alternative, would be a 450 MW 
Photovoltaic (PV) array on about 2,800 acres. It reduces effects to 
portions of the sand corridor and cultural resources. Alternative 3, 
Reduced Project Alternative, would be a 285 MW solar PV project on 
about 2,100 acres. Like the Proposed Action, under each of these 
alternatives, the BLM would amend the CDCA Plan to allow the project. 
Under the No Action Alternative, the BLM would deny the ROW 
application, and would not amend the CDCA Plan to allow the project.
    The Draft EIS/EIR and Draft Land Use Plan Amendment included 
analysis of the ROW application as it related to the following issues: 
(1) Impacts to cultural resources and tribal concerns; (2) Impacts to 
the sand transport corridor and Mojave fringe-toed lizard habitat and 
washes; (3) Impacts to BLM sensitive plants; (4) Impacts to avian 
species; (5) Impacts to visual resources; (6) Impact to air and water 
quality; and (7) Relationship between the proposed project and the CDCA 
Plan, as amended.
    The Draft EIS/EIR and Draft Land Use Plan Amendment was available 
for a 90-day public comment period. The BLM held public meetings on 
September 26, 2018, and September 27, 2018, in Palm Desert and Blythe, 
CA respectively. Fourteen individuals attended the meeting on September 
26, 2018, and 19 individuals attended the meeting on September 27, 
2018. The BLM received two verbal comments during the September 27, 
2018, public meeting and 22 comment letters during the comment period.
    Comments on the Draft EIS/EIR and Draft Land Use Plan Amendment 
received from the public and internal agency review were considered and 
incorporated, as appropriate, into the Final EIS/EIR and Proposed Land 
Use Plan Amendment. Public comments resulted in the addition of 
clarifying text, but did not significantly change proposed land use 
plan decisions. A response to substantive comments is included in the 
Final EIS/EIR and Proposed Land Use Plan Amendment. Under Alternative 2 
and Alternative 3, the gen-tie alignment was adjusted to avoid a 
potential conflict with a proposed transmission line project. The 
adjustment does not substantially change the environmental effects 
analysis. The BLM has selected Alternative 2, the Resource Avoidance 
Alternative, as the Agency Proposed Alternative in the Final EIS/EIR 
and Proposed Land Use Plan Amendment.
    The publication of the Desert Quartzite Final EIS/EIR and Proposed 
Land Use Amendment initiated a 30-day protest period, which closed on 
October 28, 2019. The BLM received two protests. The BLM has considered 
and resolved the protests on the Desert Quartzite Solar Project Final 
EIS/EIR and Proposed Land Use Amendment. The BLM's protest resolution 
report to those protests can be found at https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/public-participation/protest-resolution-reports.
    In accordance with the regulations at 43 CFR 1610.3-2(e), the BLM 
submitted the Final EIS/EIR and Proposed Land Use Amendment for a 60-
day Governor's Consistency Review on September 27, 2019. The Governor 
did not respond with any findings of inconsistency.
    With this ROD, the BLM adopts the Agency Preferred Alternative and 
amends the CDCA Plan. Approval of these decisions constitutes the final 
decision of the Department of the Interior and, in accordance with the 
regulations at 43 CFR 4.410(a)(3), is not subject to appeal under 
Departmental regulations at 43 CFR part 4. Any challenge to these 
decisions, including the BLM Authorized Officer's issuance of the 
right-of-way as approved by this decision, must be brought in the 
Federal district court.

 Joe Stout,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 2020-00611 Filed 1-15-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-40-P

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