Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Haiwee Geothermal Leasing Area Project, Inyo County, California, and Amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area Plan, 23057-23058 [2020-08659]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 80 (Friday, April 24, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23057-23058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08659]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCAD01000 L13400000.DT0000 20X; MO 4500143086]


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Haiwee 
Geothermal Leasing Area Project, Inyo County, California, and Amendment 
to the California Desert Conservation Area Plan

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has 
prepared a Record of Decision (ROD) to amend the California Desert 
Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan for the Haiwee Geothermal Leasing Area 
(HGLA) Project, and by this notice is announcing its availability. The 
decision amends the CDCA Plan to allow for geothermal leasing within 
approximately 22,800 acres, authorizes three geothermal lease 
applications for 4,460 acres of public lands within the HGLA, and 
modifies the management of four Areas of Critical Environmental Concern 
(ACECs) to allow for surface occupancy of geothermal development. Part 
of this decision is subject to appeal under Departmental regulations.

DATES: The California State Director signed the ROD on April 23, 2020.

ADDRESSES: The Record of Decision and Land Use Plan Amendment is 
available on the internet at https://go.usa.gov/xEnvy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Miller, BLM Assistant District 
Manager, Resources, telephone (951) 697-5216; 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. Miller 
during 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: The HGLA Draft EIS and Draft Proposed 
Amendment to the CDCA was published on May 10, 2012 (77 FR 27478), and 
public meetings were held in June 2012. As a result of the review of 
the comments, the BLM conducted a more detailed study to address 
projected water use by geothermal facilities should they be allowed in 
the HGLA. Argonne National Laboratories conducted the study and 
provided BLM a report in January 2016. Additionally, new land use 
designations approved with the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation 
Plan amendment to the CDCA Plan in September of 2016, required analysis 
of a new alternative that considered the new land use designations. 
Based on these two developments, the BLM prepared a CDCA Plan Amendment 
and Draft Supplemental EIS for the project. The Draft Supplemental EIS 
analyzed the Proposed Action and two action alternatives, in addition 
to the No Action Alternative.
    The BLM received three geothermal lease applications for 4,460 
acres of public land within the HGLA in 2002. In addition, the BLM 
identified approximately 18,345 acres of public lands, also within the 
Haiwee Proposed Project Area and adjacent to the three geothermal lease 
applications, which will be considered for competitive geothermal 
leasing under 43 CFR 3203.10(e). The proposed action is to amend the 
CDCA Plan to allow project area lands to be leased under the authority 
of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970, as amended (30 U.S.C. 1001 et 
seq.) and to modify the management of four ACECs to allow for surface 
occupancy of geothermal development. The leasing of public lands for 
geothermal resources required an amendment to the CDCA Plan, which is 
authorized by the FLPMA Section 202(43 U.S.C. 1712) and 43 CFR 1610.5-
5. Total acreage considered for geothermal leasing is approximately 
22,800 acres.
    On May 3, 2019, the Draft Supplemental EIS and Draft Land Use Plan 
Amendment was available for a 90-day public comment period (84 FR 
19106). The BLM received seven comment letters during the comment 
period. The BLM considered and incorporated, as appropriate, public 
comments on the Draft EIS, Draft Supplemental EIS, and Draft Land Use 
Plan Amendment and internal agency review into the proposed 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 as an appendix to the 
Final EIS and Proposed Land Use Plan Amendment.
    The publication of the HGLA Final EIS and Proposed Land Use 
Amendment initiated a 30-day protest period, which closed on February 
24, 2020 (85 FR 4338). The BLM received three valid protests. The BLM 
has considered and resolved the protest on the HGLA Final EIS 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 and Proposed Land Use Amendment for a 60-day 
Governor's Consistency Review on February 6,

[[Page 23058]]

2020. The Governor did not respond with any findings of inconsistency.
    With this ROD, the BLM adopts the Agency Preferred Alternative. The 
decision to authorize the existing non-competitive geothermal lease 
applications may be appealed to the Interior Board of Land Appeals in 
accordance with the regulations contained in 43 CFR part 4. Appeal and 
stay procedures are outlined in Form 1842-1. All Notices of Appeal, 
Statement of Reasons, and mailing must follow the requirements and 
timelines outlined in 43 CFR part 4.

(Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6; 40 CFR 1506.10; 43 CFR 1610.2; 43 CFR 
1610.5; 42 U.S.C. 4370m-6(a)(1))

Danielle Chi,
Deputy State Director, Resources.
[FR Doc. 2020-08659 Filed 4-23-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-40-P