Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Ivanpah-Control Project, Inyo, Kern, and San Bernardino Counties, CA, 69302-69304 [2022-25168]
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69302
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 222 / Friday, November 18, 2022 / Notices
published in the newspaper of record
for the USFS Draft ROD. Objections will
be accepted only from those who have
previously submitted specific written
comments regarding the proposed
project, either during scoping or other
designated opportunities for public
comment, in accordance with 36 CFR
218.5. Issues raised in objections must
be based on previously submitted,
timely and specific written comments
regarding the proposed project, unless
based on new information arising after
designated opportunities.
(Authority: 36 CFR 218; 40 CFR 1506.6, 40
CFR 1506.10; 43 CFR 46; and 43 CFR 3590.)
Mary D’Aversa,
Idaho Falls District Manager, Bureau of Land
Management.
Melvin Bolling,
Forest Supervisor, Caribou-Targhee National
Forest.
[FR Doc. 2022–25048 Filed 11–17–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[L51010000.ER0000.LVRWB19B6670.
LLCAD01000.19X (MO #4500161985)]
Notice of Intent to Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Ivanpah-Control Project,
Inyo, Kern, and San Bernardino
Counties, CA
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
California Desert District Office, Palm
Springs, California, intends to prepare
an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) to consider the effects of the
Ivanpah-Control Project (Project) and by
this notice is announcing the beginning
of the scoping process to solicit public
comments and identify issues.
DATES: This notice initiates the public
scoping process for the EIS. The BLM
requests comments concerning the
scope of the analysis and identification
of relevant information and studies by
January 3, 2023. To afford the BLM the
opportunity to consider comments in
the Draft EIS, please ensure your
comments are received prior to the close
of the 45-day scoping period or 15 days
after the last public meeting, whichever
is later. The BLM will hold public
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SUMMARY:
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scoping meetings; the dates, locations,
and times will be announced at least 15
days in advance through public notices,
media releases, mailings, and the BLM
website at: https://bit.ly/3knv8cm.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
related to the Ivanpah-Control Project by
any of the following methods:
• Website: https://bit.ly/3knv8cm.
• Email: BLM_CA_CD_TLRR_
IvanpahControl@blm.gov.
• Fax: 760–833–7199.
• Mail: Ivanpah-Control
Environmental Impact Statement,
Bureau of Land Management California
Desert District Office, 1201 Bird Center
Drive, Palm Springs CA 92262.
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined online at https://
bit.ly/3knv8cm and at the BLM
California Desert District Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joan
Patrovsky, Project Manager, IvanpahControl Project, telephone: (760) 252–
6032; address: Bureau of Land
Management California Desert District
Office, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm
Springs CA 9226; email: jpatrovs@
blm.gov. Contact Ms. Patrovsky to have
your name added to our mailing list.
Individuals in the United States who are
deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have
a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY,
TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
telecommunications relay services for
contacting Ms. Patrovsky. Individuals
outside the United States should use the
relay services offered within their
country to make international calls to
the point-of-contact in the United
States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for the Proposed
Action
The purpose of this Federal action is
to respond to a right-of-way application
from Southern California Edison for
demolition, construction, operations,
and maintenance of the Ivanpah-Control
115 kilovolt transmission line on BLMadministered lands, consistent with
applicable laws, regulations, and
policies. The Secretary of the Interior is
authorized to grant rights-of-way on
public lands for systems for generation,
transmission, and distribution of
electric energy (43 U.S.C. Section
1761(a)(4)); the need for the BLM’s
action is established by this delegated
authority under Title V of FLPMA.
The applicant is Southern California
Edison and the purpose for the Project
is to ensure compliance with the
California Public Utilities Commission’s
General Order 95 and National Electric
Reliability Corporation reliability
standards. The proposed action is to
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implement engineering solutions to
remediate approximately 2,950
discrepancies along the Ivanpah-Control
alignment, continue to provide safe and
reliable electrical service, meet Project
needs while minimizing environmental
impacts, and design and construct the
physical components of the Project in
conformance with industry and/or
Southern California Edison’s approved
engineering, design, and construction
standards for substation and
subtransmission system projects.
Preliminary Proposed Action and
Alternatives
Southern California Edison proposes
to remediate physical clearance
discrepancies on existing 115 kilovolt
subtransmission lines, referred to
collectively as the Ivanpah-Control
transmission line, located in southern
California. The Project is composed of
five segments (1, 2, 3N, 3S, and 4)
spanning Inyo County, northeast Kern
County, and northern San Bernardino
County. The northern/western terminus
is the Control Substation, approximately
5 miles west of the city of Bishop in
Inyo County; the eastern terminus is at
Ivanpah Substation, located in
California approximately 6 miles
southwest of Primm, Nevada. To
address the discrepancies, Southern
California Edison proposes to conduct
the following activities:
• Segment 1: Control Substation
(Bishop) to Inyokern Substation (126mile segment): The subtransmission
lines would be rebuilt in a new
alignment adjacent to the existing
alignment (but outside the existing
right-of-way) and the existing
subtransmission structures would be
removed. This would involve removing
approximately 1,161 existing structures
and replacing with 905 new structures.
• Segment 2: Inyokern Substation to
Kramer Junction (48-mile segment): The
subtransmission line would be rebuilt in
a new alignment adjacent to the existing
alignment (but within the existing rightof-way) and the existing
subtransmission structures would be
removed. This would involve removing
approximately 390 transmission
structures and installing 342 new
structures.
• Segment 3N: Kramer Junction–
Coolwater Substation (44-mile segment):
The subtransmission line would be
reconductored. Some existing
subtransmission structures would be
replaced with steel and wood H-frames
and wood pole multipole structures;
most replacement structures would be
installed proximate to existing
structures that would be removed. This
would involve removing approximately
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 222 / Friday, November 18, 2022 / Notices
43 existing structures and installing
approximately 45 structures.
• Segment 3S: Kramer Junction–
Tortilla Substation–Coolwater
Substation (44-mile segment): The
subtransmission line would be
reconductored. Some existing
subtransmission structures would be
replaced with tubular steel pole and
wood multipole structures, and steel
and wood H-frames; replacement
structures would be installed proximate
to existing structures which would be
removed. This would involve removing
approximately 42 existing structures
and installing approximately 42
structures.
• Segment 4: Coolwater Substation to
Ivanpah Substation (98-mile segment):
The existing subtransmission circuit
would be derated, which would
remediate some existing discrepancies
with no physical modification to the
facilities. To remediate the remaining
discrepancies, some existing
subtransmission structures would be
replaced with steel and wood H-frames;
these replacement structures would
mostly be installed proximate to
existing structures which would be
removed. This would involve removing
approximately 60 structures, installing
approximately 62 structures, and
modifying approximately 83 structures.
A range of reasonable alternatives will
be developed and analyzed in the EIS
after considering information received
during the scoping period. Preliminary
action alternatives include a full rebuild
in segments 3N, 3S, and 4 and the use
of different pole designs in portions of
segments 1 and 2. The range of
reasonable alternatives will include a no
action alternative, under which the BLM
would deny the application and the
Ivanpah-Control line would remain as
existing with ongoing maintenance
activities as needed. The BLM welcomes
comments on all preliminary
alternatives as well as suggestions for
additional alternatives. As alternatives
should resolve a problem with the
Proposed Action, please indicate the
purpose of any suggested alternative.
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Summary of Expected Impacts
Preliminary issues, either beneficial
or adverse and of varying intensity, for
the Project have been identified by BLM
personnel and in consultation with
Federal, State, and local agencies,
Tribes, and other Cooperating Agencies.
These preliminary issues include
potential impacts to:
• Special status wildlife and
vegetation species;
• Visual resources;
• Cultural resources; and
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16:46 Nov 17, 2022
Jkt 259001
• Areas of Critical Environmental
Concern
The public scoping process will guide
determination of relevant issues that
will influence the scope of the
environmental analysis, including
alternatives and mitigation measures.
The EIS will identify and describe the
effects of the Proposed Action and
alternatives on the human environment.
The BLM also requests the identification
of potential impacts that should be
analyzed. Impacts should be a result of
the action; therefore, please identify the
activity along with the potential impact.
Anticipated Permits and Authorizations
In addition to the requested right-ofway grant, other Federal, State, and
local authorizations will be required for
the Project. These include
authorizations under the Bald and
Golden Eagle Protection Act, the
Endangered Species Act, Clean Water
Act, 14 CFR part 77, and other laws and
regulations determined to be applicable
to the Project.
Schedule for the Decision-Making
Process
The BLM will provide additional
opportunities for public participation
consistent with the NEPA process,
including a 45-day comment period on
the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS is
anticipated to be available for public
review in Fall 2023 and the Final EIS is
anticipated to be released in Summer
2024 with a Record of Decision in
Summer/Fall 2024.
Public Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping period. The BLM will be
holding at least two virtual public
scoping meetings. The specific date(s)
and location(s) of these scoping
meetings will be announced at least 15
days in advance through public notices,
media releases, mailings, and the BLM
website above.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The BLM is the lead Federal agency
for this EIS and the related National
Historic Preservation Act Section 106
process. The following have agreed to
participate in the environmental
analysis of the Project as Cooperating
Agencies: Inyo County, Los Angeles
Department of Water and Power, United
States Fish and Wildlife Service,
National Park Service, United States
Army Corps of Engineers, United States
Environmental Protection Agency, Fort
Irwin National Training Center, Marine
Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Edwards
Air Force Base, and Naval Air Weapons
Station China Lake. Twenty-eight
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69303
entities declined or did not respond to
the BLM’s offer to participate in the
Project as a Cooperating Agency.
Federal, State, and local agencies,
Tribes, and stakeholders interested in
the scoping process may request or be
requested by the BLM, if eligible, to
participate in the development of the
EIS as a Cooperating Agency.
Responsible Official
The BLM California State Director is
the responsible official who will make
the decisions below.
Nature of Decision to Be Made
The BLM will use the analysis in the
EIS to inform the following: whether to
grant, grant with conditions, or deny the
application for a right-of-way. Pursuant
to 43 CFR 2805.10, if the BLM issues a
grant, the BLM decision maker may
include terms, conditions, and
stipulations determined to be in the
public interest.
Additional Information
The BLM will identify, analyze, and
consider mitigation to address the
reasonably foreseeable impacts to
resources from the proposed action and
all analyzed reasonable alternatives and,
in accordance with 40 CFR 1502.14(e),
include appropriate mitigation measures
not already included in the proposed
action or alternatives. Mitigation may
include avoidance, minimization,
rectification, reduction or elimination
over time, and compensation, and may
be considered at multiple scales,
including the landscape scale.
The BLM will utilize and coordinate
the NEPA process to help support
compliance with applicable procedural
requirements under the Endangered
Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1536) and
Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as
provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3),
including public involvement
requirements of Section 106. The
information about historic and cultural
resources and threatened and
endangered species within the area
potentially affected by the proposed
plan will assist the BLM in identifying
and evaluating impacts to such
resources.
The BLM will consult with Indian
Tribal Nations on a government-togovernment basis in accordance with
Executive Order 13175, BLM MS 1780,
and other Departmental policies. Tribal
concerns, including impacts on Indian
trust assets and potential impacts to
cultural resources, will be given due
consideration. Federal, State, and local
agencies, along with Indian Tribal
Nations and stakeholders that may be
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69304
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 222 / Friday, November 18, 2022 / Notices
interested in or affected by the proposed
Ivanpah-Control Project that the BLM is
evaluating, are invited to participate in
the scoping process and, if eligible, may
request or be requested by the BLM to
participate in the development of the
environmental analysis as a cooperating
agency. The BLM has sent invitations to
potentially affected Tribal Nations and
initiated government-to-government
consultation meetings and intends to
continue coordination throughout the
NEPA process.
The Project is in conformance with
the California Desert Conservation Area
Plan as amended and would not require
any plan amendments. The IvanpahControl transmission lines are within
west-wide energy corridors (established
under Section 368 of the Energy Policy
Act of 2005), including corridor
numbers 23–25, which BLM anticipates
reviewing in an upcoming revision. The
Project is not in conflict with nor would
it require the revision of any existing or
proposed west-wide energy corridors.
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.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.9).
Karen Mouritsen,
Bureau of Land Management California State
Director.
[FR Doc. 2022–25168 Filed 11–17–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–40–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–NPS0034878;
PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion:
Warren Anatomical Museum, Harvard
University, Boston, MA
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice.
AGENCY:
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ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Peabody Museum of
Archaeology and Ethnology and Warren
Anatomical Museum, Harvard
University have completed an inventory
of human remains, in consultation with
the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native
Hawaiian organizations, and have
determined that there is no cultural
affiliation between the human remains
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16:46 Nov 17, 2022
Jkt 259001
and any present-day Indian Tribes or
Native Hawaiian organizations.
Representatives of any Indian Tribe or
Native Hawaiian organization not
identified in this notice that wish to
request transfer of control of these
human remains should submit a written
request to the Peabody Museum of
Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard
University. If no additional requestors
come forward, transfer of control of the
human remains to the Indian Tribes or
Native Hawaiian organizations stated in
this notice may proceed.
DATES: Representatives of any Indian
Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization
not identified in this notice that wish to
request transfer of control of these
human remains should submit a written
request with information in support of
the request to the Peabody Museum of
Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard
University at the address in this notice
by December 19, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane
Pickering, William & Muriel Seabury
Howells Director, Peabody Museum of
Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard
University, 11 Divinity Avenue,
Cambridge, MA 02138, telephone (617)
496–2374, email jpickering@
fas.harvard.edu.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is
here given in accordance with the
Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C.
3003, of the completion of an inventory
of human remains under the control of
the Warren Anatomical Museum,
Harvard University, Boston, MA. The
human remains were removed from
Barnstable County, MA.
This notice is published as part of the
National Park Service’s administrative
responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25
U.S.C. 3003(d)(3) and 43 CFR 10.11(d).
The determinations in this notice are
the sole responsibility of the museum,
institution, or Federal agency that has
control of the Native American human
remains. The National Park Service is
not responsible for the determinations
in this notice.
Consultation
A detailed assessment of the human
remains was made by the Peabody
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology
and Warren Anatomical Museum
professional staff in consultation with
representatives of the Mashpee
Wampanoag Tribe (previously listed as
Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribal
Council, Inc.); Narragansett Indian
Tribe; Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head
(Aquinnah); and the Assonet Band of
the Wampanoag Nation, a non-federally
recognized Indian group (hereafter
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referred to as ‘‘The Consulted Tribes
and Group’’).
History and Description of the Remains
In 1831, human remains representing,
at minimum, two individuals were
removed from an ‘‘Indian burial
ground’’ in Yarmouth, Barnstable
County, MA, by an unknown person. In
December of 1883, J. Collins Warren
donated these human remains to the
Warren Anatomical Museum as part of
the J. Mason Warren Collection. These
individuals were buried approximately
two feet below the ground surface in a
mound of gravel and sand near the
water’s edge. The human remains were
described as having been interred in a
flexed position. The human remains are
the nearly complete cranium of an adult
male and the nearly complete mandible
of an adult that is probably male. No
known individuals were identified. No
associated funerary objects are present.
Determinations Made by the Peabody
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology
and the Warren Anatomical Museum,
Harvard University
Officials of the Peabody Museum of
Archaeology and Ethnology and the
Warren Anatomical Museum, Harvard
University have determined that:
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the
human remains described in this notice
are Native American based on
osteological analysis, archeological
context, and museum records.
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the
human remains described in this notice
represent the physical remains of two
individuals of Native American
ancestry.
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), a
relationship of shared group identity
cannot be reasonably traced between the
Native American human remains and
any present-day Indian Tribe.
• Treaties, Acts of Congress, or
Executive Orders, indicate that the land
from which the Native American human
remains were removed is the aboriginal
land of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
(previously listed as Mashpee
Wampanoag Indian Tribal Council, Inc.)
and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head
(Aquinnah) (hereafter referred to as
‘‘The Tribes’’).
• Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the
disposition of the human remains may
be to The Tribes.
Additional Requestors and Disposition
Representatives of any Indian Tribe or
Native Hawaiian organization not
identified in this notice that wish to
request transfer of control of these
human remains should submit a written
request with information in support of
E:\FR\FM\18NON1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 222 (Friday, November 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69302-69304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-25168]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[L51010000.ER0000.LVRWB19B6670.LLCAD01000.19X (MO #4500161985)]
Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Ivanpah-Control Project, Inyo, Kern, and San Bernardino
Counties, CA
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
California Desert District Office, Palm Springs, California, intends to
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider the effects
of the Ivanpah-Control Project (Project) and by this notice is
announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public
comments and identify issues.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS.
The BLM requests comments concerning the scope of the analysis and
identification of relevant information and studies by January 3, 2023.
To afford the BLM the opportunity to consider comments in the Draft
EIS, please ensure your comments are received prior to the close of the
45-day scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting,
whichever is later. The BLM will hold public scoping meetings; the
dates, locations, and times will be announced at least 15 days in
advance through public notices, media releases, mailings, and the BLM
website at: https://bit.ly/3knv8cm.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Ivanpah-Control
Project by any of the following methods:
Website: https://bit.ly/3knv8cm.
Email: [email protected].
Fax: 760-833-7199.
Mail: Ivanpah-Control Environmental Impact Statement,
Bureau of Land Management California Desert District Office, 1201 Bird
Center Drive, Palm Springs CA 92262.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at
https://bit.ly/3knv8cm and at the BLM California Desert District
Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joan Patrovsky, Project Manager,
Ivanpah-Control Project, telephone: (760) 252-6032; address: Bureau of
Land Management California Desert District Office, 1201 Bird Center
Drive, Palm Springs CA 9226; email: [email protected]. Contact Ms.
Patrovsky to have your name added to our mailing list. Individuals in
the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a
speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
telecommunications relay services for contacting Ms. Patrovsky.
Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services
offered within their country to make international calls to the point-
of-contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action
The purpose of this Federal action is to respond to a right-of-way
application from Southern California Edison for demolition,
construction, operations, and maintenance of the Ivanpah-Control 115
kilovolt transmission line on BLM-administered lands, consistent with
applicable laws, regulations, and policies. The Secretary of the
Interior is authorized to grant rights-of-way on public lands for
systems for generation, transmission, and distribution of electric
energy (43 U.S.C. Section 1761(a)(4)); the need for the BLM's action is
established by this delegated authority under Title V of FLPMA.
The applicant is Southern California Edison and the purpose for the
Project is to ensure compliance with the California Public Utilities
Commission's General Order 95 and National Electric Reliability
Corporation reliability standards. The proposed action is to implement
engineering solutions to remediate approximately 2,950 discrepancies
along the Ivanpah-Control alignment, continue to provide safe and
reliable electrical service, meet Project needs while minimizing
environmental impacts, and design and construct the physical components
of the Project in conformance with industry and/or Southern California
Edison's approved engineering, design, and construction standards for
substation and subtransmission system projects.
Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives
Southern California Edison proposes to remediate physical clearance
discrepancies on existing 115 kilovolt subtransmission lines, referred
to collectively as the Ivanpah-Control transmission line, located in
southern California. The Project is composed of five segments (1, 2,
3N, 3S, and 4) spanning Inyo County, northeast Kern County, and
northern San Bernardino County. The northern/western terminus is the
Control Substation, approximately 5 miles west of the city of Bishop in
Inyo County; the eastern terminus is at Ivanpah Substation, located in
California approximately 6 miles southwest of Primm, Nevada. To address
the discrepancies, Southern California Edison proposes to conduct the
following activities:
Segment 1: Control Substation (Bishop) to Inyokern
Substation (126-mile segment): The subtransmission lines would be
rebuilt in a new alignment adjacent to the existing alignment (but
outside the existing right-of-way) and the existing subtransmission
structures would be removed. This would involve removing approximately
1,161 existing structures and replacing with 905 new structures.
Segment 2: Inyokern Substation to Kramer Junction (48-mile
segment): The subtransmission line would be rebuilt in a new alignment
adjacent to the existing alignment (but within the existing right-of-
way) and the existing subtransmission structures would be removed. This
would involve removing approximately 390 transmission structures and
installing 342 new structures.
Segment 3N: Kramer Junction-Coolwater Substation (44-mile
segment): The subtransmission line would be reconductored. Some
existing subtransmission structures would be replaced with steel and
wood H-frames and wood pole multipole structures; most replacement
structures would be installed proximate to existing structures that
would be removed. This would involve removing approximately
[[Page 69303]]
43 existing structures and installing approximately 45 structures.
Segment 3S: Kramer Junction-Tortilla Substation-Coolwater
Substation (44-mile segment): The subtransmission line would be
reconductored. Some existing subtransmission structures would be
replaced with tubular steel pole and wood multipole structures, and
steel and wood H-frames; replacement structures would be installed
proximate to existing structures which would be removed. This would
involve removing approximately 42 existing structures and installing
approximately 42 structures.
Segment 4: Coolwater Substation to Ivanpah Substation (98-
mile segment): The existing subtransmission circuit would be derated,
which would remediate some existing discrepancies with no physical
modification to the facilities. To remediate the remaining
discrepancies, some existing subtransmission structures would be
replaced with steel and wood H-frames; these replacement structures
would mostly be installed proximate to existing structures which would
be removed. This would involve removing approximately 60 structures,
installing approximately 62 structures, and modifying approximately 83
structures.
A range of reasonable alternatives will be developed and analyzed
in the EIS after considering information received during the scoping
period. Preliminary action alternatives include a full rebuild in
segments 3N, 3S, and 4 and the use of different pole designs in
portions of segments 1 and 2. The range of reasonable alternatives will
include a no action alternative, under which the BLM would deny the
application and the Ivanpah-Control line would remain as existing with
ongoing maintenance activities as needed. The BLM welcomes comments on
all preliminary alternatives as well as suggestions for additional
alternatives. As alternatives should resolve a problem with the
Proposed Action, please indicate the purpose of any suggested
alternative.
Summary of Expected Impacts
Preliminary issues, either beneficial or adverse and of varying
intensity, for the Project have been identified by BLM personnel and in
consultation with Federal, State, and local agencies, Tribes, and other
Cooperating Agencies. These preliminary issues include potential
impacts to:
Special status wildlife and vegetation species;
Visual resources;
Cultural resources; and
Areas of Critical Environmental Concern
The public scoping process will guide determination of relevant
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis,
including alternatives and mitigation measures. The EIS will identify
and describe the effects of the Proposed Action and alternatives on the
human environment. The BLM also requests the identification of
potential impacts that should be analyzed. Impacts should be a result
of the action; therefore, please identify the activity along with the
potential impact.
Anticipated Permits and Authorizations
In addition to the requested right-of-way grant, other Federal,
State, and local authorizations will be required for the Project. These
include authorizations under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act,
the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, 14 CFR part 77, and other
laws and regulations determined to be applicable to the Project.
Schedule for the Decision-Making Process
The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public
participation consistent with the NEPA process, including a 45-day
comment period on the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS is anticipated to be
available for public review in Fall 2023 and the Final EIS is
anticipated to be released in Summer 2024 with a Record of Decision in
Summer/Fall 2024.
Public Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping period. The BLM will be
holding at least two virtual public scoping meetings. The specific
date(s) and location(s) of these scoping meetings will be announced at
least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases,
mailings, and the BLM website above.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The BLM is the lead Federal agency for this EIS and the related
National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 process. The following
have agreed to participate in the environmental analysis of the Project
as Cooperating Agencies: Inyo County, Los Angeles Department of Water
and Power, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park
Service, United States Army Corps of Engineers, United States
Environmental Protection Agency, Fort Irwin National Training Center,
Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Edwards Air Force Base, and Naval
Air Weapons Station China Lake. Twenty-eight entities declined or did
not respond to the BLM's offer to participate in the Project as a
Cooperating Agency. Federal, State, and local agencies, Tribes, and
stakeholders interested in the scoping process may request or be
requested by the BLM, if eligible, to participate in the development of
the EIS as a Cooperating Agency.
Responsible Official
The BLM California State Director is the responsible official who
will make the decisions below.
Nature of Decision to Be Made
The BLM will use the analysis in the EIS to inform the following:
whether to grant, grant with conditions, or deny the application for a
right-of-way. Pursuant to 43 CFR 2805.10, if the BLM issues a grant,
the BLM decision maker may include terms, conditions, and stipulations
determined to be in the public interest.
Additional Information
The BLM will identify, analyze, and consider mitigation to address
the reasonably foreseeable impacts to resources from the proposed
action and all analyzed reasonable alternatives and, in accordance with
40 CFR 1502.14(e), include appropriate mitigation measures not already
included in the proposed action or alternatives. Mitigation may include
avoidance, minimization, rectification, reduction or elimination over
time, and compensation, and may be considered at multiple scales,
including the landscape scale.
The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA process to help
support compliance with applicable procedural requirements under the
Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1536) and Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR
800.2(d)(3), including public involvement requirements of Section 106.
The information about historic and cultural resources and threatened
and endangered species within the area potentially affected by the
proposed plan will assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts
to such resources.
The BLM will consult with Indian Tribal Nations on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175, BLM MS 1780,
and other Departmental policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on
Indian trust assets and potential impacts to cultural resources, will
be given due consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies, along
with Indian Tribal Nations and stakeholders that may be
[[Page 69304]]
interested in or affected by the proposed Ivanpah-Control Project that
the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate in the scoping
process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM to
participate in the development of the environmental analysis as a
cooperating agency. The BLM has sent invitations to potentially
affected Tribal Nations and initiated government-to-government
consultation meetings and intends to continue coordination throughout
the NEPA process.
The Project is in conformance with the California Desert
Conservation Area Plan as amended and would not require any plan
amendments. The Ivanpah-Control transmission lines are within west-wide
energy corridors (established under Section 368 of the Energy Policy
Act of 2005), including corridor numbers 23-25, which BLM anticipates
reviewing in an upcoming revision. The Project is not in conflict with
nor would it require the revision of any existing or proposed west-wide
energy corridors.
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.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.9).
Karen Mouritsen,
Bureau of Land Management California State Director.
[FR Doc. 2022-25168 Filed 11-17-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P
