Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Greenlink North Project in White Pine, Eureka, Lander, Churchill, and Lyon Counties, Nevada, 34178-34180 [2023-11070]
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34178
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 102 / Friday, May 26, 2023 / Notices
may qualify for application of a
categorical exclusion pursuant to the
Council on Environmental Quality’s
NEPA regulations, DOI’s NEPA
regulations, and the DOI Departmental
Manual. A ‘‘low-effect’’ incidental take
permit is one that would result in (1)
minor or negligible effects on species
covered in the HCP; (2) nonsignificant
effects on the human environment; and
(3) impacts that, when added together
with the impacts of other past, present,
and reasonably foreseeable actions,
would not result in significant
cumulative effects to the human
environment.
Public Comments
If you wish to comment on the permit
application, proposed HCP, and
associated documents, you may submit
comments by any of the methods noted
in the ADDRESSES section.
Public Availability of Comments
Written comments we receive become
part of the public record associated with
this action. Before including your
address, phone number, email address,
or other personal identifying
information in your comments, 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
We provide this notice under section
10(c) of the Endangered Species Act (16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and its
implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22
and 17.32) and the National
Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.) and its implementing
regulations (40 CFR 1500–1508 and 43
CFR 46).
Jonathan Snyder,
Acting Field Supervisor, Carlsbad Fish and
Wildlife Office, Carlsbad, California.
[FR Doc. 2023–11226 Filed 5–25–23; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM_NV_FRN_MO #4500170412]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Greenlink North Project
in White Pine, Eureka, Lander,
Churchill, and Lyon Counties, Nevada
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)
Nevada State Office, Reno, Nevada,
intends to prepare an environmental
impact statement (EIS) to consider the
effects of a right-of-way (ROW)
application for proposed transmission
facilities from NV Energy for the
Greenlink North Project. Publication of
this notice initiates the scoping period
to solicit public comments and identify
issues to be analyzed in the Draft EIS.
DATES: This notice initiates the public
scoping process for the EIS. The BLM
requests the public submit comments
concerning the scope of the analysis,
potential alternatives, and identification
of relevant information and studies by
July 10, 2023. To afford the BLM the
opportunity to consider issues raised by
commenters 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
scoping workshop, whichever is later.
The BLM will conduct a combination
of virtual and in-person scoping
workshops during the 45-day scoping
period. The BLM will provide the
public at least 15 days’ notice prior to
the workshops.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on issues related to the Greenlink North
Project by any of the following methods:
• Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/
eplanning-ui/project/2017033/510.
• Email: blm_nv_greenlinknorth@
blm.gov.
• Mail: BLM, Nevada State Office,
Attn: Greenlink North Project, 1340
Financial Boulevard, Reno, NV 89502.
Documents pertinent to this Project
may also be examined at the Reno
Nevada State Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Brian Buttazoni, Planning &
Environmental Specialist, telephone
(775) 861–6491; address 1340 Financial
Boulevard, Reno, NV 89502; email blm_
SUMMARY:
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nv_greenlinknorth@blm.gov. Contact us
at this email address 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.
Individuals outside the United States
should use the relay services offered
within their country to make
international calls to the point-ofcontact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
document provides notice that the BLM
Nevada State Office intends to prepare
an EIS to consider the effects of a ROW
application for the Greenlink North
Project, announces the beginning of the
scoping process, and seeks public input
on issues to be analyzed in the Draft
EIS. The proposed Project is in White
Pine, Eureka, Lander, Churchill, and
Lyon counties, Nevada. The proposed
Project encompasses approximately
1,394 acres of public lands administered
by the BLM.
Purpose and Need
In compliance with NEPA and
FLPMA, the BLM Nevada State Office
intends to prepare an EIS to analyze the
environmental impacts associated with
NV Energy’s application seeking to
obtain a ROW grant for the Greenlink
North Project.
Under the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission’s (FERC’s) Open Access
Transmission Tariff adopted in 18 CFR
parts 35 and 385, Order No. 888 (75
FERC 61,080 (April 24, 1996)), NV
Energy is required to plan and construct
adequate transmission facilities to
deliver the projected electric demand in
Nevada. The State of Nevada is facing
unprecedented changes in both system
growth and resource requirements. By
2031, 1,000 megawatts (MW) of base
load generation are planned for
retirement, i.e., will no longer be
generating electricity. In addition, NV
Energy has received more than 1,450
MW of new electric service requests in
northern Nevada that will require
additional transmission facilities.
Currently, the maximum amount of
power that can be provided in northern
Nevada on the existing transmission
network is 1,275 MW, and all 1,275 MW
are being used by current network
customers. The power demand in
northern Nevada is forecast to increase
by more than 700 MW within 10 years.
New transmission infrastructure is
required to deliver the anticipated
electric power demand.
The Greenlink North Project would
alleviate some of the capacity issues on
existing transmission lines and enhance
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 102 / Friday, May 26, 2023 / Notices
electric grid reliability by allowing
interconnections to occur throughout
the State. The purpose of this Federal
action is to respond to the ROW
application for construction, operation,
and decommissioning of proposed
electrical transmission facilities on
Federal land. Based on the goals and
objectives of the proponent and the
BLM’s authority, the BLM will evaluate
the ROW application submitted by NV
Energy in compliance with FLPMA,
BLM regulations, and other applicable
Federal laws and policies. The need for
this Federal action is to fulfill the BLM’s
responsibilities under FLPMA and its
ROW regulations to manage the public
lands for multiple uses, including for
‘‘systems for generation, transmission,
and distribution of electric energy’’ (43
U.S.C. 1761(a)(4)).
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Preliminary Proposed Action and
Alternatives
The Proposed Action is to construct,
operate and decommission a proposed
system of new 525-kV, 345-kV, 230-kV,
and 120-kV electric transmission
facilities on approximately 1,394 acres
of BLM administered lands. Additional
action alternatives have not been
identified to date but will be developed
by taking into consideration comments
and input received during the
application evaluation determination
process and scoping.
Under the No Action Alternative, the
BLM would not issue a ROW grant for
the construction, operation and
decommissioning of a proposed system
of new 525-kV, 345-kV, 230-kV, and
120-kV electric transmission facilities.
The proposed Project would not be
constructed, and existing land uses in
the project area would continue. The
BLM welcomes comments on the
preliminary Proposed Action as well as
suggestions for additional alternatives.
Summary of Expected Impacts
The analysis in the EIS will be
focused on the proposed transmission
project and associated facilities. The
BLM evaluated the proposed Project
application per the 43 CFR part 2800
application evaluation determination
process. Through this process, the BLM
gathered input from an interdisciplinary
team of resource specialists and
completed public outreach and agency
and Indian Tribal Nations coordination
specific to the proposed Project. From
the input received during four pre-EIS
virtual public workshops, the
preliminary impacts from construction,
operation, and eventual
decommissioning of the Project and
associated facilities could include:
• Vegetation and soils.
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• Threatened, endangered, and BLM
sensitive species.
• Air quality and climate.
• Cultural and historical resources.
• Greater-sage grouse.
• Access to public lands.
• Socioeconomics.
• Public health and safety.
Anticipated Permits and Authorizations
Along with a BLM ROW grant as
required under 43 CFR 2801.9, NV
Energy anticipates needing additional
permits for the proposed project: a
Nevada Public Utilities Commission
Permit to Construct; Nevada Division of
Water Resources water rights
modification permits; and other permits,
as necessary. A portion of the Project
could occur on lands administered by
the U.S. Forest Service, which would
require a special use permit for the
Project. The U.S. Forest Service would
rely on the analysis contained in the EIS
to support any special use permit.
Further details on these permitting
requirements may be found in the
Preliminary Plan of Development which
is available on the project website at:
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/
admin/project/2017033/510.
Schedule for the Decision-Making
Process
The BLM will provide additional
opportunities for public participation
consistent with the NEPA process,
including a 60-day comment period on
the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS is
anticipated to be available for public
review in winter 2024, and the Final EIS
and subsequent Record of Decision are
anticipated to be released in summer
2024.
Public Scoping Process
This Notice of Intent initiates the
public scoping process, which guides
the development of the Draft EIS.
The BLM will be holding a
combination of virtual and in-person
scoping workshops. The specific date(s)
and location(s) of scoping workshops
will be announced at least 15 days in
advance through the local media and
the e-Planning web page: https://
eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/
project/2017033/510.
The purpose of the public scoping
process is to determine relevant issues
that will influence the scope of the
environmental analysis, including
alternatives and mitigation measures,
and to guide the process for developing
the Draft EIS. Federal, State, and local
agencies, along with Indian Tribal
Nations and stakeholders that may be
interested or affected by the BLM’s
decision on this project, are invited to
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participate in the scoping process and,
if eligible, may request or be requested
by the BLM to participate as a
cooperating agency. The BLM
encourages comments concerning the
proposed Greenlink North Project,
possible measures to minimize and/or
avoid adverse environmental impacts,
and any other information relevant to
the Proposed Action.
The BLM also requests assistance
with identifying potential reasonable
alternatives to the Proposed Action. As
alternatives should resolve an issue
with the Proposed Action, please
indicate the purpose of the suggested
alternative. In addition, the BLM
requests the identification of potential
issues that should be analyzed. Issues
should be a result of the Proposed
Action or other reasonable alternatives;
therefore, please identify the activity
along with the potential issues.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The BLM Nevada State Office is the
lead Federal agency for this EIS. The
BLM has initially identified the
following agencies and organizations as
potential Cooperating Agencies to
participate in the environmental
analysis of the Project: Department of
the Air Force, Department of Defense,
U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency Region 9, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Nevada
Department of Transportation,
Duckwater Shoshone Tribe, Ely
Shoshone Tribe, Fallon PaiuteShoshone Tribe, Pyramid Lake Paiute
Tribe, Walker River Paiute Tribe, Yomba
Shoshone Tribe, Nevada Department of
Wildlife, Nevada Division of
Environmental Protection, Nevada
Division of Minerals, Churchill County,
White Pine County, Lyon County,
Eureka County, and Lander County.
The following Tribes were invited to
participate as a Cooperating Agency in
BLM’s initial notification letter:
Confederated Tribes of the Goshute
Reservation, Duckwater Shoshone Tribe,
Ely Shoshone Tribe, Fallon PaiuteShoshone Tribe, Fort McDermitt Paiute
and Shoshone Tribe, Lovelock Paiute
Tribe, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Pahrump
Paiute Tribe, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe,
Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, ShoshoneBannock Tribes, Shoshone-Paiute Tribes
of Duck Valley, Summit Lake Paiute
Tribe, Susanville Indian Rancheria, TeMoak Tribe of Western Shoshone, TeMoak Tribe-Battle Mountain Band, TeMoak Tribe-Elko Band, Te-Moak TribeSouth Fork Band, Te-Moak Tribe-Wells
Band, Timbisha Shoshone Tribe, Walker
River Paiute Tribe, Washoe Tribe of
Nevada and California, Winnemucca
Indian Colony, Winnemucca Indian
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 102 / Friday, May 26, 2023 / Notices
Colony, Yerington Paiute Tribe, and
Yomba Shoshone Tribe. These and other
federally recognized T‘ribes may request
Cooperating Agency status during
preparation and review of the Draft EIS.
Responsible Official
The Nevada State Office Director is
the deciding official for the proposed
Greenlink North Project.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The BLM will decide whether to
grant, grant with conditions, or deny the
right-of-way application. Pursuant to 43
CFR 2805.10, if the BLM issues a rightof-way grant(s), the BLM decision maker
may include terms, conditions, and
stipulations determined to be in the
public interest.
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Interdisciplinary Team
The BLM will use an interdisciplinary
approach to develop the EIS to consider
the variety of resource issues and
concerns identified. Specialists with
expertise in the following disciplines
will be involved in this process: air
quality, archaeology, botany, climate
change (greenhouse gases),
environmental justice, fire and fuels,
geology/mineral resources, hydrology,
invasive/non-native species, lands and
realty, National Conservation Lands,
National Trails System, public health
and safety, recreation/transportation,
socioeconomics, soils, visual resources,
and wildlife.
Additional Information
The BLM will identify, analyze, and
consider mitigation to address the
reasonably foreseeable impacts to
resources from all analyzed reasonable
alternatives and, in accordance with 40
CFR 1502.14(e), include appropriate
mitigation measures not already
included in the proposed 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 the NEPA
process to help support compliance
with applicable procedural
requirements under 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
Project will assist the BLM in
identifying and evaluating impacts to
such resources.
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The BLM will consult with Indian
Tribal Nations on a government-togovernment basis in accordance with
Executive Order 13175, BLM Manual
Section 1780, and other policies. Tribal
concerns, including impacts on Indian
trust assets and potential impacts to
cultural resources, will be given due
consideration. The BLM intends to hold
government-to-government consultation
meetings. The BLM will send
invitations to potentially impacted
Indian Tribal Nations prior to the
meetings. The BLM will provide
additional opportunities for
government-to-government consultation
during the NEPA process.
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 1501.7 and 2800.)
Jon K. Raby,
Nevada State Director.
[FR Doc. 2023–11070 Filed 5–25–23; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM_NV_FRN; MO #4500170409]
Notice of Availability of the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement and
Resource Management Plan
Amendments for the Greenlink West
Project in Clark, Esmeralda, Lyon,
Mineral, Nye, Storey, and Washoe
Counties, NV
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 (FLPMA), the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has
prepared a draft environmental impact
statement (Draft EIS)/resource
management plan amendments (RMPA)
for the Greenlink West Project and by
this notice is providing information
announcing the opening of the comment
period on the Draft EIS/RMPA. The
BLM Nevada State Office is the lead
agency for purposes of the NEPA
SUMMARY:
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analysis with the U.S. National Park
Service (NPS), Bureau of Indian Affairs
(BIA), and other agencies serving as
cooperating agencies.
DATES: This notice announces the
opening of a 90-day comment period for
the Draft EIS/RMPA beginning with the
date following the Environmental
Protection Agency’s (EPA) publication
of its Notice of Availability (NOA) in the
Federal Register. The EPA usually
publishes its NOAs on Fridays.
To afford the BLM the opportunity to
consider comments in the Draft EIS/
RMPA, please ensure your comments
are received prior to the close of the 90day comment period or 15 days after the
last public meeting, whichever is later.
The BLM will be hosting both virtual
and in-person public meetings during
the 90-public comment period. The
dates and locations of any public
meetings will be announced at least 15
days in advance through local media,
newspapers, and the BLM website at:
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/
project/2017391/510.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
related to the Greenlink West Project
Draft EIS/RMPA by any of the following
methods:
• ePlanning Website: https://
eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/
project/2017391/510.
• Email: BLM_NV_greenlinkwest@
blm.gov.
• Mail: BLM Nevada State Office,
Attn: Brian Buttazoni, Planning &
Environmental Specialist, Branch of
Renewable Energy, BLM Nevada State
Office, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Reno,
Nevada 89502.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Brian Buttazoni, Planning &
Environmental Specialist, telephone
(775) 861–6491; address: 1340 Financial
Boulevard, Reno, NV 89502; email: blm_
nv_greenlinkwest@blm.gov. 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.
Individuals outside the United States
should use the relay services offered
within their country to make
international calls to the point-ofcontact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July
22, 2020, Nevada Power Company and
Sierra Pacific Power Company dba NV
Energy (NV Energy or Proponent) filed
an Application for Transportation,
Utility Systems, Telecommunications,
and Facilities on Federal Lands and
Property (Standard Form 299) and a
preliminary Plan of Development with
the BLM Nevada State Office for a
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 102 (Friday, May 26, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34178-34180]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11070]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM_NV_FRN_MO #4500170412]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Greenlink North Project in White Pine, Eureka, Lander,
Churchill, and Lyon Counties, Nevada
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) Nevada
State Office, Reno, Nevada, intends to prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) to consider the effects of a right-of-way (ROW)
application for proposed transmission facilities from NV Energy for the
Greenlink North Project. Publication of this notice initiates the
scoping period to solicit public comments and identify issues to be
analyzed in the Draft EIS.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS.
The BLM requests the public submit comments concerning the scope of the
analysis, potential alternatives, and identification of relevant
information and studies by July 10, 2023. To afford the BLM the
opportunity to consider issues raised by commenters 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 scoping workshop,
whichever is later.
The BLM will conduct a combination of virtual and in-person scoping
workshops during the 45-day scoping period. The BLM will provide the
public at least 15 days' notice prior to the workshops.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues related to the Greenlink
North Project by any of the following methods:
Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2017033/510.
Email: [email protected].
Mail: BLM, Nevada State Office, Attn: Greenlink North
Project, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Reno, NV 89502.
Documents pertinent to this Project may also be examined at the
Reno Nevada State Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Buttazoni, Planning &
Environmental Specialist, telephone (775) 861-6491; address 1340
Financial Boulevard, Reno, NV 89502; email
[email protected]. Contact us at this email address 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. 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: This document provides notice that the BLM
Nevada State Office intends to prepare an EIS to consider the effects
of a ROW application for the Greenlink North Project, announces the
beginning of the scoping process, and seeks public input on issues to
be analyzed in the Draft EIS. The proposed Project is in White Pine,
Eureka, Lander, Churchill, and Lyon counties, Nevada. The proposed
Project encompasses approximately 1,394 acres of public lands
administered by the BLM.
Purpose and Need
In compliance with NEPA and FLPMA, the BLM Nevada State Office
intends to prepare an EIS to analyze the environmental impacts
associated with NV Energy's application seeking to obtain a ROW grant
for the Greenlink North Project.
Under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC's) Open
Access Transmission Tariff adopted in 18 CFR parts 35 and 385, Order
No. 888 (75 FERC 61,080 (April 24, 1996)), NV Energy is required to
plan and construct adequate transmission facilities to deliver the
projected electric demand in Nevada. The State of Nevada is facing
unprecedented changes in both system growth and resource requirements.
By 2031, 1,000 megawatts (MW) of base load generation are planned for
retirement, i.e., will no longer be generating electricity. In
addition, NV Energy has received more than 1,450 MW of new electric
service requests in northern Nevada that will require additional
transmission facilities. Currently, the maximum amount of power that
can be provided in northern Nevada on the existing transmission network
is 1,275 MW, and all 1,275 MW are being used by current network
customers. The power demand in northern Nevada is forecast to increase
by more than 700 MW within 10 years. New transmission infrastructure is
required to deliver the anticipated electric power demand.
The Greenlink North Project would alleviate some of the capacity
issues on existing transmission lines and enhance
[[Page 34179]]
electric grid reliability by allowing interconnections to occur
throughout the State. The purpose of this Federal action is to respond
to the ROW application for construction, operation, and decommissioning
of proposed electrical transmission facilities on Federal land. Based
on the goals and objectives of the proponent and the BLM's authority,
the BLM will evaluate the ROW application submitted by NV Energy in
compliance with FLPMA, BLM regulations, and other applicable Federal
laws and policies. The need for this Federal action is to fulfill the
BLM's responsibilities under FLPMA and its ROW regulations to manage
the public lands for multiple uses, including for ``systems for
generation, transmission, and distribution of electric energy'' (43
U.S.C. 1761(a)(4)).
Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives
The Proposed Action is to construct, operate and decommission a
proposed system of new 525-kV, 345-kV, 230-kV, and 120-kV electric
transmission facilities on approximately 1,394 acres of BLM
administered lands. Additional action alternatives have not been
identified to date but will be developed by taking into consideration
comments and input received during the application evaluation
determination process and scoping.
Under the No Action Alternative, the BLM would not issue a ROW
grant for the construction, operation and decommissioning of a proposed
system of new 525-kV, 345-kV, 230-kV, and 120-kV electric transmission
facilities. The proposed Project would not be constructed, and existing
land uses in the project area would continue. The BLM welcomes comments
on the preliminary Proposed Action as well as suggestions for
additional alternatives.
Summary of Expected Impacts
The analysis in the EIS will be focused on the proposed
transmission project and associated facilities. The BLM evaluated the
proposed Project application per the 43 CFR part 2800 application
evaluation determination process. Through this process, the BLM
gathered input from an interdisciplinary team of resource specialists
and completed public outreach and agency and Indian Tribal Nations
coordination specific to the proposed Project. From the input received
during four pre-EIS virtual public workshops, the preliminary impacts
from construction, operation, and eventual decommissioning of the
Project and associated facilities could include:
Vegetation and soils.
Threatened, endangered, and BLM sensitive species.
Air quality and climate.
Cultural and historical resources.
Greater-sage grouse.
Access to public lands.
Socioeconomics.
Public health and safety.
Anticipated Permits and Authorizations
Along with a BLM ROW grant as required under 43 CFR 2801.9, NV
Energy anticipates needing additional permits for the proposed project:
a Nevada Public Utilities Commission Permit to Construct; Nevada
Division of Water Resources water rights modification permits; and
other permits, as necessary. A portion of the Project could occur on
lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service, which would require a
special use permit for the Project. The U.S. Forest Service would rely
on the analysis contained in the EIS to support any special use permit.
Further details on these permitting requirements may be found in the
Preliminary Plan of Development which is available on the project
website at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/admin/project/2017033/510.
Schedule for the Decision-Making Process
The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public
participation consistent with the NEPA process, including a 60-day
comment period on the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS is anticipated to be
available for public review in winter 2024, and the Final EIS and
subsequent Record of Decision are anticipated to be released in summer
2024.
Public Scoping Process
This Notice of Intent initiates the public scoping process, which
guides the development of the Draft EIS.
The BLM will be holding a combination of virtual and in-person
scoping workshops. The specific date(s) and location(s) of scoping
workshops will be announced at least 15 days in advance through the
local media and the e-Planning web page: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2017033/510.
The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis,
including alternatives and mitigation measures, and to guide the
process for developing the Draft EIS. Federal, State, and local
agencies, along with Indian Tribal Nations and 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. The BLM encourages comments concerning the proposed Greenlink
North Project, possible measures to minimize and/or avoid adverse
environmental impacts, and any other information relevant to the
Proposed Action.
The BLM also requests assistance with identifying potential
reasonable alternatives to the Proposed Action. As alternatives should
resolve an issue with the Proposed Action, please indicate the purpose
of the suggested alternative. In addition, the BLM requests the
identification of potential issues that should be analyzed. Issues
should be a result of the Proposed Action or other reasonable
alternatives; therefore, please identify the activity along with the
potential issues.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The BLM Nevada State Office is the lead Federal agency for this
EIS. The BLM has initially identified the following agencies and
organizations as potential Cooperating Agencies to participate in the
environmental analysis of the Project: Department of the Air Force,
Department of Defense, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency Region 9, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada
Department of Transportation, Duckwater Shoshone Tribe, Ely Shoshone
Tribe, Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Walker
River Paiute Tribe, Yomba Shoshone Tribe, Nevada Department of
Wildlife, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Nevada Division
of Minerals, Churchill County, White Pine County, Lyon County, Eureka
County, and Lander County.
The following Tribes were invited to participate as a Cooperating
Agency in BLM's initial notification letter: Confederated Tribes of the
Goshute Reservation, Duckwater Shoshone Tribe, Ely Shoshone Tribe,
Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe,
Lovelock Paiute Tribe, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Pahrump Paiute Tribe,
Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, Shoshone-Bannock
Tribes, Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of Duck Valley, Summit Lake Paiute
Tribe, Susanville Indian Rancheria, Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone,
Te-Moak Tribe-Battle Mountain Band, Te-Moak Tribe-Elko Band, Te-Moak
Tribe-South Fork Band, Te-Moak Tribe-Wells Band, Timbisha Shoshone
Tribe, Walker River Paiute Tribe, Washoe Tribe of Nevada and
California, Winnemucca Indian Colony, Winnemucca Indian
[[Page 34180]]
Colony, Yerington Paiute Tribe, and Yomba Shoshone Tribe. These and
other federally recognized T`ribes may request Cooperating Agency
status during preparation and review of the Draft EIS.
Responsible Official
The Nevada State Office Director is the deciding official for the
proposed Greenlink North Project.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The BLM will decide whether to grant, grant with conditions, or
deny the right-of-way application. Pursuant to 43 CFR 2805.10, if the
BLM issues a right-of-way grant(s), the BLM decision maker may include
terms, conditions, and stipulations determined to be in the public
interest.
Interdisciplinary Team
The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the EIS
to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns identified.
Specialists with expertise in the following disciplines will be
involved in this process: air quality, archaeology, botany, climate
change (greenhouse gases), environmental justice, fire and fuels,
geology/mineral resources, hydrology, invasive/non-native species,
lands and realty, National Conservation Lands, National Trails System,
public health and safety, recreation/transportation, socioeconomics,
soils, visual resources, and wildlife.
Additional Information
The BLM will identify, analyze, and consider mitigation to address
the reasonably foreseeable impacts to resources from all analyzed
reasonable alternatives and, in accordance with 40 CFR 1502.14(e),
include appropriate mitigation measures not already included in the
proposed 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 the NEPA process to help support compliance
with applicable procedural requirements under 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 Project 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 Manual
Section 1780, and other policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on
Indian trust assets and potential impacts to cultural resources, will
be given due consideration. The BLM intends to hold government-to-
government consultation meetings. The BLM will send invitations to
potentially impacted Indian Tribal Nations prior to the meetings. The
BLM will provide additional opportunities for government-to-government
consultation during the NEPA process.
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 1501.7 and 2800.)
Jon K. Raby,
Nevada State Director.
[FR Doc. 2023-11070 Filed 5-25-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-21-P
