Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Control-Silver Peak Project, Inyo and Mono Counties, CA, 90197-90199 [2023-28746]
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 249 / Friday, December 29, 2023 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM_WY_FRN_MO4500173507]
Notice of Wyoming Resource Advisory
Council Meeting
AGENCY:
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
Notice of public meeting.
ACTION:
In accordance with the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976 and the Federal Advisory
Committee Act of 1972, the U.S.
Department of the Interior, Bureau of
Land Management’s (BLM’s) Wyoming
Resource Advisory Council (Council)
will meet as follows.
DATES: The Council will participate in a
business meeting from 9 a.m. till 3:15
p.m. Mountain Time (MT) and host a
short field visit to the National Historic
Trails Center from 3:15 p.m. till 4 p.m.
MT on January 31, 2024. A virtual
participation option will be available for
the business meeting. The meeting and
field tour are open to the public.
ADDRESSES: The January 31 business
meeting will be held at the Casper Field
Office located at 2987 Prospector Drive,
Casper, WY 82604. The field tour will
commence and conclude at the field
office and include a visit to the National
Historic Trails Center. Individuals that
prefer to participate virtually in the
meeting must register in advance.
Registration information will be posted
2 weeks in advance of the meeting on
the Council’s web page at https://
www.blm.gov/get-involved/resourceadvisory-council/near-you/wyoming.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Azure Hall, BLM Wyoming State Office,
telephone: (307) 775–6208, email:
ahall@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 for
contacting Azure Hall. 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: The
Council provides recommendations to
the Secretary of the Interior concerning
issues relating to land use planning and
the management of the public land
resources located within the State of
Wyoming. The Council will participate
in a field tour to the National Historic
Trails Center. Members of the public are
welcome on field tours but must
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SUMMARY:
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provide their own transportation and
meals. Please make requests in advance
for sign language interpreter services,
assistive listening devices, or other
reasonable accommodations. We ask
that you contact the person listed in the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section of this notice at least seven (7)
business days prior to the meeting to
give the BLM sufficient time to process
your request. All reasonable
accommodation requests are managed
on a case-by-case basis. Agenda topics
may include updates and discussions on
statewide planning efforts, district and
field manager updates, State Director
comments, and other resource
management issues the Council may
raise. The final agenda will be posted on
the Council’s web page listed above 2
weeks in advance of the meeting.
A public comment period will be
offered at 2:25 p.m. MT. Depending on
the number of persons wishing to speak
and the time available, the amount of
time for oral comments may be limited.
Written comments for the Council may
be sent electronically in advance of the
scheduled meeting to Public Affairs
Specialist Azure Hall at ahall@blm.gov,
or in writing to BLM Wyoming/Public
Affairs, 5353 Yellowstone Rd.,
Cheyenne, WY 82009. All comments
received will be provided to the
Council. 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. While the business meeting and
field tour are scheduled from 9 a.m. to
4 p.m. MT, they may end earlier or later
depending on the needs of group
members. Therefore, members of the
public interested in a specific agenda
item or discussion at the meeting should
schedule their arrival accordingly.
Detailed minutes for Council meetings
will be maintained in the BLM
Wyoming State Office. Minutes will also
be posted to the Council’s web page at
https://www.blm.gov/get-involved/
resource-advisory-council/near-you/
wyoming.
(Authority: 43 CFR 1784.4–2)
Andrew Archuleta,
BLM Wyoming State Director.
[FR Doc. 2023–28786 Filed 12–28–23; 8:45 am]
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90197
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM_CA_FRN_MO 4500161985]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Control-Silver Peak
Project, Inyo and Mono 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
Control-Silver Peak Project (Project) and
by this notice is announcing the
beginning of the scoping process to
solicit public comments and identify
issues.
SUMMARY:
This notice initiates the publicscoping process for the EIS. The BLM
requests that the public submit
comments concerning the scope of the
analysis, potential alternatives, and
identification of relevant information,
and studies by February 12, 2024. 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.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
related to the Control-Silver Peak
project by any of the following methods:
• BLM National NEPA Register:
https://bit.ly/44zSlgq.
• Email: BLM_CA_CD_TLRR_
ControlSilverPeak@blm.gov.
• Mail: Control-Silver Peak
Environmental Impact Statement,
Bureau of Land Management California
Desert District Office, 1201 Bird Center
Drive, Palm Springs CA 92262.
• Fax: 760–833–7199.
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined online at https://
bit.ly/44zSlgq, and in person at:
• BLM Bishop Field Office, 351 Pacu
Lane, Suite 100, Bishop, CA 93514.
• BLM Ridgecrest Field Office, 300 S
Richmond Road, Ridgecrest, CA 93555.
• BLM California Desert District
Office, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm
Springs, CA 92262.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joan
Patrovsky, Project Manager, telephone:
951–214–1775; address: Control-Silver
DATES:
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 249 / Friday, December 29, 2023 / Notices
Peak Project, BLM Desert District Office,
1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs
CA 92262; 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:
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Purpose and Need for the Proposed
Action
The purpose of this Federal action is
for the BLM is to respond to a right-ofway application from Southern
California Edison for construction,
operations, and maintenance of the
Control-Silver Peak 55 kilovolt (kV)
transmission line on BLM-managed
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. 1761(a)(4)); the need for the
BLM’s action is established by this
delegated authority under Title V of the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976.
Preliminary Proposed Action and
Alternatives
Southern California Edison is
proposing to update and reconfigure
approximately 61 linear miles of two
existing 55 kV sub-transmission lines
originally designed and built in the
1930s. Collectively referred to as the
Control-Silver Peak Project, the utility
line spans Inyo and Mono counties and
the city of Bishop, California.
The proposed project involves
approximately 322 acres, of which
approximately 76 acres are on BLMmanaged public lands, 152 acres are on
USFS-managed lands, and 94 acres are
on private, State, and local government
lands. Updating these transmission lines
is mandated by the California Public
Utilities Commission.
To address existing overhead electric
line non-compliance with the California
Public Utilities Commission’s General
Order 95 and National Electric
Reliability Corporation reliability
standards, Southern California Edison
proposes to conduct the following
activities:
• Segment 1—Control Substation to
west of the city of Bishop (3.4-mile
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segment located on BLM-managed
lands): The Control-Silver Peak ‘A’ and
‘C’ 55 kV sub-transmission lines are
each predominately supported on
single-circuit lightweight steel poles.
Optical groundwire and/or all-dielectric
self-supporting (ADSS) fiber optic cable
(collectively referred to as
telecommunication cable) would be
installed on the same existing poles in
Segment 1, or ADSS fiber optic cable
would be installed underground. All
infrastructure installed in Segment 1
would be located within an existing
right-of-way. At Control Substation,
system protection and
telecommunications-associated
equipment would be installed.
• Segment 2—west of the city of
Bishop to northwest of the city of
Bishop (1.4-mile segment not located on
Federal lands): Each sub-transmission
line in Segment 2 would be rebuilt
within the existing rights-of-way. The
rebuilt 55 kV sub-transmission lines
would utilize two existing single-circuit
tubular steel poles (TSPs) and new
single-circuit wood pole-equivalent
poles. Approximately 25 single-circuit
wood pole-equivalents would be
installed, two existing single-circuited
tubular steel poles would be modified,
49 existing poles would be removed,
conductor lines would be replaced
along both pole lines, and overhead
groundwire and optical groundwire
would be installed on one of the two
pole lines.
• Segment 3—northwest of the city of
Bishop to the California-Nevada border
(37.2-mile segment located on both
BLM- and USFS-managed lands): The
existing sub-transmission poles along
the two 55 kV transmission routes
would be replaced by one double-circuit
sub-transmission line within portions of
each of the two existing rights-of-way
and within a new right-of-way. The new
55 kV sub-transmission infrastructure
would include double-circuit TSPs,
double-circuit wood pole-equivalents,
and single-circuit H-frames. Optical
groundwire would be installed along the
length of Segment 3. Approximately 529
double-circuit wood pole-equivalents
would be installed; 137 double-circuit
TSPs would be installed; 8 single-circuit
TSP H-frames would be installed; 1,508
existing structures would be removed;
and conductors would be replaced.
Optical groundwire and/or fiber optic
cable would be installed, as well as
system protection and
telecommunications-associated
equipment at White Mountain
Substation and the Fish Lake Valley
Metering Station.
• Segment 4—Chalfant Valley
between the city of Bishop and the
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community of Hammil (16-mile segment
located in part on BLM-managed lands):
Segment 4 consists of the Zack Tap
portion of the Control-Silver Peak ‘C’ 55
kV sub-transmission line. All
infrastructure installed in Segment 4
would be located within an existing
right-of-way. Approximately two singlecircuit wood pole-equivalents would be
installed, two existing single-circuit
wood poles would be removed, and
existing sub-transmission and
distribution conductors would be
transferred to the replacement poles.
• Segment 5—Deep Springs Valley
(2.4-mile segment located in part on
BLM lands): Segment 5 consists of the
Deep Spring Tap portion of the ControlSilver Peak ‘A’ 55 kV sub-transmission
line. One replacement pole would be
located in a new Federal right-of-way;
the remaining infrastructure installed in
Segment 5 would be located within an
existing easement. Approximately eight
single-circuit wood pole-equivalents
would be installed, eight existing singlecircuit wood pole-equivalents would be
removed, and the existing subtransmission conductor would be
transferred to the replacement wood
pole-equivalents.
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
realignment of the line via California
State Highway 6 and Nevada State
Highway 264. The range of reasonable
alternatives will include a no action
alternative. Under the no action
alternative, the BLM and the USFS
would deny the application, and the
Control Silver Peak 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; please indicate
the purpose of any suggested
alternative.
Summary of Expected Impacts
Preliminary issues for the Project,
either beneficial or adverse and of
varying intensity, have been identified
by BLM personnel and in consultation
with Federal, State, and local agencies;
Tribes; and 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
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 249 / Friday, December 29, 2023 / Notices
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 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
If approved, the BLM would issue a
right-of-way grant for BLM-managed
lands, and the USFS would amend the
existing transmission easement for the
Control Silver Peak 55 kV transmission
line for USFS-managed lands. Other
Federal, State, and local authorizations
will be required for the Project. These
could include authorizations under the
Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act,
the Endangered Species Act, the Clean
Water Act, 14 CFR part 77, and other
laws and regulations determined to be
applicable to the Project.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
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 late summer 2024; the final EIS
is anticipated to be released in fall 2025
and the Record of Decision in winter
2025/2026.
Public Scoping Process
This notice initiates the scoping
period.
The BLM will be holding two public
scoping meetings and one virtual
meeting. The in-person public meetings
will be held at the BLM Bishop Field
Office—USFS Inyo National Forest
Office in Bishop, CA. The specific dates
and times of the in-person and virtual
scoping meetings will be announced at
least 15 days in advance through local
media, a news release, social media, and
the BLM National NEPA Register (see
ADDRESSES). Participants must register
in advance to attend the virtual scoping
meeting.
The date(s) and location(s) of any
additional scoping meetings will be
announced in advance through local
media, a BLM-California news release,
social media, and the BLM National
NEPA Register (see ADDRESSES).
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The BLM is the lead Federal agency
for this EIS and the related National
Historic Preservation Act Section 106
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17:38 Dec 28, 2023
Jkt 262001
process. The following have agreed to
participate in the environmental
analysis of the Project as Cooperating
Agencies: USFS Inyo National Forest,
Inyo County, the Los Angeles
Department of Water and Power, the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service,
and the United States Environmental
Protection Agency. Additional Federal,
State, and local agencies; Tribes; and
eligible stakeholders interested in the
scoping process may request or be
requested by the BLM 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 Decisions 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
project 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 Manual
Section 1780, and other Departmental
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90199
policies. Tribal concerns, including
impacts on Indian trust assets and
potential impacts to cultural resources,
will be given due consideration. Indian
Tribal Nations that may be interested in
or affected by the proposed Project are
invited to participate in the scoping
process and 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.
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 E. Mouritsen,
Bureau of Land Management, California State
Director.
[FR Doc. 2023–28746 Filed 12–28–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM_HQ_FRN_MO4500176406]
Notice of Availability of the Final
Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement for Approval of Herbicide
Active Ingredients for Use on Public
Lands
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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)
announces the availability of the final
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the Approval of Herbicide Active
Ingredients for Use on Public Lands.
DATES: The BLM will not issue a
decision on the proposal for a minimum
of 30 days after the date that the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
publishes its Notice of Availability
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 249 (Friday, December 29, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 90197-90199]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28746]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM_CA_FRN_MO 4500161985]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Control-Silver Peak Project, Inyo and Mono 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 Control-Silver Peak 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 that the public submit comments concerning the scope
of the analysis, potential alternatives, and identification of relevant
information, and studies by February 12, 2024. 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.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Control-Silver Peak
project by any of the following methods:
BLM National NEPA Register: https://bit.ly/44zSlgq.
Email: [email protected].
Mail: Control-Silver Peak Environmental Impact Statement,
Bureau of Land Management California Desert District Office, 1201 Bird
Center Drive, Palm Springs CA 92262.
Fax: 760-833-7199.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at
https://bit.ly/44zSlgq, and in person at:
BLM Bishop Field Office, 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 100, Bishop,
CA 93514.
BLM Ridgecrest Field Office, 300 S Richmond Road,
Ridgecrest, CA 93555.
BLM California Desert District Office, 1201 Bird Center
Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joan Patrovsky, Project Manager,
telephone: 951-214-1775; address: Control-Silver
[[Page 90198]]
Peak Project, BLM Desert District Office, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm
Springs CA 92262; 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 for the BLM is to respond to
a right-of-way application from Southern California Edison for
construction, operations, and maintenance of the Control-Silver Peak 55
kilovolt (kV) transmission line on BLM-managed 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. 1761(a)(4)); the need for the BLM's action is
established by this delegated authority under Title V of the Federal
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.
Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives
Southern California Edison is proposing to update and reconfigure
approximately 61 linear miles of two existing 55 kV sub-transmission
lines originally designed and built in the 1930s. Collectively referred
to as the Control-Silver Peak Project, the utility line spans Inyo and
Mono counties and the city of Bishop, California.
The proposed project involves approximately 322 acres, of which
approximately 76 acres are on BLM-managed public lands, 152 acres are
on USFS-managed lands, and 94 acres are on private, State, and local
government lands. Updating these transmission lines is mandated by the
California Public Utilities Commission.
To address existing overhead electric line non-compliance with the
California Public Utilities Commission's General Order 95 and National
Electric Reliability Corporation reliability standards, Southern
California Edison proposes to conduct the following activities:
Segment 1--Control Substation to west of the city of
Bishop (3.4-mile segment located on BLM-managed lands): The Control-
Silver Peak `A' and `C' 55 kV sub-transmission lines are each
predominately supported on single-circuit lightweight steel poles.
Optical groundwire and/or all-dielectric self-supporting (ADSS) fiber
optic cable (collectively referred to as telecommunication cable) would
be installed on the same existing poles in Segment 1, or ADSS fiber
optic cable would be installed underground. All infrastructure
installed in Segment 1 would be located within an existing right-of-
way. At Control Substation, system protection and telecommunications-
associated equipment would be installed.
Segment 2--west of the city of Bishop to northwest of the
city of Bishop (1.4-mile segment not located on Federal lands): Each
sub-transmission line in Segment 2 would be rebuilt within the existing
rights-of-way. The rebuilt 55 kV sub-transmission lines would utilize
two existing single-circuit tubular steel poles (TSPs) and new single-
circuit wood pole-equivalent poles. Approximately 25 single-circuit
wood pole-equivalents would be installed, two existing single-circuited
tubular steel poles would be modified, 49 existing poles would be
removed, conductor lines would be replaced along both pole lines, and
overhead groundwire and optical groundwire would be installed on one of
the two pole lines.
Segment 3--northwest of the city of Bishop to the
California-Nevada border (37.2-mile segment located on both BLM- and
USFS-managed lands): The existing sub-transmission poles along the two
55 kV transmission routes would be replaced by one double-circuit sub-
transmission line within portions of each of the two existing rights-
of-way and within a new right-of-way. The new 55 kV sub-transmission
infrastructure would include double-circuit TSPs, double-circuit wood
pole-equivalents, and single-circuit H-frames. Optical groundwire would
be installed along the length of Segment 3. Approximately 529 double-
circuit wood pole-equivalents would be installed; 137 double-circuit
TSPs would be installed; 8 single-circuit TSP H-frames would be
installed; 1,508 existing structures would be removed; and conductors
would be replaced. Optical groundwire and/or fiber optic cable would be
installed, as well as system protection and telecommunications-
associated equipment at White Mountain Substation and the Fish Lake
Valley Metering Station.
Segment 4--Chalfant Valley between the city of Bishop and
the community of Hammil (16-mile segment located in part on BLM-managed
lands): Segment 4 consists of the Zack Tap portion of the Control-
Silver Peak `C' 55 kV sub-transmission line. All infrastructure
installed in Segment 4 would be located within an existing right-of-
way. Approximately two single-circuit wood pole-equivalents would be
installed, two existing single-circuit wood poles would be removed, and
existing sub-transmission and distribution conductors would be
transferred to the replacement poles.
Segment 5--Deep Springs Valley (2.4-mile segment located
in part on BLM lands): Segment 5 consists of the Deep Spring Tap
portion of the Control-Silver Peak `A' 55 kV sub-transmission line. One
replacement pole would be located in a new Federal right-of-way; the
remaining infrastructure installed in Segment 5 would be located within
an existing easement. Approximately eight single-circuit wood pole-
equivalents would be installed, eight existing single-circuit wood
pole-equivalents would be removed, and the existing sub-transmission
conductor would be transferred to the replacement wood pole-
equivalents.
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 realignment of the
line via California State Highway 6 and Nevada State Highway 264. The
range of reasonable alternatives will include a no action alternative.
Under the no action alternative, the BLM and the USFS would deny the
application, and the Control Silver Peak 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; please indicate the purpose of any suggested
alternative.
Summary of Expected Impacts
Preliminary issues for the Project, either beneficial or adverse
and of varying intensity, have been identified by BLM personnel and in
consultation with Federal, State, and local agencies; Tribes; and
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
[[Page 90199]]
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 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
If approved, the BLM would issue a right-of-way grant for BLM-
managed lands, and the USFS would amend the existing transmission
easement for the Control Silver Peak 55 kV transmission line for USFS-
managed lands. Other Federal, State, and local authorizations will be
required for the Project. These could include authorizations under the
Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act, the
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 late summer 2024; the final EIS is
anticipated to be released in fall 2025 and the Record of Decision in
winter 2025/2026.
Public Scoping Process
This notice initiates the scoping period.
The BLM will be holding two public scoping meetings and one virtual
meeting. The in-person public meetings will be held at the BLM Bishop
Field Office--USFS Inyo National Forest Office in Bishop, CA. The
specific dates and times of the in-person and virtual scoping meetings
will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local media, a
news release, social media, and the BLM National NEPA Register (see
ADDRESSES). Participants must register in advance to attend the virtual
scoping meeting.
The date(s) and location(s) of any additional scoping meetings will
be announced in advance through local media, a BLM-California news
release, social media, and the BLM National NEPA Register (see
ADDRESSES).
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: USFS Inyo National Forest, Inyo County, the
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service, and the United States Environmental Protection
Agency. Additional Federal, State, and local agencies; Tribes; and
eligible stakeholders interested in the scoping process may request or
be requested by the BLM 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 Decisions 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 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 Departmental policies. Tribal concerns,
including impacts on Indian trust assets and potential impacts to
cultural resources, will be given due consideration. Indian Tribal
Nations that may be interested in or affected by the proposed Project
are invited to participate in the scoping process and 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.
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 E. Mouritsen,
Bureau of Land Management, California State Director.
[FR Doc. 2023-28746 Filed 12-28-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-15-P
