Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Jackalope Wind Energy Project, Sweetwater County, Wyoming, 19348-19350 [2024-05618]
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19348
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 53 / Monday, March 18, 2024 / Notices
occupancy determination, and ROW
grant.
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Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Authorized Officer will consider
alternatives analyzed through the NEPA
process, including an alternative to not
authorize the project and the
proponent’s proposed mine plan of
operations. The Authorized Officer will
select an alternative and consider
whether that action will be authorized,
what mitigation to avoid or reduce
resource effects will be necessary, and
whether an amendment to the existing
Southeastern Oregon Resource
Management Plan (2002, as amended)
will be necessary. If an amendment is
necessary, the BLM would propose a
plan amendment concurrently with the
final decision on the project.
Additional Information
The BLM will identify, analyze, and
consider mitigation to address
reasonably foreseeable effects to
resources from the Proposed Action and
all analyzed reasonable alternatives, and
in accordance with 40 CFR 1502.14(e),
including appropriate mitigation
measures not already included in the
proposed action. 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 as provided in 36 CFR
800.2(d)(3), including public
involvement requirements. The
information about historic and cultural
resources and threatened and
endangered species within the area
potentially affected by the proposed
action will assist the BLM in
identifying, evaluating, and where
appropriate, mitigating effects 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
policies. Tribal concerns, including
effects on Indian trust assets and
potential effects to cultural resources,
will be given due consideration.
Federal, state, and local agencies, along
with Indian Tribal Nations and other
stakeholders that may be interested in or
affected by the proposed action that the
BLM is evaluating, are invited to
participate in the scoping process, and
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if eligible, may request or be requested
by the BLM to participate in the
development of the environmental
analysis as a cooperating agency.
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).
Shane DeForest,
Vale District Manager.
[FR Doc. 2024–05719 Filed 3–15–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331–24–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM_WY_FRN_MO4500177404]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Jackalope Wind Energy
Project, Sweetwater County, Wyoming
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)
Rock Springs Field Office, Sweetwater
County, Wyoming intends to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
to consider the effects of the proposed
Jackalope Wind Energy 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 30 days after the date of
publication of this notice in the Federal
Register. 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 30-day scoping period or 15 days
after the last public meeting, whichever
is later.
SUMMARY:
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You may submit comments
related to the Jackalope Wind Energy
Project by any of the following methods:
• Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/
eplanning-ui/project/2026735/510.
• Mail: BLM Rock Springs Field
Office, Attn: Jackalope Wind Energy
Project Team, 280 Highway 191 North,
Rock Springs, WY 82901–3447.
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined online at https://
eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/
project/2026735/510 and at the BLM
Rock Springs Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kimberlee Foster, the BLM Rock Springs
Field Office Manager, telephone (307)
352–0201; address 280 US–191 N, Rock
Springs, WY 82901; email kfoster@
blm.gov. Contact Ms. Foster 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 Tele Braille) to access
telecommunications relay services for
contacting Ms. Foster. 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: Jackalope
Wind, LLC, a wholly owned indirect
subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources,
LLC, is proposing to develop the
Jackalope Wind Energy Project, a
commercial wind energy project in
Sweetwater County, Wyoming, on lands
managed by the BLM, the Wyoming
Office of State Lands and Investment,
and private landowners. The proposed
project includes approximately 213
wind turbine generators and associated
infrastructure to deliver approximately
600 megawatts (MW) of electricity to the
transmission grid. The point of
interconnection would be the Jim
Bridger Substation, which is located
adjacent to the Jim Bridger Power Plant
near Point of Rocks, Wyoming. The
project area encompasses approximately
293,100 acres of land, approximately
166,100 acres of which are public lands
managed by the BLM. The majority of
the project is located within the BLM
Rock Springs Field Office, and a portion
of the project is within the Rawlins
Field Office. The Rock Springs Field
Office will serve as the lead office and
will coordinate with the Rawlins Field
Office as appropriate during the NEPA
process.
Purpose and Need: The BLM’s
purpose is to respond to Jackalope
Wind, LLC application for a right-ofway (ROW) grant to construct, operate,
maintain, and decommission a wind
ADDRESSES:
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 53 / Monday, March 18, 2024 / Notices
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energy facility on public lands in
compliance with FLPMA, BLM ROW
regulations, and other applicable federal
laws and policies. The need for this
action arises from FLPMA, which
requires the BLM to manage public
lands for multiple use and sustained
yield and authorizes the BLM to issue
ROW grants on public lands for systems
of generation, transmission, and
distribution of electric energy (FLPMA
Title V). The BLM will review the
proposed action and other alternatives
and decide whether to approve, approve
with modifications, or deny Jackalope
Wind LLC’s application. The BLM’s
ROW grant for the project would
include any terms, conditions, and
stipulations it determines to be in the
public interest.
Preliminary Proposed Action and
Alternatives: Jackalope Wind, LLC, has
submitted a plan of development to
accompany a Type III ROW grant
application to the BLM Rock Springs
Field Office. As currently proposed, the
project would comprise approximately
213 wind turbine generators and
associated infrastructure to deliver
approximately 600 MW of electricity to
the transmission grid. The project
would be constructed in two phases,
with each phase totaling approximately
300 MW.
The BLM Rock Springs Field Office
has identified the following preliminary
considerations for the development of
alternatives:
• Input from cooperators and other
stakeholders;
• Input from the public scoping
process;
• Potential resource concerns;
• Alternative gen-tie line and
interconnection options; and
• Alternative turbine layouts.
The BLM welcomes comments on all
preliminary alternatives as well as
suggestions for additional alternatives.
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:
• Wildlife, including big game;
• Special status wildlife and fish
species, including BLM Sensitive
Species and Threatened and
Endangered Species;
• Cultural resources and historic
trails;
• Visual resources;
• Recreation;
• Impacts to surface resources from
project-related surface disturbance; and
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19349
• Greater Sage-grouse. The State of
Wyoming has proposed expansion of
the State’s Core Area for Sage-grouse in
a portion of the project area. This may
cause some turbine locations to be
relocated within the project area.
The public scoping process will guide
the NEPA process in determining
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 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.
Information that reviewers have that
would assist in the development of
alternatives or analysis of resources
issues is also helpful.
Federal: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation,
U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. EPA
Region 8, U.S. EPA Region 9, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Services, USDA Forest
Service, U.S. National Park Service.
State: State of Wyoming Office of
Governor Gordan, Office of Senator
Cynthia Lummis, Office of Senator John
Barrasso, Wyoming County
Commissioners Association, WY
Department of Agriculture, WY
Department of Environmental Quality,
WY Game & Fish, WY Geological
Survey.
Local: Advisory Council on Historic
Preservation, Carbon County,
Sweetwater County.
Anticipated Permits and Authorizations
Nature of Decision To Be Made
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 Act, the Endangered
Species Act, Clean Water Act, 14 Code
of Federal Regulations part 77, and
other laws and regulations determined
to be applicable to the project.
The Bureau of Land Management 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 Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) 2805.10, if
the BLM issues a grant, the decision
may include terms, conditions, and
stipulations determined to be in the
public interest.
Schedule for the Decision-Making
Process
Additional Information
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 between Winter 2024 and early
Spring 2025 and the Final EIS is
anticipated to be released in Summer
2025 with a Record of Decision in
Summer 2025.
Public Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping period.
The BLM will hold two public
scoping meetings in the following
locations: Rock Springs and Rawlins,
WY. The specific date(s) and location(s)
of these scoping meetings will be
announced in advance through local
media, social media and the ePlanning
project page (see ADDRESSES).
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The BLM Rock Springs Field Office is
the lead office for the NEPA effort. The
BLM Rock Spring Field Office has
invited the following agencies to
participate as cooperating agencies:
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Responsible Official
The BLM Wyoming’s High Desert
District Manager, Jason Gay, is the
responsible official who will make the
decisions below.
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.
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19350
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 53 / Monday, March 18, 2024 / Notices
The BLM will consult with Indian
Tribal Nations including the Eastern
Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River
Reservation, Northern Arapaho Tribe,
the Ute Indian Tribe of Uintah and
Ouray Reservation, Shoshone-Bannock
Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservations, and
Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council 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. Federal, State, and local
agencies, along with Indian Tribal
Nations and other stakeholders that may
be interested in or affected by the
proposed 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.
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)
Andrew S. Archuleta,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2024–05618 Filed 3–15–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331–26–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
[Docket No. BOEM–2024–0008]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Atlantic Shores North
Project on the U.S. Outer Continental
Shelf Offshore New Jersey
Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement;
request for comments.
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AGENCY:
The Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management (BOEM) announces its
intent to prepare an environmental
impact statement (EIS) for a
construction and operations plan (COP)
of a proposed offshore wind energy
SUMMARY:
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17:07 Mar 15, 2024
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project submitted by Atlantic Shores
Offshore Wind, LLC (Atlantic Shores).
This notice of intent (NOI) initiates the
public scoping and comment process
under the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) and under section
106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (NHPA). Atlantic
Shores proposes to construct and
operate the project in Renewable Energy
Lease Area OCS–A 0549 (Lease Area),
which is approximately 81,129 acres
and located 8.4 statute miles (mi) (7.3
nautical miles) offshore New Jersey and
approximately 60 mi offshore New York
State. Atlantic Shores proposes to
develop the entire Lease Area, known as
the Atlantic Shores North Project (the
Project).
Your comments must be received
by BOEM on or before May 2, 2024 for
timely consideration.
BOEM will hold three in-person and
two virtual public scoping meetings for
the Atlantic Shores North EIS at the
following dates and times (eastern time):
In Person:
• Tuesday, April 9, 2024, 5:00 p.m.–
9:00 p.m., The Berkeley Hotel, 1401
Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park, New
Jersey 07712
• Wednesday, April 10, 2024, 5:00
p.m.–9:00 p.m., Grand Oaks Country
Club, 200 Huguenot Avenue, Staten
Island, New York 10312; and
• Thursday, April 11, 2024, 5:00 p.m.–
9:00 p.m., Dyker Beach Golf Course,
86th Street and 7th Avenue, Brooklyn,
New York 11228;
Virtual:
• Wednesday, April 3, 2024, 1:00 p.m.,
and
• Tuesday, April 16, 2024, 5:00 p.m.
Registration for the virtual public
meetings may be completed here:
https://www.boem.gov/renewableenergy/state-activities/new-jersey/
atlantic-shores-north-ocs-0549 or by
calling (888) 788–0099 (toll free).
Registration for in-person meetings will
occur on site. The meetings are open to
the public and free to attend.
ADDRESSES: Written comments can be
submitted in any of the following ways:
• Delivered by U.S. mail or other
delivery service, enclosed in an
envelope labeled ‘‘ATLANTIC SHORES
North EIS’’ and addressed to Kimberly
Sullivan, NEPA Coordinator,
Environmental Branch for Renewable
Energy, Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, 45600 Woodland Road,
VAM–OREP, Sterling, Virginia 20166; or
• Through the regulations.gov web
portal: Navigate to https://
www.regulations.gov and search for
Docket No. BOEM–2024–0008. Select
DATES:
PO 00000
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the document in the search results on
which you want to comment, click on
the ‘‘Comment’’ button, and follow the
online instructions for submitting your
comment. A commenter’s checklist is
available on the comment web page.
Enter your information and comment,
then click ‘‘Submit.’’
For more information about
submitting comments, please see the
‘‘Public Participation’’ heading under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Detailed information about the
proposed Project, including the COP
and instructions for making written
comments, can be found on BOEM’s
website at: https://www.boem.gov/
renewable-energy/state-activities/newjersey/atlantic-shores-north-ocs-0549.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kimberly Sullivan, Office of Renewable
Energy Programs, Bureau of Ocean
Energy Management, 45600 Woodland
Road, Sterling, Virginia 20166,
telephone (702) 338–4766, or email
Kimberly.Sullivan@boem.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose of and Need for the Proposed
Action
In Executive Order 14008, ‘‘Tackling
the Climate Crisis at Home and
Abroad,’’ issued on January 27, 2021,
President Joseph R. Biden stated that the
policy of his administration is ‘‘to
organize and deploy the full capacity of
its agencies to combat the climate crisis
to implement a government-wide
approach that reduces climate pollution
in every sector of the economy;
increases resilience to the impacts of
climate change; protects public health;
conserves our lands, waters, and
biodiversity; delivers environmental
justice; and spurs well-paying union
jobs and economic growth, especially
through innovation, commercialization,
and deployment of clean energy
technologies and infrastructure.’’
Through a competitive leasing process
conducted under 30 CFR 585.211–
585.225, BOEM awarded US Wind, LLC,
the Commercial Lease OCS–A 0499,
covering an area offshore New Jersey.
BOEM approved an assignment of 100
percent interest in the lease to EDF
Renewables Development, Inc., in
December 2018, and then to Atlantic
Shores in August 2019. BOEM approved
the segregation of Lease OCS–A 0499
into two separate leases in April 2022.
The northern portion of OCS–A 0499
was retained by Atlantic Shores
Offshore Wind, LLC and given a new
lease number, OCS–A 0549. Lease OCS–
A 0499 is commonly referred to as
Atlantic Shores South, and Lease OCS–
A 0549 is commonly referred to as
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 53 (Monday, March 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19348-19350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05618]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM_WY_FRN_MO4500177404]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Jackalope Wind Energy Project, Sweetwater County, Wyoming
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) Rock
Springs Field Office, Sweetwater County, Wyoming intends to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider the effects of the
proposed Jackalope Wind Energy 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 30 days after the date of publication of
this notice in the Federal Register. 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 30-day scoping period or 15 days
after the last public meeting, whichever is later.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Jackalope Wind Energy
Project by any of the following methods:
Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2026735/510.
Mail: BLM Rock Springs Field Office, Attn: Jackalope Wind
Energy Project Team, 280 Highway 191 North, Rock Springs, WY 82901-
3447.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2026735/510 and at the
BLM Rock Springs Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberlee Foster, the BLM Rock Springs
Field Office Manager, telephone (307) 352-0201; address 280 US-191 N,
Rock Springs, WY 82901; email [email protected]. Contact Ms. Foster 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 Tele Braille) to access
telecommunications relay services for contacting Ms. Foster.
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: Jackalope Wind, LLC, a wholly owned indirect
subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, is proposing to develop
the Jackalope Wind Energy Project, a commercial wind energy project in
Sweetwater County, Wyoming, on lands managed by the BLM, the Wyoming
Office of State Lands and Investment, and private landowners. The
proposed project includes approximately 213 wind turbine generators and
associated infrastructure to deliver approximately 600 megawatts (MW)
of electricity to the transmission grid. The point of interconnection
would be the Jim Bridger Substation, which is located adjacent to the
Jim Bridger Power Plant near Point of Rocks, Wyoming. The project area
encompasses approximately 293,100 acres of land, approximately 166,100
acres of which are public lands managed by the BLM. The majority of the
project is located within the BLM Rock Springs Field Office, and a
portion of the project is within the Rawlins Field Office. The Rock
Springs Field Office will serve as the lead office and will coordinate
with the Rawlins Field Office as appropriate during the NEPA process.
Purpose and Need: The BLM's purpose is to respond to Jackalope
Wind, LLC application for a right-of-way (ROW) grant to construct,
operate, maintain, and decommission a wind
[[Page 19349]]
energy facility on public lands in compliance with FLPMA, BLM ROW
regulations, and other applicable federal laws and policies. The need
for this action arises from FLPMA, which requires the BLM to manage
public lands for multiple use and sustained yield and authorizes the
BLM to issue ROW grants on public lands for systems of generation,
transmission, and distribution of electric energy (FLPMA Title V). The
BLM will review the proposed action and other alternatives and decide
whether to approve, approve with modifications, or deny Jackalope Wind
LLC's application. The BLM's ROW grant for the project would include
any terms, conditions, and stipulations it determines to be in the
public interest.
Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives: Jackalope Wind, LLC,
has submitted a plan of development to accompany a Type III ROW grant
application to the BLM Rock Springs Field Office. As currently
proposed, the project would comprise approximately 213 wind turbine
generators and associated infrastructure to deliver approximately 600
MW of electricity to the transmission grid. The project would be
constructed in two phases, with each phase totaling approximately 300
MW.
The BLM Rock Springs Field Office has identified the following
preliminary considerations for the development of alternatives:
Input from cooperators and other stakeholders;
Input from the public scoping process;
Potential resource concerns;
Alternative gen-tie line and interconnection options; and
Alternative turbine layouts.
The BLM welcomes comments on all preliminary alternatives as well
as suggestions for additional alternatives.
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:
Wildlife, including big game;
Special status wildlife and fish species, including BLM
Sensitive Species and Threatened and Endangered Species;
Cultural resources and historic trails;
Visual resources;
Recreation;
Impacts to surface resources from project-related surface
disturbance; and
Greater Sage-grouse. The State of Wyoming has proposed
expansion of the State's Core Area for Sage-grouse in a portion of the
project area. This may cause some turbine locations to be relocated
within the project area.
The public scoping process will guide the NEPA process in
determining 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
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. Information that reviewers have that would assist in
the development of alternatives or analysis of resources issues is also
helpful.
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 Act, the
Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, 14 Code of Federal Regulations
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 between Winter 2024 and early Spring 2025
and the Final EIS is anticipated to be released in Summer 2025 with a
Record of Decision in Summer 2025.
Public Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping period.
The BLM will hold two public scoping meetings in the following
locations: Rock Springs and Rawlins, WY. The specific date(s) and
location(s) of these scoping meetings will be announced in advance
through local media, social media and the ePlanning project page (see
ADDRESSES).
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The BLM Rock Springs Field Office is the lead office for the NEPA
effort. The BLM Rock Spring Field Office has invited the following
agencies to participate as cooperating agencies:
Federal: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department of Energy,
U.S. EPA Region 8, U.S. EPA Region 9, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services,
USDA Forest Service, U.S. National Park Service.
State: State of Wyoming Office of Governor Gordan, Office of
Senator Cynthia Lummis, Office of Senator John Barrasso, Wyoming County
Commissioners Association, WY Department of Agriculture, WY Department
of Environmental Quality, WY Game & Fish, WY Geological Survey.
Local: Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Carbon County,
Sweetwater County.
Responsible Official
The BLM Wyoming's High Desert District Manager, Jason Gay, is the
responsible official who will make the decisions below.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Bureau of Land Management 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 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) 2805.10, if the BLM issues a grant, the decision 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.
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The BLM will consult with Indian Tribal Nations including the
Eastern Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, Northern Arapaho
Tribe, the Ute Indian Tribe of Uintah and Ouray Reservation, Shoshone-
Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservations, and Northern Cheyenne
Tribal Council 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. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with Indian
Tribal Nations and other stakeholders that may be interested in or
affected by the proposed 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.
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)
Andrew S. Archuleta,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2024-05618 Filed 3-15-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-26-P
