80 FR 12195 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Desert Quartzite Solar Project and a Possible Amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area Plan, Riverside County, California
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 44 (March 6, 2015)
Bureau of Land Management
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 44 (March 6, 2015)
| Page Range | 12195-12196 | |
| FR Document | 2015-05290 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 12195-12196] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-05290] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CACA 049397, LLCAD06000.L51010000.ER0000.LVRWB09B2920.15X] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Desert Quartzite Solar Project and a Possible Amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area Plan, Riverside County, California 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) Palm Springs/South Coast Field Office, Palm Springs, California, together with Riverside County, California, intend to prepare a joint Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Environmental Impact Report (EIR), which may include an amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan, for the Desert Quartzite Solar Project (Project). By this notice, the BLM is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues related to the EIS/EIR and Plan Amendment (PA). DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS/EIR and PA. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until April 6, 2015. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local news media, newspapers and the BLM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd.html. In order to be included in the analysis, all comments must be received prior to the close of the 30-day scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. We will provide additional opportunities for public participation as appropriate. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria related to the Project by any of the following methods:email: [email protected]. fax: (951) 697-5299. [[Page 12196]] mail: ATTN: Cedric C. Perry, Project Manager, BLM California Desert District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, California 92553-9046 Documents pertinent to this project may be examined at the BLM California Desert District Office at the above address Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cedric C. Perry; telephone--(951) 697- 5388; address--BLM California Desert District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553-9046; Email_ [email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-(800)-877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant, Desert Quartzite Solar, LLC has requested a right-of-way (ROW) authorization to construct, operate, maintain and decommission a 300 MW alternating current (AC) solar photovoltaic energy-generating facility along with the necessary ancillary facilities including a project substation, access road, transmission lines, realignment of an existing route, operations and maintenance buildings, and lay down areas. The project is proposed on 4,845 acres of public land with the solar field occupying approximately 2,453 acres on lands within the Riverside East Solar Energy Zone (SEZ), southwest of Blythe, California. This document provides notice that the BLM Palm Springs/South Coast Field Office and the County of Riverside California intend to jointly prepare an EIS/EIR, which may include a potential CDCA Plan Amendment, for the Project. It also announces the beginning of the scoping process for this effort and seeks public input on environmental issues and potential planning criteria relevant to the Project and any potential plan amendments. The purpose of the public scoping process is to guide the planning process and determine the relevant issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, including alternatives and mitigation measures. Preliminary issues for the environmental analysis and potential plan amendment have been identified by BLM; Federal, State, and local agencies; and, other stakeholders. These issues include: Air quality and greenhouse gas emissions; biological resources, including special status species; cultural resources; geology and soils; hazards and hazardous materials; hydrology and water quality; land use; lands with wilderness characteristics; noise; recreation; traffic; visual resources; cumulative effects; areas with high potential for renewable energy development; and, identification of opportunities to apply mitigation hierarchy strategies for on-site, regional, and compensatory mitigation, and, appropriate to the size of the project, landscape- level conservation and management actions to achieve resource objectives. You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria in writing to the BLM at any public scoping meeting, or by using one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above. To be most helpful, you should submit comments by the close of the 30-day scoping period or within 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. 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. The minutes and list of attendees for each scoping meeting will be available to the public and open for 30 days after the meeting to any participant who wishes to clarify the views he or she expressed. The BLM withdrew public lands, including those where the proposed Project is located, in the State of California on July 5, 2013, under Public Land Order 7818 for a period of 20 years for future solar energy development, subject to valid existing rights, from location and entry under the United States mining laws. The lands are open to mineral and geothermal leasing, and mineral material sales. The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA scoping process to help fulfill the public involvement process under the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). The information about historic and cultural resources within the area potentially affected by the proposed action will assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources. The BLM will also consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other 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 tribes 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, if eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM to participate in the development of the environmental analysis as a cooperating agency. With respect to the potential land use plan amendment, the BLM will evaluate identified issues to be addressed in any potential plan amendment, and will place those issues into one of three categories: 1. Issues to be resolved in the plan amendment; 2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action; or 3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan amendment. The BLM will provide an explanation in the Draft EIS and PA as to why an issue was placed in category two or three. The public is also encouraged to help identify any management questions and concerns that should be addressed in the plan. The BLM will work collaboratively with interested parties to identify the management decisions that are best suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns. The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the potential plan amendment in order to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns identified. Specialists with expertise in the following disciplines will be involved in the planning process: Rangeland management, minerals and geology, outdoor recreation, archaeology, paleontology, wildlife, lands and realty, hydrology, soils, sociology and economics. Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2. Thomas Pogacnik, Deputy State Director, Natural Resources. [FR Doc. 2015-05290 Filed 3-5-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-40-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 44 / Friday, March 6, 2015 / Notices 12195
• maintenance of access for various evaluated, including a No Action Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10,
types of recreational, scientific and alternative. 43 CFR 1610.2.
other uses; Finally, the Draft includes activity- Thomas Pogacnik,
• access to private lands;
• trespass; level specific route designation Deputy State Director, Natural Resources.
• regional connectivity; alternatives, based on the 43CFR 8342.1 [FR Doc. 2015–05127 Filed 3–5–15; 8:45 am]
• improving GIS and on-the-ground criteria and different thresholds for BILLING CODE 4310–40–P
information for the public; and minimization or closure. The preferred
• other implementation strategies alternative would designate
such as signing, monitoring and law approximately 10,300 miles of routes DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
enforcement. within the WEMO Planning Area as
In addition, a substantial number of available for motorized use, Bureau of Land Management
comments indicated issues and needs approximately130 miles of routes would [CACA 049397, LLCAD06000.
associated with specific routes and be available for either non-motorized or L51010000.ER0000.LVRWB09B2920.15X]
route areas in the WEMO transportation non-mechanized use, and
system, and included recommendations Notice of Intent To Prepare an
approximately 4,400 miles of routes
on the designation of specific routes. A Environmental Impact Statement for
would be closed.
few comments were also received on the Desert Quartzite Solar Project and
grazing issues and the scope of the The preferred alternative also a Possible Amendment to the
supplemental grazing program analysis. includes a regional mitigation strategy California Desert Conservation Area
In response to court concerns and on- that would limit the extent of off-route Plan, Riverside County, California
the-ground changes since 2006, NEPA stopping and parking throughout the
considerations focused on cumulative planning area to minimize impacts to AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
effects of the transportation system undisturbed habitat, enhance Interior.
alternatives to resource values, watersheds, and protect adjacent ACTION: Notice of intent.
particularly air quality, soils, cultural sensitive resources. Other measures are
resources, certain biological resources, SUMMARY: In compliance with the
based on proximity to sensitive National Environmental Policy Act of
and certain sensitive species, resources, such as riparian systems, that
cumulative effects of grazing, and 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the
would enhance these resources Federal Land Policy and Management
potential cumulative loss of recreational throughout the planning area.
access opportunities. In response to Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the
public input, access considerations The preferred alternative provides for Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
focused on maintaining a viable a limited number of designated camping Palm Springs/South Coast Field Office,
transportation network, diverse and staging areas to direct intensive use Palm Springs, California, together with
recreational opportunities, providing to manageable locations. Finally, the Riverside County, California, intend to
access for specific users, (including preferred alternative proposes an prepare a joint Environmental Impact
rock-hounders, motorcyclists, scientific integrated, community-based Statement (EIS) and Environmental
and educational activities, and non- implementation strategy that addresses Impact Report (EIR), which may include
motorized users), dealing with conflicts outreach, compliance and enforcement an amendment to the California Desert
between users, and maintaining strategy in which partnerships with Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan, for the
commercial access needs. Desert Quartzite Solar Project (Project).
adjacent communities, users, local
Plan amendments would address By this notice, the BLM is announcing
Friends and other interest groups,
specific CDCA Plan inconsistencies the beginning of the scoping process to
national and State recreational and solicit public comments and identify
with regulation and BLM policies in the conservation coalitions, and other
WEMO Planning Area; including issues related to the EIS/EIR and Plan
interested citizens are a central Amendment (PA).
amending language that limits the route component.
network to routes that existed in 1980 DATES: This notice initiates the public
and travel management guidance for Please note that public comments and scoping process for the EIS/EIR and PA.
route designations. Changes are information submitted including names, Comments on issues may be submitted
proposed to the existing land-use plan street addresses, and email addresses of in writing until April 6, 2015. The
to address stopping, parking, and persons who submit comments will be date(s) and location(s) of any scoping
camping adjacent to routes in Limited available for public review and meetings will be announced at least 15
Access Areas within the WEMO disclosure at the above address during days in advance through local news
Planning Area, and to establish a regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), media, newspapers and the BLM Web
regional minimization strategy for the Monday through Friday, except site at: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/
travel route network. Changes are also holidays. cdd.html. In order to be included in the
proposed to the grazing program that analysis, all comments must be received
Before including your address, phone
would reallocate forage from livestock prior to the close of the 30-day scoping
number, email address, or other
use to wildlife use and ecosystem period or 15 days after the last public
personal identifying information in your
function in desert tortoise habitat for meeting, whichever is later. We will
comment, you should be aware that provide additional opportunities for
inactive allotments or allotments that your entire comment—including your public participation as appropriate.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
become vacant. In addition, the Draft
personal identifying information—may
considers plan level decisions ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
be made publicly available at any time.
modifying motorized use on four on issues and planning criteria related
specific lakebeds, including Cuddeback While you can request to withhold your
to the Project by any of the following
Lake and competitive motorized use of personal identifying information from methods:
routes. The Draft also considers various public review, BLM cannot guarantee • email: blm_ca_desert_quartzite_
travel management implementation that we will be able to do so. solar_project@blm.gov.
frameworks. Four alternatives are • fax: (951) 697–5299.
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![12196 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 44 / Friday, March 6, 2015 / Notices
• mail: ATTN: Cedric C. Perry, agencies; and, other stakeholders. These government-to-government basis in
Project Manager, BLM California Desert issues include: Air quality and accordance with Executive Order 13175
District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan de greenhouse gas emissions; biological and other policies. Tribal concerns,
Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, California resources, including special status including impacts on Indian trust assets
92553–9046 species; cultural resources; geology and and potential impacts to cultural
Documents pertinent to this project soils; hazards and hazardous materials; resources, will be given due
may be examined at the BLM California hydrology and water quality; land use; consideration. Federal, State, and local
Desert District Office at the above lands with wilderness characteristics; agencies, along with tribes and other
address Monday through Friday 8:30 noise; recreation; traffic; visual stakeholders that may be interested in or
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. resources; cumulative effects; areas with
affected by the proposed action that the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: high potential for renewable energy
BLM is evaluating, are invited to
Cedric C. Perry; telephone—(951) 697– development; and, identification of
opportunities to apply mitigation participate in the scoping process and,
5388; address—BLM California Desert if eligible, may request or be requested
District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan de hierarchy strategies for on-site, regional,
and compensatory mitigation, and, by the BLM to participate in the
Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553– development of the environmental
9046; Email—blm_ca_desert_quartzite_ appropriate to the size of the project,
landscape-level conservation and analysis as a cooperating agency.
solar_project@blm.gov.
Persons who use a management actions to achieve resource With respect to the potential land use
telecommunications device for the deaf objectives. plan amendment, the BLM will evaluate
(TDD) may call the Federal Information You may submit comments on issues identified issues to be addressed in any
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–(800)–877– and planning criteria in writing to the potential plan amendment, and will
8339 to contact the above individual BLM at any public scoping meeting, or place those issues into one of three
during normal business hours. The FIRS by using one of the methods listed in categories:
is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a the ADDRESSES section above. To be
most helpful, you should submit 1. Issues to be resolved in the plan
week, to leave a message or question amendment;
with the above individual. You will comments by the close of the 30-day
receive a reply during normal business scoping period or within 15 days after 2. Issues to be resolved through policy
hours. the last public meeting, whichever is or administrative action; or
later.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Before including your address, phone 3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan
applicant, Desert Quartzite Solar, LLC number, email address, or other amendment.
has requested a right-of-way (ROW) personal identifying information in your The BLM will provide an explanation
authorization to construct, operate, comment, you should be aware that in the Draft EIS and PA as to why an
maintain and decommission a 300 MW your entire comment—including your issue was placed in category two or
alternating current (AC) solar personal identifying information—may three. The public is also encouraged to
photovoltaic energy-generating facility be made publicly available at any time. help identify any management questions
along with the necessary ancillary While you can ask us in your comment and concerns that should be addressed
facilities including a project substation, to withhold your personal identifying in the plan. The BLM will work
access road, transmission lines, information from public review, we
realignment of an existing route, collaboratively with interested parties to
cannot guarantee that we will be able to identify the management decisions that
operations and maintenance buildings, do so. The minutes and list of attendees
and lay down areas. The project is are best suited to local, regional, and
for each scoping meeting will be
proposed on 4,845 acres of public land national needs and concerns.
available to the public and open for 30
with the solar field occupying days after the meeting to any participant The BLM will use an interdisciplinary
approximately 2,453 acres on lands who wishes to clarify the views he or approach to develop the potential plan
within the Riverside East Solar Energy she expressed. amendment in order to consider the
Zone (SEZ), southwest of Blythe, The BLM withdrew public lands, variety of resource issues and concerns
California. including those where the proposed identified. Specialists with expertise in
This document provides notice that Project is located, in the State of the following disciplines will be
the BLM Palm Springs/South Coast California on July 5, 2013, under Public involved in the planning process:
Field Office and the County of Riverside Land Order 7818 for a period of 20 years Rangeland management, minerals and
California intend to jointly prepare an for future solar energy development, geology, outdoor recreation,
EIS/EIR, which may include a potential subject to valid existing rights, from archaeology, paleontology, wildlife,
CDCA Plan Amendment, for the Project. location and entry under the United lands and realty, hydrology, soils,
It also announces the beginning of the States mining laws. The lands are open sociology and economics.
scoping process for this effort and seeks to mineral and geothermal leasing, and
public input on environmental issues mineral material sales. Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR
and potential planning criteria relevant The BLM will utilize and coordinate 1610.2.
to the Project and any potential plan the NEPA scoping process to help fulfill Thomas Pogacnik,
amendments. The purpose of the public the public involvement process under
the National Historic Preservation Act Deputy State Director, Natural Resources.
scoping process is to guide the planning
[FR Doc. 2015–05290 Filed 3–5–15; 8:45 am]
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
process and determine the relevant (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36
issues that will influence the scope of CFR 800.2(d)(3). The information about BILLING CODE 4310–40–P
the environmental analysis, including historic and cultural resources within
alternatives and mitigation measures. the area potentially affected by the
Preliminary issues for the proposed action will assist the BLM in
environmental analysis and potential identifying and evaluating impacts to
plan amendment have been identified such resources. The BLM will also
by BLM; Federal, State, and local consult with Indian tribes on a
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Document Created: 2018-02-21 09:33:06
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 09:33:06
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of intent. | |
| Dates | This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS/EIR and PA. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until April 6, 2015. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local news media, newspapers and the BLM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/ cdd.html. In order to be included in the analysis, all comments must be received prior to the close of the 30-day scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. We will provide additional opportunities for public participation as appropriate. | |
| Contact | Cedric C. Perry; telephone--(951) 697- | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 12195 |
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