83 FR 32681 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Land Use Plan Amendment, and a Notice of Segregation for the Proposed Gemini Solar Project in Clark County, Nevada
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 135 (July 13, 2018)
Bureau of Land Management
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 135 (July 13, 2018)
| Page Range | 32681-32683 | |
| FR Document | 2018-15020 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 135 (Friday, July 13, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 32681-32683] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-15020] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLNVS01000. L51010000.PQ0000. LVRWF09F8730; N-85631; MO#4500119561] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Land Use Plan Amendment, and a Notice of Segregation for the Proposed Gemini Solar Project in Clark County, Nevada AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: As requested by Solar Partners XI, LLC, and in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Las Vegas Field Office intends to prepare an [[Page 32682]] Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and land use plan amendment to the 1998 Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the proposed Gemini Solar Project in Clark County, Nevada. Publication of this Notice initiates the scoping process and opens a 45-day public comment period. Publication of this Notice also segregates the public lands from appropriation under the public land laws, including location under the Mining Law, but not the mineral leasing laws or the Materials Act, subject to valid existing rights. DATES: Written comments must be received by the BLM no later than August 27, 2018. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local news media and the BLM website at: https://go.usa.gov/xntTQ. Comments must be received prior to the close of the scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later, to be included in the Draft EIS. The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of the Draft EIS. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:Email: blm_nv_sndo_geminisolar@blm.gov. E-planning: https://go.usa.gov/xntTQ. Fax: 702-515-5023, Attention: Herman Pinales. Mail: BLM, Las Vegas Field Office, Attn: Herman Pinales, 4701 North Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89130-2301. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, and/or to have your name added to the mailing list, send requests to: Herman Pinales, Energy & Infrastructure Project Manager, at telephone 702-515- 5284; address 4701 North Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89130- 2301; or email blm_nv_sndo_geminisolar@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FRS 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: In 2017, Solar Partners XI, LLC filed an application with the BLM requesting authorization to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission a 690-megawatt-per-year photovoltaic (PV) solar electric generating facility and associated generation tie-line and access road facilities. The expected life of the project is 30 years. The Solar Partners XI, LLC acquired the original 44,000-acre APEX Solar Thermal Power Generation Facility right-of-way application filed in 2008 by BrightSource Energy, LLC. The proposed Gemini Solar Project would be located approximately 25 miles northeast of Las Vegas and south of the Moapa River Indian Reservation in Clark County, Nevada. The proposed Gemini Solar Project includes 7,115 acres of federal lands administered by the BLM. The Visual Resource Management (VRM) class in the Application Area is mostly III and some II (due to proximity to Muddy Mountain Wilderness Area and Bitter Springs Back Country Byway), which will require a land use plan amendment to a class IV in order for the project to be consistent with the land use plan. A VRM class 2 allows for activities with a low level of landscape change; a class III allows a moderate level of change that would not dominate the landscape; and a class IV allows a high level of change that would dominate the landscape. The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, including alternatives, and to guide the process for developing the EIS. At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary issues: Threatened and endangered species, biological resources, visual resources, cultural resources, tribal interests, recreation, and cumulative impacts. The Congressionally-designated Old Spanish National Historic Trail crosses the area. Habitat for the federally listed desert tortoise is also in this proposed area. The BLM will consult with Native American tribes on a government- to-government basis in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, Executive Order 13175, and other policies. Tribal concerns will be given due consideration, including impacts on Indian Trust assets. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with other stakeholders that may be interested or affected by the BLM's decision on this project, are invited to participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM to participate as a cooperating agency. Segregation of the Public Lands In 2013, the BLM published a Final Rule, Segregation of Lands-- Renewable Energy (78 FR 25204), that amended the regulations found in 43 CFR 2090 and 2800. The provisions of the Final Rule allow the BLM to temporarily segregate public lands within a solar or wind application area from the operation of the public land laws, including the Mining Law, by publication of a Federal Register notice. The BLM uses this temporary segregation authority to preserve its ability to approve, approve with modifications, or deny proposed ROWs, and to facilitate the orderly administration of the public lands. This temporary segregation is subject to valid existing mining claims located before this segregation notice. Licenses, permits, cooperative agreements, or discretionary land use authorizations of a temporary nature which would not impact lands identified in this notice may be allowed with the approval of an authorized officer of the BLM during the segregation period. The lands segregated under this notice are legally described as follows: Mount Diablo Meridian, Clark County, Nevada T. 17 S., R. 64 E., Sec. 10, S\1/2\; Sec. 11, S\1/2\; Secs. 12 and 13; Sec. 14, N\1/2\ and SE\1/4\; Sec. 15, N\1/2\; Sec. 22, E\1/2\; Secs. 23 thru 26; Sec. 27, E\1/2\; Sec. 34, E\1/2\; Secs. 35 and 36. T. 17 S., R. 65 E. Secs. 7 thru 24; Secs. 26 thru 35. T. 17 S., R. 66 E., Secs. 7, 18 and 19. T. 18 S., R. 64 E., Secs. 1 and 2; Sec. 3, lots 5 and 6, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\; Sec. 10, E\1/2\; Secs. 11 thru 14; Sec. 15, E\1/2\; Sec. 22, E\1/2\; Secs. 23 thru 26; Sec. 27, E\1/2\; Sec. 34, E\1/2\; Secs. 35 and 36. T. 18 S., R. 65 E., Secs. 2 thru 9; Secs. 16 thru 20; Sec. 21, N\1/2\ and SW\1/4\; Sec. 30. The areas described contain 45,165.48 acres, according to the official plats of the surveys and protraction diagrams of the lands on file with the BLM. As provided in the Final Rule, the segregation of lands in this Notice will not exceed 2 years from the date of publication unless extended for up to 2 additional years through publication of a new notice in the Federal Register. Termination of the segregation occurs on the earliest of the following dates: Upon issuance of a decision by the authorized officer granting, granting with modifications, or denying the application for a ROW; automatically at [[Page 32683]] the end of the segregation; or upon publication of a Federal Register notice of termination of the segregation. Upon termination of segregation of these lands, all lands subject to this segregation would automatically reopen to appropriation under the public land laws. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.2, 43 CFR 1610.5, 43 CFR 2091.3-1(e), and 43 CFR 2804.25(f) Gayle Marrs-Smith, Las Vegas Field Manager. [FR Doc. 2018-15020 Filed 7-12-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P
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contained on electronic media are RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES: 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
degaussed or erased in accordance with An individual requesting records on Policy Act of 1969, as implemented by
384 Departmental Manual 1 and NARA himself or herself should send a signed, the Council on Environmental Quality
guidelines. written inquiry to the applicable System regulations, the Bureau of Land
Manager identified above. The request Management (BLM) announced its
ADMINISTRATIVE, TECHNICAL, AND PHYSICAL
SAFEGUARDS: must include the specific bureau or intent to prepare an EA. The Notice of
office that maintains the record to Intent (NOI) was published in the
The records contained in this system
facilitate location of the applicable Federal Register on May 18, 2016. The
are safeguarded in accordance with 43
records. The request envelope and letter Plan Amendment would have
CFR 2.226 and other applicable security
should both be clearly marked considered modifying oil and gas
and privacy rules and policies. During
‘‘PRIVACY ACT REQUEST FOR leasing decisions on approximately
normal hours of operation, paper
records are maintained in locked file ACCESS.’’ A request for access must 525,000 acres in portion of the Price and
cabinets under the control of authorized meet the requirements of 43 CFR 2.238. Richfield Field Offices in Emery and
personnel. Electronic records are Wayne Counties, Utah.
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
safeguarded by permissions set to DATES: Termination of the planning
An individual requesting corrections process for Rafael Swell Master Leasing
‘‘Authenticated Users’’ which require or the removal of material from his or
password login. Computer servers on Plan Amendment takes effect
her records should send a signed, immediately.
which electronic records are stored are written request to the applicable System
located in secured DOI controlled Manager as identified above. The FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
facilities with physical, technical and request must include the specific bureau Chris Conrad, Price Field Manager, 125
administrative levels of security to or office that maintains the record to South 600 West, Price, Utah 84501,
prevent unauthorized access to the DOI facilitate location of the applicable telephone (435) 636–3600, email
network and information assets. The records. A request for corrections or cconrad@blm.gov. Persons who use a
computer servers in which electronic telecommunications device for the deaf
removal must meet the requirements of
records are stored are located in DOI (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
43 CFR 2.246.
facilities that are secured by security Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to
guards, alarm systems and off-master NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES: contact the above individual during
key access. Access to servers containing An individual requesting notification normal business hours. FRS is available
records in this system is limited to DOI of the existence of records on himself or 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave
personnel and other authorized parties herself should send a signed, written a message or question with the above
who have a need to know the inquiry to the applicable System individual. You will receive a reply
information for the performance of their Manager as identified above. The during normal business hours.
official duties. Data exchanged between request must include the specific bureau SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Since the
the servers and the system is encrypted. or office that maintains the record to publication of the NOI, the BLM issued
Backup tapes are encrypted and stored facilitate location of the applicable Washington Office Instruction Memo
in a locked and controlled room in a records. The request envelope and letter 2018–034, which terminates the Master
secure, off-site location. should both be clearly marked
Computerized records systems follow Leasing Process.
‘‘PRIVACY ACT INQUIRY.’’ A request
the National Institute of Standards and Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10.
for notification must meet the
Technology privacy and security requirements of 43 CFR 2.235. Edwin L. Roberson,
standards as developed to comply with
EXEMPTIONS PROMULGATED FOR THE SYSTEM:
State Director.
the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a;
[FR Doc. 2018–15016 Filed 7–12–18; 8:45 am]
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 None.
U.S.C. 3501–3521; Federal Information BILLING CODE 4310–DQ–P
HISTORY:
Security Modernization Act of 2014, 44
U.S.C. 3551–3558; and the Federal 77 FR 66628 (November 6, 2012).
[FR Doc. 2018–15010 Filed 7–12–18; 8:45 am] DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Information Processing Standards 199:
Standards for Security Categorization of BILLING CODE 4334–63–P
Bureau of Land Management
Federal Information and Information
Systems. Security controls include user [LLNVS01000. L51010000.PQ0000.
identification, passwords, database DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR LVRWF09F8730; N–85631; MO#4500119561]
permissions, encryption, firewalls, audit Bureau of Land Management Notice of Intent To Prepare an
logs, and network system security
[18XL1109AF LLUTG02000 Environmental Impact Statement and
monitoring, and software controls.
L13100000.DO0000] Land Use Plan Amendment, and a
Access to records in the system is
Notice of Segregation for the Proposed
limited to authorized personnel who
Notice of Termination of the San Rafael Gemini Solar Project in Clark County,
have a need to access the records in the
Swell Master Leasing Plan, Utah Nevada
performance of their official duties, and
each user’s access is restricted to only AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
the functions and data necessary to Interior. Interior.
perform that person’s job
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
ACTION: Notice of termination. ACTION: Notice of intent.
responsibilities. System administrators
and authorized users are trained and SUMMARY: The preparation of an SUMMARY: As requested by Solar
required to follow established internal Environmental Assessment associated Partners XI, LLC, and in compliance
security protocols and must complete with the San Rafael Swell Master with the National Environmental Policy
all security, privacy, and records Leasing Plan Amendment is no longer Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), the
management training and sign the DOI required, and the process is hereby Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Las
Rules of Behavior. terminated. Pursuant to Section Vegas Field Office intends to prepare an
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![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 135 / Friday, July 13, 2018 / Notices 32683
the end of the segregation; or upon The Final EIS is available online at: analysis of the potential impacts of
publication of a Federal Register notice https://go.usa.gov/xNmE2. issuing a lease for the Alton Coal Tract.
of termination of the segregation. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Final EIS analyzes three action
Upon termination of segregation of Keith Rigtrup, Planner, telephone: 1– alternatives: (1) Alternative B: 3,581
these lands, all lands subject to this 435–865–3000; email: krigtrup@blm.gov. acres, 44.9 million short tons (the
segregation would automatically reopen Persons who use a Proposed Action), (2) Alternative C:
to appropriation under the public land telecommunications device for the deaf 3,178 acres, 39.2 million short tons
laws. may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) (wetlands reduction), and (3)
Before including your address, phone at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the above Alternative K1: 2,114 acres, 30.8 million
number, email address, or other individual during normal business short tons. Alternative K1 was
personal identifying information in your hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a developed in response to the pending
comment, you should be aware that day, 7 days a week, to leave a message wetland and sage-grouse issues raised
your entire comment—including your or question with the above individual. during the public comment period for
personal identifying information—may You will receive a reply during normal the Draft EIS. A No Action Alternative
be made publicly available at any time. business hours. is also included in the Final EIS which,
While you can ask us in your comment SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In if selected, would preclude offering of
to withhold your personal identifying accordance with 43 CFR 3425, Alton the lease tract. All action alternatives
information from public review, we Coal Development, LLC (ACD) included a detailed Greater Sage-Grouse
cannot guarantee that we will be able to submitted an application on November Mitigation Plan. The Final EIS also
do so. 12, 2004, with the BLM to lease Federal analyzed the No-Action Alternative
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.2, coal near the town of Alton, Utah. The (Alternative A) that would reject the
43 CFR 1610.5, 43 CFR 2091.3–1(e), and 43 tract identified in the application lies application to lease Federal coal.
CFR 2804.25(f) immediately adjacent to an active coal Preparation of the Final EIS included
Gayle Marrs-Smith, mine operated by ACD on private land. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation
The BLM provided a 90-day public and Enforcement, National Park Service
Las Vegas Field Manager.
scoping period at the beginning of the and Environmental Protection Agency
[FR Doc. 2018–15020 Filed 7–12–18; 8:45 am]
EIS process to identify potential issues as cooperating agencies.
BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P
and concerns associated with the The Alton Coal Tract includes
Proposed Action. The BLM evaluated approximately 44.9 million recoverable
the scoping comments and used them to tons of in-place bituminous coal
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
develop alternatives to the Proposed underlying the following lands in Kane
Bureau of Land Management Action, to guide the analysis of potential County, Utah:
effects from leasing and mining the Salt Lake Meridian, Utah
[18XL1109AF LLUTC04000 tract, and to identify potential
L13200000.EL0000 UTU 081895] T. 39 S., R. 5 W.,
mitigations for inclusion in the Draft Sec. 7, SE1⁄4SW1⁄4 and S1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Notice of Availability for the Alton Coal EIS. On November 4, 2011, the BLM Sec. 18, lots 3 and 4, E1⁄2, E1⁄2NW1⁄4, and
published in the Federal Register (76 E1⁄2SW1⁄4
Tract Coal Lease by Application Final Sec. 19, lots 1 thru 4, NE1⁄4, E1⁄2NW1⁄4,
Environmental Impact Statement, Utah FR 68501–502, November 4, 2011) a
Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft E1⁄2SW1⁄4, N1⁄2SE1⁄4, and SE1⁄4SE1⁄4;
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Sec. 20, lots 4 and 5, and N1⁄2SW1⁄4;
EIS for public comment. Based on Sec. 30, lots 2 thru 4, SW1⁄4NE1⁄4,
Interior. comments received on the Draft EIS, the SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, E1⁄2SW1⁄4, and W1⁄2SE1⁄4;
ACTION: Notice of availability. BLM decided to prepare a Supplemental Sec. 31, lots 1 thru 3, NE1⁄4, E1⁄2NW1⁄4,
Draft EIS for public review before NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, and N1⁄2SE1⁄4;
SUMMARY: In accordance with the preparing and distributing the Final EIS. T. 39 S., R. 6 W.,
National Environmental Policy Act of On June 18, 2015, the BLM published an Sec. 12, SW1⁄4 and W1⁄2SE1⁄4;
1969 (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy NOA for the Supplemental Draft EIS in Sec. 13, NW1⁄4NE1⁄4, N1⁄2NW1⁄4,
and Management Act of 1976, and the the Federal Register (80 FR 34931–932, SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, and SE1⁄4;
Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 as amended June 18, 2015). The BLM evaluated and Sec. 24, NE1⁄4, N1⁄2NW1⁄4, SE1⁄4NW1⁄4,
(MLA), the Bureau of Land Management E1⁄2SW1⁄4, N1⁄2SE1⁄4, and SE1⁄4SE1⁄4;
used the comments received on the Sec. 25, E1⁄2NE1⁄4, SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, and SE1⁄4.
(BLM) prepared a Final Environmental Draft EIS and the Supplemental Draft
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Alton EIS to produce this Final EIS. The area described, including both
Coal Tract Lease by Application (LBA), The Final EIS analyzes and discloses public and non-public surface lands,
case number UTU–081895. to the public the direct, indirect, and aggregate 3,581.27 Federal mineral acres
DATES: The BLM will not issue a final cumulative environmental impacts of according to the official plats of the
decision on the proposal for a minimum issuing a Federal coal lease on the Alton surveys on file with the BLM.
of 30 days after the date that the Coal Tract, including mining and Consistent with NEPA and its
Environmental Protection Agency transportation of coal to a railhead near implementing regulations and the MLA
publishes its Notice of Availability in Cedar City, Utah, and to the and its implementing regulations, the
the Federal Register. Intermountain Power Plant near Delta, BLM must prepare an environmental
ADDRESSES: The public may review the Utah. It includes the BLM’s responses to analysis prior to holding a competitive
Final EIS at the Kanab Field Office, 669 comments received during the extended Federal coal lease sale. An EIS has been
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
South Highway 89 A, Kanab, Utah 90-day public comment period, from prepared for this particular sale. All
84741, and the BLM Utah State Office June to September 2015, for the alternatives have been analyzed and
Public Room, 440 West 200 South, Suite Supplemental Draft EIS. It also includes could be offered for sale. If an action
500, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101; during all alternatives considered in the alternative is selected in the subsequent
business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Supplemental Draft EIS, including ROD, that tract would be offered in a
(unless otherwise posted), Monday Alternative K1, the BLM’s preferred competitive lease sale, and a lease for
through Friday, except Federal holidays. alternative for this LBA, based on the Federal coal would be issued if the bid
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Document Created: 2018-07-13 01:04:39
Document Modified: 2018-07-13 01:04:39
| 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 | Written comments must be received by the BLM no later than August 27, 2018. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local news media and the BLM website at: https://go.usa.gov/xntTQ. | |
| Contact | For further information, and/or to have your name added to the mailing list, send requests to: Herman Pinales, Energy & Infrastructure Project Manager, at telephone 702-515- | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 32681 |
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