83 FR 44660 - Notice of Availability for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Ten West Link 500-Kilovolt Transmission Line Project and Draft Amendments to the Yuma Field Office Resource Management Plan and the California Desert Conservation Area Plan; Maricopa and La Paz Counties, Arizona, and Riverside County, California

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 170 (August 31, 2018)

Page Range		44660-44661
FR Document		2018-18721

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Arizona State Office, Phoenix, Arizona, has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Ten West Link 500-kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Project (Project) and Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendments to the Yuma Field Office RMP and the California Desert Conservation Area Plan. By this notice, the BLM is announcing the opening of the public comment period on the Draft EIS/Draft RMP Amendments.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 170 (Friday, August 31, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 170 (Friday, August 31, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44660-44661]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-18721]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLAZ920000 18X L51010000.ER0000 LVRWA18A3240]

Notice of Availability for the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement for the Proposed Ten West Link 500-Kilovolt Transmission Line
Project and Draft Amendments to the Yuma Field Office Resource
Management Plan and the California Desert Conservation Area Plan;
Maricopa and La Paz Counties, Arizona, and Riverside County, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM),
Arizona State Office, Phoenix, Arizona, has prepared a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Ten West Link
500-kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Project (Project) and Draft
Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendments to the Yuma Field Office RMP
and the California Desert Conservation Area Plan. By this notice, the
BLM is announcing the opening of the public comment period on the Draft
EIS/Draft RMP Amendments.

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive
written comments on the Draft EIS and Draft RMP Amendments within 90
days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes
its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The date(s) and
location(s) of public meetings will be announced at least 15 days in
advance through local media, newspapers, and the BLM website at: http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en.html.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Project by any of the
following methods:
Website: http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en.html.
Email: TenWestLink@blm.gov.
Fax: 602-417-9452.
Mail: BLM, Arizona State Office, Attention: Lane Cowger/
Ten West Link Project, One North Central Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix, AZ
85004.
Copies of the Draft EIS/Draft RMP Amendments are available at the
BLM's eplanning website: https://go.usa.gov/xU6Be. Hardcopies of the
documents can be reviewed at the BLM Arizona State Office, at the
address above, and at the locations listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lane Cowger, Project Manager,
telephone: 602-417-9612; address: BLM, Arizona State Office, One North
Central Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix, AZ 85004; email: lcowger@blm.gov.
Contact Lane Cowger to add your name to our mailing list. People who
use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Relay Service (FRS) at 800-877-8339 during normal business hours to
contact the BLM Project Manager listed above. The FRS is available 24
hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question for the
above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business
hours.

[[Page 44661]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DCR Transmission, LLC, has filed a right-of-
way (ROW) application with the BLM pursuant to Title V of FLPMA,
proposing to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission a single-
circuit alternating current 500-kV overhead transmission line. The
Project would provide a connection between the existing Delaney
Substation in Tonopah, Arizona, and the existing Colorado River
Substation in Blythe, California. The project purpose is to strengthen
the electrical grid and improve reliability.
DCR Transmission has filed an application for a Certificate of
Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) with the California Public
Utilities Commission (CPUC) to site the transmission infrastructure in
California. The CPUC approval or denial of the CPCN application is a
discretionary decision. Under California law, the CPUC would be
required to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
before issuing the CPCN. The CPUC is currently a cooperating agency in
the BLM's NEPA analysis. Pursuant to the California Code of Regulations
Title 14 Section 15121, the CPUC will rely upon this EIS to comply with
CEQA.
An interdisciplinary approach was used to develop the Draft EIS.
The issues addressed in the Draft EIS that shaped the Project's scope
and alternatives include, but are not limited to: Air and climate,
biological resources, cultural resources, CEQA, health and safety,
noise, land use (including farmlands and military operations),
recreation, socioeconomics and environmental justice, special
designations, wilderness and wilderness characteristics, trails, visual
resources, and transportation.
Based on feedback from cooperating agencies, stakeholders, and
public scoping, the BLM developed and analyzed a suite of alternatives,
which are detailed in the Draft EIS. The BLM has identified Alternative
2: BLM Utility Corridor Route, with minor route modifications near the
Town of Quartzsite, Arizona, as the Agency-Preferred Alternative route
for the proposed transmission line. This route is 124.9 miles long and
primarily located within existing BLM utility corridors or parallel to
existing infrastructure. This route is responsive to stakeholder input,
by minimizing impacts to the Yuma Proving Ground, avoiding the Kofa
National Wildlife Refuge, Johnson Canyon, the Colorado River Indian
Tribes Reservation, the Long Term Visitor Area (recreation area), and
the Ehrenberg Sandbowl area; avoiding residential and other development
south of the City of Blythe and minimize use of private land in
California; avoiding an area of dense cultural resources south of the
City of Blythe; and crossing a majority of Visual Resource Management
(VRM) Class III land. This route also provides interconnections for
potential future energy development opportunities in Arizona.
The Agency-Preferred Alternative would require an amendment to the
Yuma RMP to: (1) Designate approximately 13.5 miles of 200-foot wide
ROW on public lands managed by the BLM outside of designated utility
corridors; and (2) Change the existing VRM Class designations from
Class III to Class IV within 0.3-mile either side of centerline of 18.4
miles, for a total of 6,803.2 acres. The Agency-Preferred Alternative
would also require an amendment to the California Desert Conservation
Area Plan to authorize construction within 0.25-mile of occurrences of
Harwood's eriastrum, a BLM special status plant species.
Hardcopies of the documents can be reviewed at the Arizona State
Office (see ADDRESSES) and at the following locations:

BLM, Palm Springs South Coast Field Office

1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262

BLM, Yuma Field Office

7341 East 30th Street, Yuma, AZ 85365

Parker Public Library

1001 South Navajo Avenue, Parker, AZ 85344

Palm Springs Public Library

300 South Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262

Palo Verde Valley District Library

125 West Chanslor Way, Blythe, CA 92225

Quartzsite Public Library

465 North Plymouth, Quartzsite, AZ 85346

Buckeye Public Library--Downtown

310 North 6th Street, Buckeye, AZ 85326
The BLM will use the NEPA public participation requirements to
assist the agency in satisfying the public-involvement requirements
under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (54
U.S.C. 306108) pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3).
The information about historic and cultural resources within the
area potentially affected by the Project will assist the BLM in
identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources in the context of
both the NEPA and Section 106 of the NHPA.
The BLM will continue consultation 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.
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 1506.6(b) and 43 CFR 1610.2.

Raymond Suazo,
Arizona State Director.
[FR Doc. 2018-18721 Filed 8-30-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-P

44660 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 170 / Friday, August 31, 2018 / Notices

• Bureau of Land Management, Utah Federal lands as available for potential SUMMARY: In compliance with the
State Office, 440 West 200 South, Suite disposal under FLPMA. National Environmental Policy Act of
500, Salt Lake City, Utah. The modified Draft RMPs and EIS and 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the
• Escalante Interagency Visitor an accompanying errata sheet that Federal Land Policy and Management
Center, 755 West Main, Escalante, Utah. includes a summary of all of the Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the
• Kanab Field Office, 669 South changes made will be distributed to Bureau of Land Management (BLM),
Highway 89A, Kanab, Utah. stakeholders and is available on the Arizona State Office, Phoenix, Arizona,
The modified Draft RMPs and EIS and BLM’s ePlanning website at: https:// has prepared a Draft Environmental
accompanying errata sheet are available goo.gl/EHvhbc. Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed
on the ePlanning website at: https:// The BLM is soliciting comments on Ten West Link 500-kilovolt (kV)
goo.gl/EHvhbc. the entire modified Draft RMPs and EIS. Transmission Line Project (Project) and
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt All comments received by the BLM Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP)
Betenson, Associate Monument subsequent to the notice of availability Amendments to the Yuma Field Office
Manager, telephone (435) 644–1200; for the Draft RMPs and EIS on August RMP and the California Desert
address 669 S Hwy. 89A, Kanab, UT 17, 2018, but prior to publication of this Conservation Area Plan. By this notice,
84741; email BLM_UT_CCD_ notice, will be included in the project the BLM is announcing the opening of
monuments@blm.gov. Persons who use record and considered by the agency in the public comment period on the Draft
a telecommunications device for the preparation of the Final RMPs and EIS. EIS/Draft RMP Amendments.
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Please note that public comments and
DATES: To ensure that comments will be
Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to information submitted, including
names, street addresses, and email considered, the BLM must receive
contact the above individual during written comments on the Draft EIS and
normal business hours. The FRS is addresses of persons who submit
comments, will be available for public Draft RMP Amendments within 90 days
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, following the date the Environmental
to leave a message or question for the review and disclosure at the addresses
provided in the ADDRESSES section of Protection Agency publishes its Notice
above individual. You will receive a of Availability in the Federal Register.
reply during normal business hours. this notice during regular business
hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday The date(s) and location(s) of public
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On through Friday, except holidays. meetings will be announced at least 15
December 4, 2017, President Trump Before including your address, phone days in advance through local media,
signed Presidential Proclamation 9682 number, email address, or other newspapers, and the BLM website at:
modifying the boundaries of the GSENM personally identifiable information in http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en.html.
as established by Proclamation 6920 to your comment, you should be aware ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
exclude from designation and that your entire comment—including related to the Project by any of the
reservation approximately 861,974 acres your personally identifiable following methods:
of land. Lands that are excluded from information—may be made publicly • Website: http://www.blm.gov/az/st/
the Monument boundaries are now available at any time. While you may en.html.
referred to as the Kanab-Escalante request that the BLM withhold your • Email: TenWestLink@blm.gov.
Planning Area and are managed in personally identifiable information from
accordance with the BLM’s multiple-use • Fax: 602–417–9452.
public review, we cannot guarantee that • Mail: BLM, Arizona State Office,
mandate. we will be able to do so.
The Draft EIS noticed in the Federal Attention: Lane Cowger/Ten West Link
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, Project, One North Central Avenue,
Register on August 17, 2018 (83 FR and 43 CFR 1610.2.
41108), includes three alternatives that Suite 800, Phoenix, AZ 85004.
identify Federal lands as available for Edwin L. Roberson, Copies of the Draft EIS/Draft RMP
potential disposal under FLPMA. In State Director. Amendments are available at the BLM’s
accordance with direction issued by the [FR Doc. 2018–19000 Filed 8–30–18; 8:45 am]
eplanning website: https://go.usa.gov/
Deputy Secretary of the Interior in an BILLING CODE 4310–DQ–P
xU6Be. Hardcopies of the documents
August 17, 2018, Memorandum, the can be reviewed at the BLM Arizona
BLM is modifying the Draft RMPs and State Office, at the address above, and
EIS so that the range of alternatives does DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR at the locations listed in the
not identify any lands as available for SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
potential disposal under FLPMA. The Bureau of Land Management FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
BLM has made a limited number of [LLAZ920000 18X L51010000.ER0000 Lane Cowger, Project Manager,
corresponding changes to sections LVRWA18A3240] telephone: 602–417–9612; address:
included in the Draft RMPs and EIS, BLM, Arizona State Office, One North
including the Executive Summary, Notice of Availability for the Draft Central Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix, AZ
Chapter 2 (Alternatives), Chapter 3 Environmental Impact Statement for 85004; email: lcowger@blm.gov. Contact
(Affected Environment and the Proposed Ten West Link 500- Lane Cowger to add your name to our
Environmental Consequences), Kilovolt Transmission Line Project and mailing list. People who use a
Appendix A (Map 35), Appendix G Draft Amendments to the Yuma Field telecommunications device for the deaf
(Best Management Practices), Appendix Office Resource Management Plan and (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
H (Stipulations and Exceptions, the California Desert Conservation Service (FRS) at 800–877–8339 during
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

Modifications and Waivers), and Area Plan; Maricopa and La Paz normal business hours to contact the
Appendix K (Lands Identified for Counties, Arizona, and Riverside BLM Project Manager listed above. The
Disposal). These modifications do not County, California FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days
substantially change the alternatives in AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, a week, to leave a message or question
the Draft RMPs and EIS or the analysis Interior. for the above individual. You will
of effects on the human environment, receive a reply during normal business
ACTION: Notice of availability.
but they do remove the identification of hours.

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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 170 / Friday, August 31, 2018 / Notices 44661

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DCR avoiding residential and other potentially affected by the Project will
Transmission, LLC, has filed a right-of- development south of the City of Blythe assist the BLM in identifying and
way (ROW) application with the BLM and minimize use of private land in evaluating impacts to such resources in
pursuant to Title V of FLPMA, California; avoiding an area of dense the context of both the NEPA and
proposing to construct, operate, cultural resources south of the City of Section 106 of the NHPA.
maintain, and decommission a single- Blythe; and crossing a majority of Visual The BLM will continue consultation
circuit alternating current 500-kV Resource Management (VRM) Class III with Indian tribes on a government-to-
overhead transmission line. The Project land. This route also provides government basis in accordance with
would provide a connection between interconnections for potential future Executive Order 13175 and other
the existing Delaney Substation in energy development opportunities in policies. Tribal concerns, including
Tonopah, Arizona, and the existing Arizona. impacts on Indian trust assets and
Colorado River Substation in Blythe, The Agency-Preferred Alternative potential impacts to cultural resources,
California. The project purpose is to would require an amendment to the will be given due consideration.
strengthen the electrical grid and Yuma RMP to: (1) Designate Before including your address, phone
improve reliability. approximately 13.5 miles of 200-foot number, email address, or other
DCR Transmission has filed an wide ROW on public lands managed by personal identifying information in your
application for a Certificate of Public the BLM outside of designated utility comment, you should be aware that
Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) with corridors; and (2) Change the existing your entire comment—including your
the California Public Utilities VRM Class designations from Class III to personal identifying information—may
Commission (CPUC) to site the Class IV within 0.3-mile either side of be made publicly available at any time.
transmission infrastructure in centerline of 18.4 miles, for a total of While you can ask us in your comment
California. The CPUC approval or denial 6,803.2 acres. The Agency-Preferred to withhold your personal identifying
of the CPCN application is a Alternative would also require an information from public review, we
discretionary decision. Under California amendment to the California Desert cannot guarantee that we will be able to
law, the CPUC would be required to Conservation Area Plan to authorize do so.
comply with the California construction within 0.25-mile of Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6(b) and 43 CFR
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) occurrences of Harwood’s eriastrum, a 1610.2.
before issuing the CPCN. The CPUC is BLM special status plant species.
currently a cooperating agency in the Raymond Suazo,
Hardcopies of the documents can be
BLM’s NEPA analysis. Pursuant to the reviewed at the Arizona State Office (see Arizona State Director.
California Code of Regulations Title 14 ADDRESSES) and at the following [FR Doc. 2018–18721 Filed 8–30–18; 8:45 am]
Section 15121, the CPUC will rely upon locations: BILLING CODE 4310–32–P
this EIS to comply with CEQA.
An interdisciplinary approach was BLM, Palm Springs South Coast Field
used to develop the Draft EIS. The Office DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
issues addressed in the Draft EIS that 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs,
shaped the Project’s scope and National Park Service
CA 92262
alternatives include, but are not limited [NPS–WASO–NRNHL–DTS#–26302;
to: Air and climate, biological resources, BLM, Yuma Field Office PPWOCRADI0, PCU00RP14.R50000]
cultural resources, CEQA, health and 7341 East 30th Street, Yuma, AZ 85365
safety, noise, land use (including National Register of Historic Places;
farmlands and military operations), Parker Public Library Notification of Pending Nominations
recreation, socioeconomics and 1001 South Navajo Avenue, Parker, AZ and Related Actions
environmental justice, special 85344
designations, wilderness and wilderness AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
characteristics, trails, visual resources, Palm Springs Public Library ACTION: Notice.
and transportation. 300 South Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, SUMMARY: The National Park Service is
Based on feedback from cooperating CA 92262 soliciting comments on the significance
agencies, stakeholders, and public
Palo Verde Valley District Library of properties nominated before August
scoping, the BLM developed and
analyzed a suite of alternatives, which 18, 2018, for listing or related actions in
125 West Chanslor Way, Blythe, CA the National Register of Historic Places.
are detailed in the Draft EIS. The BLM 92225
has identified Alternative 2: BLM Utility DATES: Comments should be submitted
Corridor Route, with minor route Quartzsite Public Library by September 17, 2018.
modifications near the Town of 465 North Plymouth, Quartzsite, AZ ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent via
Quartzsite, Arizona, as the Agency- 85346 U.S. Postal Service and all other carriers
Preferred Alternative route for the to the National Register of Historic
proposed transmission line. This route Buckeye Public Library—Downtown Places, National Park Service, 1849 C St.
is 124.9 miles long and primarily 310 North 6th Street, Buckeye, AZ NW, MS 7228, Washington, DC 20240.
located within existing BLM utility 85326 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
corridors or parallel to existing The BLM will use the NEPA public properties listed in this notice are being
infrastructure. This route is responsive participation requirements to assist the considered for listing or related actions
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

to stakeholder input, by minimizing agency in satisfying the public- in the National Register of Historic
impacts to the Yuma Proving Ground, involvement requirements under Places. Nominations for their
avoiding the Kofa National Wildlife Section 106 of the National Historic consideration were received by the
Refuge, Johnson Canyon, the Colorado Preservation Act (NHPA) (54 U.S.C. National Park Service before August 18,
River Indian Tribes Reservation, the 306108) pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). 2018. Pursuant to Section 60.13 of 36
Long Term Visitor Area (recreation The information about historic and CFR part 60, written comments are
area), and the Ehrenberg Sandbowl area; cultural resources within the area being accepted concerning the

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Document Created: 2018-08-31 00:53:12
Document Modified: 2018-08-31 00:53:12

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 availability.
Dates		To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Draft EIS and Draft RMP Amendments within 90 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The date(s) and location(s) of public meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers, and the BLM website at: http:/ /www.blm.gov/az/st/en.html.
Contact		Lane Cowger, Project Manager,
FR Citation		83 FR 44660

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 170 (August 31, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management