[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 30, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 71940-71941] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-34371] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Bureau of Land Management Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for Federal Permits Associated With Construction and Operation of the High Desert Power Plant Project, Victorville, San Bernardino County, CA
Agency
Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior (Lead Agency); Bureau of Land Management, Interior (Cooperating Agency).
Action
Notice of intent; announcement of meeting.
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Summary
The Fish and Wildlife Service, with the Bureau of Land Management as a cooperator, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. This Impact Statement will consider the Federal actions associated with the High Desert Power Plant Project. Specifically, the Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to issue an Endangered Species Act permit to the High Desert Power, Limited Liability Company, and other project proponents for take of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), a threatened species under the Federal Endangered Species Act, and for the future take, should it be needed, of the Mohave ground squirrel (Spermophilus mohavensis) and the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), a threatened species and a sensitive species, respectively, under the California Endangered Species Act. Take of these species would be incidental to the construction and operation of a natural gas power plant, electric lines, gas lines, and water lines associated with the High Desert Power Project. As part of the proposed action for the project, the Bureau of Land Management proposes to issue a right-of-way grant under Section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 to the Southwest Gas Corporation for the construction and maintenance of a natural gas pipeline through Federal lands designated as desert tortoise critical habitat and managed by the Bureau. The purpose of scoping is to obtain suggestions and information from other agencies and the public on the range of issues and alternatives to be considered in preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement. All comments received, including names and addresses, will become part of the administrative record and may be made available to the public. This notice is provided pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality regulations for
implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22).
Dates
Oral and written comments will be accepted at public meetings to be held on January 28, 1999, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Written comments should be received on or before February 1, 1999.
Addresses
The meetings will be held at the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District Office, Board Chambers (2nd floor), 15428 Civic Drive, Victorville, California. Comments should be addressed to Diane Noda, Field Supervisor, Fish and Wildlife Service, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, California 93003. Written comments may be sent by facsimile to (805) 644-3958.
For Further Information Contact
Denise Washick, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, at the above address (telephone 805-644-1766).
Supplementary Information
Project Description
The High Desert Power Plant Project is located on a 25-acre parcel in the northeast corner of the Southern California International Airport, formerly part of George Air Force Base, in the City of Victorville, San Bernardino County, California. The project site is bordered by Perimeter Road on the east, Southern California International Airport taxiways to the west, abandoned bunkers adjacent to Phantom Street on the south, and existing evaporation ponds on the north. The project site is located in Section 24, Township 6 North, Range 5 West. The site has been previously graded and leveled. The High Desert Power Project, Limited Liability Company (lead project proponent), and others propose to construct and operate a 680- to 830-megawatt natural gas-fueled electricity generation power plant on a 25-acre site located in the northeast corner of the Southern California International Airport. In addition to the power plant, an additional 24 acres, which is currently graded, will be used as a staging area. The project includes the construction of 7 water extraction wells within the Mojave River watershed. The linear facilities associated with the project include a 7-mile electrical transmission line; a 3.5-mile natural gas pipeline; and construction of 2 water pipelines with pipeline #1 measuring 2.5 miles and pipeline #2 measuring 6.5 miles. These linear facilities are all to be constructed within private lands. As part of the project, the High Desert Power Project, Limited Liability Company, proposes to prepare a habitat conservation plan to be submitted to the Fish and Wildlife Service as part of an application for an Endangered Species Act incidental take permit for the desert tortoise, Mohave ground squirrel, and burrowing owl. The latter two species would be listed on the permit with a delayed effective date. Should these species be listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act in the future, the permit for incidental take would become effective concurrent with their listing. Construction of a 32-mile natural gas pipeline through Federal lands designated as desert tortoise critical habitat and managed by the Bureau of Land Management are also part of the High Desert Power Plant Project. The Bureau proposes to issue a right-of-way permit under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act to Southwest Gas Corporation for the construction and maintenance of this pipeline.
Supplemental Reports
The High Desert Power Project, Limited Liability Company, has prepared several reports required by the California Energy Commission, including an Application for Certification. The Commission is serving as the lead licensing and environmental review agency in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act. The Commission required preparation of a Draft Biological Resources Mitigation Implementation Plan and a Draft Erosion Control and Revegetation Plan for the High Desert Power Plant Project. These plans have been prepared for the project site and all linear facilities including the 32-mile natural gas pipeline which is also being permitted as part of the High Desert Power Plant Project. Copies of the reports may be requested by contacting Ms. Amy Cuellar at Resource Management International, Inc., 3100 Zinfandel Drive, Suite 600, P.O. Box 15516, Sacramento, California 95670-1516, or calling (916)-852-1300. Copies may also be reviewed at the following libraries: California Energy Commission, Energy Library, 1516 Ninth Street, Sacramento, California 95814; California State Library, Government Publication Section, 914 Capitol Mall, Room 400, Sacramento, California 95814; Fresno County Library, Central Headquarters, 2420 Mariposa Street, Fresno, California 93721; Humboldt Library, 421 ``I'' Street, Eureka, California 95501; Norman Feldheym Central Library, 555 West Sixth Street, San Bernardino, California 92415; San Bernardino County Library, Adelanto Branch, 11744 Bartlett Avenue, Adelanto, California 92301; San Bernardino County Library, Victorville Branch, 15011 Circle Drive, Victorville, California 92392; San Diego Public Library, 920 E Street, San Diego, California 92101; San Francisco Public Library, Civic Center, San Francisco, California 94102; UCLA, University Research Library, Public Affairs Service, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90024; California Depository Specialist, Acquisitions--Green Library, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-6004.
Dated: December 15, 1998. Elizabeth Stevens, Acting Manager, California/Nevada Operations Office, Fish and Wildlife Service.
Dated: December 14, 1998. Tim Read, Field Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Barstow Field Office. [FR Doc. 98-34371 Filed 12-29-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P