[Federal Register: July 23, 2009 (Volume 74, Number = 140)] [Notices] =20 [Page 36503-36505] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr23jy09-68] =20 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CACA 49561, LLCAD08000L5101 ER0000LVRWB09B3220] =20 Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and=20 Amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area Plan for the=20 Lucerne Valley Solar Project; San Bernardino County, CA AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of=20 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act=20 of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)=20 Barstow Field Office, Barstow, California intends to prepare an=20 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and by this notice is announcing=20 the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and=20 identify issues. The EIS will analyze the impacts of the Lucerne Valley=20 Solar Plant on public lands in San Bernardino County, California. The=20 project is being proposed by Chevron Energy Solutions (the Applicant).=20 The applicant has requested a right-of-way (ROW) authorization to=20 construct and operate a 45 megawatt solar photovoltaic project and=20 connect it to the existing Southern California Edison 33 kV=20 distribution system. Within the 516-acre solar facility, the project=20 would include a new switchyard, control/maintenance building, and=20 parking area. The EIS will analyze the site-specific impacts to the=20 environment from the proposed grant of the ROW. DATES: This notice initiates a public participation and scoping period=20 for the EIS of at least 30 days. This scoping period will also be=20 announced through the local news media, newspapers, and BLM's Web page=20 (http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3Dleavin= gFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/barsto= w.html). During the public=20 scoping period the BLM will solicit public comment on issues, concerns=20 and opportunities that should be considered in the analysis of the=20 proposed action. The BLM expects to hold two public meetings, one in=20 Lucerne Valley and another in the city [[Page 36504]] of San Bernardino. The meeting in Lucerne Valley will take place on=20 July 29, 2009 at the Lucerne Valley Community Center located at 33187=20 Highway 247 East, Lucerne Valley, California from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30=20 p.m. The meeting in San Bernardino will take place on July 30, 2009 at=20 the Family Life Public Enterprise Center, Conference Room 13, located=20 at 1505 West Highland Ave., San Bernardino, California 92411 from 6:30=20 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Information about the two meetings has been announced=20 through the local news media, newspapers and BLM Web site (http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3Dleavin= gFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/barsto= w.html). Comments on issues, potential=20 impacts, or suggestions for additional alternatives may also be=20 submitted in writing to the address listed below. In order to be=20 included in the Draft EIS, all comments must be received prior to the=20 close of the scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting,=20 whichever is later. We will provide additional opportunities for public=20 participation upon publication of the Draft EIS. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Lucerne Valley Solar=20 Project by any of the following methods:Web Site: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3Dleavin= gFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/barsto= w.html. E-mail: LucerneSolar@blm.gov. Fax: (760) 252-6098. Mail: BLM Barstow Field Office, 2601 Barstow Road,=20 Barstow, California 92311. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the BLM=20 Barstow Field Office. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have=20 your name added to our mailing list, send requests to: ATTN: Lucerne=20 Valley Solar Project; contact Greg Thomsen, telephone (951) 697-5237;=20 address BLM Barstow Field Office, 2601 Barstow Road, Barstow,=20 California 92311; e-mail LucerneSolar@blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Title V of FLPMA, sites=20 associated with power generation or transmission not identified in the=20 BLM's California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan (1980, as=20 amended) will be considered through the plan amendment process. Under Federal law, the BLM is responsible for processing requests=20 for rights-of-way to authorize solar projects and other appurtenant=20 facilities on the land it manages. BLM must comply with the=20 requirements of NEPA to ensure that environmental impacts associated=20 with construction, operation, and decommissioning will be identified,=20 analyzed and considered in the application process. This will be=20 accomplished through preparation of a Draft and Final EIS. The BLM will=20 utilize the NEPA commenting process to satisfy the public involvement=20 process for Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act=20 (NHPA) (16 U.S.C. 470f) as provided for in 36 CFR 800.2 (d)(3). This notice announces a period for public scoping of alternatives,=20 issues, impacts and planning criteria associated with this project. In=20 addition, the BLM is requesting the views of other agencies as to the=20 scope and content of the environmental information that is germane to=20 the statutory responsibilities or areas of expertise for those agencies=20 in connection with the proposed project and the analysis of its=20 impacts. Federal, State, and local agencies, as well as individuals or=20 organizations that may be interested or affected by the BLM's decision=20 on this project are invited to participate in the scoping process and,=20 if eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM to participate as a=20 cooperating agency. The Applicant has applied for a ROW authorization to construct and=20 operate a solar photovoltaic project on public lands. The public lands=20 are managed by the BLM in accordance with the CDCA Plan and the West=20 Mojave Plan, an amendment to the CDCA Plan. The 516-acre project would=20 be built approximately 8 miles east of Lucerne Valley, San Bernardino=20 County, California, at T. 4 N., R. 2 E., Section 19 (NE \1/4\ SW \1/4\,=20 S \1/2\ SW \1/4\, NW \1/4\ SE \1/4\, S \1/2\ SE \1/4\), section 20 (W=20 \1/2\ W \1/2\), section 29 (NW \1/4\ NW \1/4\), section 30 (N \1/2\ NE=20 \1/4\). The EIS will describe and analyze the proposed project and will=20 include: (1) Measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts on the=20 environment; (2) The ``No Action'' alternative (no project would be built); and (3) The ``no solar'' alternative (lands would be determined=20 unsuitable for one or more types of solar generation). Through public scoping, BLM will identify various issues, potential=20 impacts, and mitigation measures. The BLM has identified a potential list of issues that will need to=20 be addressed in this analysis including, but not limited to, social and=20 economic impacts, including impacts to the public from traffic; ground=20 and surface water quantity and quality; plant and animal species=20 including special status species; Tribal and cultural resources; and=20 visual resources. If approved, the solar project on public lands would=20 be authorized in accordance with the FLPMA and Federal regulations at=20 Title 43 Code of Federal Regulations part 2800. The CDCA Plan (1980, as amended) requires that all power generating=20 facilities be considered through the planning process. Planning=20 criteria for consideration of a CDCA plan amendment to provide for=20 power generation at this site include: a. The plan amendment will be completed in compliance with FLPMA,=20 NEPA and all other applicable Federal and State laws, Executive orders,=20 and management policies of the BLM; b. The plan amendment will recognize and conform to previous site- specific planning decisions from BLM regional and bioregional plans; c. Where existing planning decisions are still valid, those=20 decisions will remain unchanged; d. The plan amendment and any rights-of-way issued will recognize=20 valid existing rights; and e. Interagency and Native American Tribal consultations will be=20 conducted in accordance with policy, and will be given due=20 consideration. The planning process will include the consideration of=20 impacts on Indian trust assets, other jurisdictions, and agencies. You may submit written comments on issues and planning criteria at=20 the public scoping meeting, or you may submit them via e-mail (see=20 ADDRESSES section above). To be most helpful, you should submit=20 comments within 15 days after the public scoping meeting. The BLM will=20 identify issues and will place them into one of three categories: 1. Issues to be resolved in the plan; 2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action;=20 or 3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan. The BLM will provide an explanation in the plan as to why we placed=20 an issue in category two or three. The public is also encouraged to=20 help identify any management questions and concerns that should be=20 addressed in the plan. The BLM will work collaboratively with=20 interested parties to identify the management decisions that are best=20 suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or=20 other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be=20 aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying=20 information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can=20 ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying=20 information from public review, we [[Page 36505]] cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Tom Pogacnik, Deputy State Director for Natural Resources, California State Office. [FR Doc. E9-17571 Filed 7-22-09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-40-P