[Federal Register: July 27, 2009 (Volume 74, Number =
142)]
[Notices] =20
[Page 37053-37054]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27jy09-70] =20
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[CACA 49834; L51010000.ER0000 LLCAD09000 LVRWB09B3160]
=20
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Joint Environmental Impact=20
Statement and Final Environmental Impact Report for the Southern=20
California Edison, Eldorado-Ivanpah Transmission Project; California,=20
Nevada
Agency: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of=20
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the California Environmental Quality Act=20
of 1970 (CEQA), the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land=20
Management (BLM), together with the California Public Utilities=20
Commission (CPUC), intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) on the impacts of the Eldorado-
Ivanpah Transmission Project (EITP).
DATES: This notice initiates the public participation and scoping=20
processes for the EIS. A public scoping period of at least 30 days is=20
hereby announced, and at least one public meeting has been announced=20
through the local news media, newspapers, and BLM's Web page (http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3Dleavin=
gFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/needle=
s.html). During the public scoping=20
period, the BLM solicits public comment on issues, concerns, and=20
opportunities that should be considered in the analysis of the proposed=20
action. Comments on issues, potential impacts, or suggestions for=20
additional alternatives may be submitted in writing to the address=20
listed below. In order to be included in the Draft EIS all comments=20
must be received prior to the close of the scoping period or 15 days=20
after the last public meeting, whichever is later. Additional=20
opportunities for public participation and formal comment will occur=20
when the Draft EIS/Draft EIR is issued.
ADDRESSES: Comments and other correspondence should be sent to the BLM=20
Needles Office, attention George R. Meckfessel, Planning and=20
Environmental Coordinator, Needles Field Office, 1303 South U.S.=20
Highway 95, Needles, California, 92363-4228, or by fax at (760) 326-
7099 or by e-mail at mailto:mailto:ca690@ca.blm.gov attention EITP. Documents=20
pertinent to this proposal, including comments of respondents, will be=20
available for public review at the BLM Needles Field Office
[[Page 37054]]
during regular business hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through=20
Friday, excluding holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have=20
your name added to our mailing list, contact Tom Hurshman, Project=20
Manager, 2465 South Townsend Ave., Montrose, CO 81401, Phone (970) 240-
5345, fax (970) 240-5368, or e-mail Tom_Hurshman@blm.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant, Southern California Edison,=20
has requested a right-of-way (ROW) authorization to construct a=20
proposed electric transmission line and associated facilities on public=20
lands located in San Bernardino County, California, and Clark County,=20
Nevada. The EIS/EIR will analyze the site-specific impacts to the=20
environment resulting from the proposed project. The CPUC is the lead=20
State of California agency for the licensing of electric transmission=20
facilities and, in the present case, for compliance with the=20
requirements of CEQA. BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA=20
commenting process to satisfy the public involvement process for=20
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 U.S.C.=20
470f) as provided for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3).
Southern California Edison has applied for a ROW authorization to=20
upgrade and replace an existing 115 kV electric transmission line on=20
public lands with a new double circuit 220 kV electric transmission=20
line. The proposed transmission line would handle projected electricity=20
produced from several renewable energy project proposals in and around=20
the Ivanpah Valley, including the Ivanpah Solar Energy Generation=20
System planned by Solar Partners, LLC. The proposed electric=20
transmission line and a new substation would be constructed within an=20
existing designated utility corridor. The public lands are managed by=20
BLM in accordance with the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA)=20
Plan and the Las Vegas Field Office Resource Management Plan (RMP). The=20
segment of electric transmission line to be replaced is approximately=20
36 miles long and originates at the existing Eldorado Substation in T.=20
25 S., R. 62 E., Sec. 1, Mount Diablo PM, and terminates at the=20
proposed Ivanpah Substation in T. 16 N., R. 14 E., Sec. 4, San=20
Bernardino PM.
In addition to the electric transmission line, the applicant=20
requires telecommunications facilities to operate the substation.=20
Primary telecommunications would be provided with an optical overhead=20
ground wire constructed on the proposed electric transmission line, and=20
redundant telecommunications would be established by construction of an=20
independent fiber optics cable that will be located on other existing=20
electric transmission towers owned by the applicant.
BLM will consider approval of the proposed Project in a manner that=20
avoids or reduces impacts to public lands. This action is consistent=20
with Federal law and BLM's policy allowing the use of public lands for=20
the generation and transmission of electrical energy from renewable=20
energy projects pursuant to Title V of the Federal Land Policy and=20
Management Act (FLPMA) and Section 211 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005=20
(119 Stat. 594, 660). BLM has an established process to respond to=20
applications for ROW's for major utilities while protecting the=20
environment. The CDCA Plan, the Las Vegas Field Office RMP, and the=20
FLPMA recognize that public lands will be managed for multiple uses and=20
emphasize the use of ROW corridors.
The EIS/EIR will describe and analyze the project as proposed and=20
will include: (1) Measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts on=20
the environment; (2) alternative routes and locations for facilities;=20
and (3) the ``No Action'' alternative (no upgrades to the existing=20
electric transmission line). Through public scoping, BLM expects to=20
identify various issues, potential impacts, and mitigation measures. As=20
proposed, the electric transmission line has been sited to take=20
advantage of existing designated ROW corridors, which are areas=20
identified by BLM land use plans as suitable for ROW development.
BLM has identified a potential list of issues that will need to be=20
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 impacts; plant and animal=20
species including special status species; cultural resources; and=20
visual resource impacts. If approved, the electric transmission line=20
project on public lands would be authorized in accordance with the=20
FLPMA and federal regulations at Title 43 Code of Federal Regulations=20
Part 2800.
You may submit comments in writing at the public scoping meeting,=20
by mail, or via e-mail (see ADDRESSES section above). Before including=20
your address, phone number, email address, or other personal=20
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your=20
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be=20
made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your=20
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public=20
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Tom Zale,
Deputy State Director, Natural Resources (acting), California State=20
Office.
[FR Doc. E9-17784 Filed 7-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P