[Federal Register: November 23, 2009 (Volume 74, Number = 224)] [Notices] =20 [Page 61168-61169] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr23no09-81] =20 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CACA-049016, LLCAD05000, L51010000, ER0000, LVRWB09B2990] =20 Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for=20 the Proposed Solar Millennium Ridgecrest Solar Power Project, Kern=20 County, CA and Possible Land Use Plan Amendment and Staff Assessment 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, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of=20 1976, as amended, and the California Environmental Quality Act, the=20 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ridgecrest Field Office, together with=20 the California Energy Commission (CEC), intend to prepare an=20 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Staff Assessment (SA), which may=20 include an amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA)=20 Plan of 1980, as amended, and by this notice are announcing the=20 beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and=20 identify issues. DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the Draft=20 EIS/SA and possible plan amendment. Comments on issues may be submitted=20 in writing until December 23, 2009. The dates and locations of scoping=20 meetings, information hearings, and site visits will be announced at=20 least 15 days in advance through local media, the BLM Web site at=20 http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3Dlea= vingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/rid= gecrest.html, and the CEC's Web site=20 at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/c= gi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp:= //www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/solar_millennium_ridgecrest/index.html. In order to be considered in the Draft EIS/SA, 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. We will provide=20 additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of=20 the Draft EIS and SA. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria=20 related to the Solar Millennium Ridgecrest Draft EIS and SA by any of=20 the following methods:Web site: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3Dlea= vingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/rid= gecrest.html=20 or http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/c= gi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp:= //www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/solar_millennium_ridgecrest/index.html. E-mail: CARSPP@blm.gov or esolorio@energy.state.ca.us. Fax: BLM (951) 697-5299 or CEC (916) 654-3882. Mail: BLM California Desert District, 22835 Calle San Juan=20 de los Lagos, Moreno Valley, California 92553, Attn: Janet Eubanks; or=20 California Energy Commission, 1516 Ninth Street, MS-15, Sacramento,=20 California, 95814, Attn: Eric Solorio. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the=20 Ridgecrest Field Office. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to have=20 your name added to our mailing list, contact Janet Eubanks, Project=20 Manager, at (951) 697-5376; or 22835 Calle San Juan de los Lagos,=20 Moreno Valley, California 92553; or e-mail Janet_Eubanks@ca.blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Solar Millennium, LLC, has applied for a=20 right-of-way (ROW) authorization to construct and operate a parabolic=20 trough, solar thermal, generating facility with a capacity of 250=20 megawatts. The project would connect to the existing Southern=20 California Edison 230-kilovolt (kV) Inyokern/Kramer Junction=20 transmission line. About a mile long portion of this 230 kV=20 transmission line and about a mile long portion of a 115 kV line would=20 be realigned to avoid the project area. The approximately 3,920-acre=20 proposed ROW would contain two solar fields, a power block,=20 construction areas, a dry-cooling tower, steel transmission towers with=20 associated transmission lines, access roads, three covered water tanks,=20 an underground water pipeline, a water treatment facility, an=20 electrical switchyard, a land treatment unit for bioremediation of any=20 soil that may be contaminated by heat transfer fluid, an office, a=20 warehouse, a parking lot, and facility perimeter fencing. The project=20 would be located approximately five miles southwest of [[Page 61169]] the city of Ridgecrest in Kern County, California. The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant=20 issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis,=20 including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS.=20 At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary issues:=20 special area designations; social and economic impacts, including=20 impacts to the public from traffic; ground and surface water quantity=20 and quality; special status species management; cultural resources; and=20 visual resources. Authorization of this proposal may require amendment of the CDCA=20 Plan (1980, as amended). By this notice, the BLM is complying with=20 requirements in 43 CFR 1610.2(c) to notify the public of potential=20 amendments to land use plans, predicated on the findings of the EIS. If=20 a land use plan amendment is necessary, the BLM will integrate the land=20 use planning process with the NEPA process for this project. The BLM will use the NEPA commenting process to satisfy the public=20 involvement process for Section 106 of the National Historic=20 Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f) as provided for in 36 CFR=20 800.2(d)(3). Native American Tribal consultations will be conducted in=20 accordance with BLM policy, and Tribal concerns will be given due=20 consideration, including impacts on Indian trust assets. Federal,=20 State, and local agencies, tribes, and stakeholders that may be=20 interested or affected by the BLM's decision on this project are=20 invited to participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may=20 request or be requested by the BLM to participate as a cooperating=20 agency. 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 cannot guarantee that we will be=20 able to do so. Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2. Thomas Pogacnik, Deputy State Director, Natural Resources, California State Office. [FR Doc. E9-27981 Filed 11-20-09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-40-P