[Federal Register: November 23, 2009 (Volume 74, Number = 224)] [Notices] =20 [Page 61169-61171] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr23no09-83] =20 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CACA 048810 and CACA 048811, LLCAD06000 L5101 ER0000 LVRBW09B26000] =20 Notice of Intent To Prepare Two Environmental Impact Statements/ Staff Assessments for the Proposed Chevron Energy Solutions/Solar=20 Millennium Palen and Blythe Solar Power Plants, Riverside County, CA=20 and Possible Land Use Plan Amendments AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act=20 (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act=20 of 1976, as amended, and the California Environmental Quality Act=20 (CEQA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Palm Springs South Coast=20 Field Office, Palm Springs, California, together with the California=20 Energy Commission (CEC), intend to prepare two Environmental Impact [[Page 61170]] Statements (EIS)/Staff Assessments (SAs), which may include an=20 amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan (1980,=20 as amended) and by this notice are announcing the beginning of the=20 scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues. DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the Draft=20 EIS/SAs and possible plan amendment. Comments on issues may be=20 submitted in writing until December 23, 2009. The dates and locations=20 of scoping meetings, information hearings, and site visits will be=20 announced at least 15 days in advance through local media and the BLM=20 Web site at: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3Dle= avingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/pa= lmsprings.html and the=20 CEC Web sites at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bi= n/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www= .energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/solar_millennium_palen/index.html and http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-b= in/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://ww= w.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/solar_millennium_blythe/index.html. To = be considered in the Draft=20 EIS/SAs, all comments must be received prior to the close of the=20 scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is=20 later. We will provide additional opportunities for public=20 participation upon publication of the Draft EIS/SAs. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria=20 related to the Proposed Chevron Energy Solutions/Solar Millennium Palen=20 and Blythe Solar Power Plants EIS/SAs and CDCA Plan amendment by any of=20 the following methods:E-mail: asolomon@energy.state.ca.us,=20 CAPSSolarPalen@blm.gov, or = CAPSSolarBlythe@blm.gov. Fax: (760) 833-7199. Mail or hand delivery: Alan Solomon, Project Manager,=20 Siting, Transmission and Environmental Protection Division, CEC, 1516=20 Ninth Street, MS-15, Sacramento, California 95814 or Holly L. Roberts,=20 Project Manager, Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office, BLM, 1201 Bird=20 Center Drive, Palm Springs, California 92262. The administrative record of this proposal may be examined at the=20 Palm Springs South Coast Field Office during normal business hours. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to have=20 your name added to our mailing list, contact Alan Solomon, CEC project=20 manager at telephone (916) 653-8236, or address 1516 Ninth Street, MS- 15, Sacramento, CA 95814, or e-mail asolomon@energy.state.ca.us; or=20 Allison Shaffer, BLM project manager at telephone (760) 833-7100, or=20 address Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office, BLM, 1201 Bird Center=20 Drive, Palm Springs, California 92262, or e-mail CAPSSolarPalen@blm.gov=20 or CAPSSolarBlythe@blm.gov. = Information on participating in the CEC's=20 review of the project may also be obtained through the CEC's Public=20 Advisor's Office at (916) 654-8236 or toll free in California, (800)=20 822-6228, or by e-mail: publicadviser@energy.sta= te.ca.us. News media=20 inquiries should be directed to the CEC's media office at (916) 654- 4989, or mediaoffice@energy.state.c= a.us. You can also subscribe to an=20 email notification list of all notices at: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.htm= l&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.energy.ca.gov/listservers. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Chevron Energy Solutions/Solar Millennium=20 (CESSM) has applied for two separate right-of-way (ROW) authorizations=20 to construct and operate the Palen and Blythe solar thermal power=20 plants in eastern Riverside County, California with an expected=20 combined capacity of 1,452 megawatts (MW) using solar parabolic trough=20 generating stations. Approximately 10,100 acres of BLM-administered=20 public land are needed to develop the two projects. Pursuant to the BLM's CDCA Plan, sites associated with power=20 generation or transmission not identified in the CDCA Plan will be=20 considered through the plan amendment process. Under Federal law, the=20 BLM is responsible for processing requests for ROWs to authorize solar=20 projects and associated transmission lines and other associated=20 facilities on the land it manages. Under California law, the CEC is=20 responsible for reviewing applications for certification (AFC) filed=20 for thermal power plants over 50 MW. The CEC also serves as lead agency=20 for the environmental review of such projects under CEQA. On August 24,=20 2009, CESSM submitted to the CEC AFCs for the Palen and Blythe=20 projects. The Palen site is 10 miles east of Desert Center, California and a=20 half mile north of Interstate 10; the Blythe site is eight miles west=20 of Blythe, California and three miles north of Interstate 10. The Palen=20 facility will be constructed in two phases, while the Blythe facility=20 will be constructed in four phases. The proposed Palen Solar Power Project would consist of two=20 parabolic trough solar thermal power plants, each of which would have a=20 solar field comprised of rows of parabolic mirrors focusing solar=20 energy on collector tubes. The tubes would carry heated oil to a=20 boiler, which would then send steam to a turbine. The two phases would=20 generate approximately 484 MW of electricity. The two power plants=20 would share administrative buildings, parking areas, maintenance=20 buildings, switch yards, bioremediation areas, wastewater treatment=20 facilities, access and maintenance roads, and perimeter fencing. The=20 project would also include a natural gas pipeline, communication lines,=20 and a 230 kV transmission line. The total expected project footprint=20 would be approximately 3,800 acres. During construction, the project=20 would require approximately 1,100 acre-feet of water for dust control=20 and soil compaction. During operation, the project would require=20 approximately 300 acre-feet of water per year. CESSM proposes to use=20 water from new wells. The proposed Blythe Solar Power Project would consist of four=20 parabolic trough solar thermal power plants similar to the Palen=20 project. The four power plants would generate approximately 968 MW of=20 electricity. All four plants would share administrative buildings,=20 parking areas, maintenance buildings, switch yards, bioremediation=20 areas, wastewater treatment facilities, access and maintenance roads,=20 and perimeter fencing. The project would also include a natural gas=20 pipeline, communication lines, and a 500 kV transmission line. The=20 total expected project footprint would be approximately 6,300 acres.=20 During construction, the project would require approximately 3, 100=20 acre feet of water for dust control and soil compaction. During=20 operation, the project would require approximately 600 acre-feet of=20 water per year. CESSM proposes to use water from new wells. If=20 approved, both projects would begin construction in late 2010. The=20 purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant issues=20 that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, including=20 alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EISs. The BLM=20 has identified the following preliminary issues: special area=20 designations, air quality, biological resources, hazardous materials,=20 recreation, cultural resources, water resources, geological resources,=20 land use, noise, paleontological resources, public health,=20 socioeconomics, soils, traffic and transportation, and visual=20 resources. Authorization of these proposals may require amendment of the CDCA=20 Plan. By this notice, the BLM is complying with requirements in 43 CFR=20 1610.2(c) to notify the public of potential amendments to land use=20 plans, subject to the findings of the EISs. If a land use plan=20 amendment is necessary, the BLM will integrate the land use planning=20 process with the NEPA process for these projects. The BLM will use the NEPA commenting process to satisfy the [[Page 61171]] public 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 and=20 Tribal concerns will be given due consideration, including impacts on=20 Indian trust assets. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with=20 Tribes and other stakeholders that may be interested or affected by the=20 BLM's decision on this project, are invited to participate in the=20 scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the=20 BLM to participate as a cooperating 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. Tom Pogacnik, Deputy State Director for Natural Resources, BLM California State=20 Office. [FR Doc. E9-27961 Filed 11-20-09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-40-P