[Federal Register: November 23, 2009 (Volume 74, Number = 224)] [Notices] =20 [Page 61166-61167] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr23no09-79] =20 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CACA49575, LLCAD0000, L14300000, DS0000] =20 Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for=20 the Proposed Daggett Ridge Wind Farm, San Bernardino County, CA, and=20 Possible Land Use Plan Amendment AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act=20 (NEPA) of 1969, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and=20 the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the=20 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) California Desert District (CDD),=20 Moreno Valley, California, together with the County of San Bernardino=20 (County) intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/ Environmental Impact Report (EIR), which may include an amendment to=20 the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan of 1980, as=20 amended, and by this notice are announcing the beginning of the scoping=20 process to solicit public comments and identify issues. The BLM will be=20 the lead agency for NEPA compliance and the County will be the lead=20 agency for CEQA compliance. DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS/EIR=20 and possible plan amendment. Comments on issues may be submitted in=20 writing until December 23, 2009. The date(s) and location(s) of any=20 scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through=20 local media, newspapers, and the BLM Web site at: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.= html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd.html. In order to be considered in the Draft EIS/EIR,=20 all comments must be received prior to the close of the scoping period=20 or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. We will=20 provide additional opportunities for public participation upon=20 publication of the Draft EIS/EIR. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria=20 related to the Daggett Ridge Wind Farm by any of the following methods:Web site: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.= html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd.html. E-mail: cadaggettridge@blm.gov. Fax: (951) 697-5299. Mail or hand delivery: ATTN: Lynnette Elser, BLM=20 California Desert District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos,=20 Moreno Valley, California 92553-9046. The administrative record of this proposal may be examined at the=20 California Desert District Office or the BLM's California State Office,=20 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 95825. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to have=20 your name added to our mailing list, contact Lynnette Elser, telephone=20 (951) 697-5233; address BLM California Desert District Office, 22835=20 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, California 92553-9046; e- mail cadaggettridge@blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant, AES Wind Generation, has [[Page 61167]] requested a right-of-way (ROW) authorization to construct, operate,=20 maintain, and decommission the Daggett Ridge Wind Farm. The proposed=20 energy facility would generate 82.5 megawatts (MW) of renewable power=20 using wind resources. The project would include approximately 10 miles=20 of new roads. It would also include one substation on private land. The=20 project would require the BLM to approve an amendment to Southern=20 California Edison's current Slash X ROW to allow telecommunication use.=20 It would also require the BLM to approve two amendments to the Boulder=20 Canyon Project permit to allow: (1) The construction and installation=20 of additional poles within the existing ROW for telecommunication use;=20 and (2) a new 500-foot line from the proposed Seaggett Substation,=20 which would include the replacement of one pole on BLM-managed land.=20 The proposed project would involve new or expanded utility=20 corridors.The proposed project would use 1,577 acres of BLM-managed=20 land and 380 acres of private property, all of which is located in=20 unincorporated San Bernardino County, southeast of Barstow and=20 southwest of Daggett, California. It will have a total of 33 wind=20 turbines--28 on BLM-managed land and five on private land. 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/ EIR. At present, the BLM and the County have identified the following=20 preliminary issues: Special status species, vegetation communities,=20 special area designations, cultural resources, social impacts, visual=20 resources, cumulative effectsand areas of high potential for renewable=20 energy development. 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 other stakeholders that may be=20 interested or affected by the BLM's or the County's decision on this=20 project, are invited to participate in the scoping process and, if=20 eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM or the County to=20 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. Thomas Pogacnik, Deputy State Director, Natural Resources, California State Office. [FR Doc. E9-27989 Filed 11-20-09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-40-P