From: Subject: FR Doc 2010-31725 Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 13:36:34 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-31725.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5579 =EF=BB=BF FR Doc 2010-31725 
[Federal Register: December 17, 2010 (Volume 75, Number =
242)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 78980-78984]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17de10-45]                        =20

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWO300000.L14300000]

=20
Notice of Availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental=20
Impact Statement for Solar Energy Development in Six Southwestern=20
States and Notice of Public Meetings

AGENCIES: Bureau of Land Management, Interior; Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Department of=20
Energy (DOE) (the Agencies) as co-lead agencies announce the=20
availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement=20
(EIS) for Solar Energy Development in Six Southwestern States (BLM/DES=20
10-59, DOE/EIS--0403). The BLM and the DOE have prepared this document=20
in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of=20
1969, as amended; the Council on Environmental Quality, the DOE, and=20
the Department of the Interior (DOI) regulations implementing NEPA; and=20
the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended.

[[Page 78981]]


DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered in the Final=20
Programmatic EIS, the Agencies must receive written comments on the=20
Draft Programmatic EIS within 90 days following the date the=20
Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in=20
the Federal Register. The BLM and the DOE will hold 14 public meetings=20
on the Draft Programmatic EIS. The locations of scheduled public=20
meetings are listed in the Supplementary Information section below. The=20
public will also be notified of the dates and times of these meetings=20
at least 15 days in advance via local media, the project Web site, and=20
the DOE NEPA Web site.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments related to the Draft=20
Programmatic EIS by the following methods:
     Web site: Using the online comment form available on the=20
project Web site: http://frweb=
gate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dl=
inklog&to=3Dhttp://solareis.anl.gov. This is the preferred =
method=20
of commenting.
     Mail: Addressed to: Solar Energy Draft Programmatic EIS,=20
Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Avenue--EVS/240, Argonne,=20
Illinois 60439.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information on=20
the Draft Programmatic EIS should be directed to Linda Resseguie, BLM=20
Solar Programmatic EIS Project Manager, BLM Washington Office, by e-
mail at linda_resseguie@blm.gov, or =
by telephone at 202-912-7337; or=20
to Jane Summerson, DOE Solar Programmatic EIS Document Manager, by e-
mail at jane.summerson@ee.doe.gov, =
or by telephone at 202-287-6188. For=20
general information regarding the BLM NEPA process, contact Shannon=20
Stewart, Senior Planning and Environmental Analyst, BLM Washington=20
Office, by e-mail at shannon_stewart@blm.gov, or =
by telephone at 202-
912-7219. For general information regarding the DOE NEPA process,=20
contact Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and=20
Compliance, GC-54, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue,=20
SW., Washington, DC 20585, by telephone at 202-586-4600, or leave a=20
message at 1-800-472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Draft Programmatic EIS, references, and=20
additional information regarding solar energy development are available=20
at the project Web site: http://frweb=
gate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dl=
inklog&to=3Dhttp://solareis.anl.gov. An electronic copy of=20
the Draft Programmatic EIS can be viewed in any BLM State Office public=20
room in the 6-state study area and will be available through the BLM=20
Web site at http://frwebgate.=
access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dlinklo=
g&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov. A complete, printed copy is available =

for review at the following BLM offices:
    Arizona State Office, One North Central Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix,=20
Arizona 85004.
    Caliente Field Office, US Highway 93 Building 1, Caliente,=20
Nevada 89008.
    California Desert District, 22835 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos,=20
Moreno Valley, California 92553.
    California State Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1623,=20
Sacramento, California 95825.
    Cedar City Field Office, 176 East D.L. Sargent Drive, Cedar City,=20
Utah 84721.
    Lake Havasu Field Office, 2610 Sweetwater Avenue, Lake Havasu City,=20
Arizona 86406.
    Las Cruces District Office, 1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, New=20
Mexico 88005.
    Nevada State Office, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Reno, Nevada 89502.
    San Luis Valley Public Lands Center, 1803 West Highway 160, Monte=20
Vista, Colorado 81144.
    Southern Nevada District Office, 4701 North Torrey Pines, Las=20
Vegas, Nevada 89130.
    Tonopah Field Office, 1553 South Main Street, Tonopah, Nevada=20
89049.
    Utah State Office, 440 West 200 South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City,=20
Utah 84101.
    The Draft Programmatic EIS is also available on the DOE NEPA Web=20
site at http://frwebg=
ate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dli=
nklog&to=3Dhttp://nepa.energy.gov.
    The BLM and the DOE will hold 14 public meetings on the Draft=20
Programmatic EIS to provide an overview of the document, respond to=20
questions, and take public comments. The meetings will be announced=20
through local news media, the project Web site (http://frweb=
gate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dl=
inklog&to=3Dhttp://solareis.anl.gov), and the DOE NEPA Web site =
(http://frwebg=
ate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dli=
nklog&to=3Dhttp://nepa.energy.gov),=20
at least 15 days in advance. Public meetings are currently planned for=20
the following locations:
    Alamosa, Colorado; Barstow, California; Caliente, Nevada; Cedar=20
City, Utah; El Centro, California; Goldfield, Nevada; Las Cruces, New=20
Mexico; Las Vegas, Nevada; Ontario, California; Palm Springs,=20
California; Phoenix, Arizona; Salt Lake City, Utah; Tucson, Arizona;=20
Washington, DC.
    At these meetings, the public will have an opportunity to provide=20
oral and written comments. Oral and written comments from the meetings=20
and additional written comments submitted during the comment period=20
will be considered by the Agencies in preparing the Final Programmatic=20
EIS. Comments submitted after the close of the comment period will be=20
considered to the extent practicable.

Background

    The BLM is considering taking further actions to facilitate solar=20
energy development in compliance with various orders, mandates, and=20
agency policies. For the BLM, these actions include the evaluation of a=20
new Solar Energy Program applicable to utility-scale solar energy=20
development on BLM-administered lands in 6 southwestern states=20
(Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah). The DOE=20
is considering taking actions to facilitate solar energy development in=20
compliance with various orders, mandates, and agency policies. For the=20
DOE, these actions include the evaluation of developing new program=20
guidance relevant to DOE-supported solar energy projects. The BLM and=20
the DOE are working jointly as lead Agencies to prepare this=20
Programmatic EIS to evaluate the proposed BLM program and whether to=20
develop the DOE guidance. The Draft Programmatic EIS assesses=20
environmental, social, and economic impacts associated with the=20
development and implementation of agency-specific programs that would=20
facilitate environmentally responsible utility-scale solar energy=20
development in 6 southwestern states. For the purposes of the=20
Programmatic EIS, utility-scale solar technologies considered to be=20
viable for deployment over the next 20 years include 3 concentrating=20
solar power technologies (i.e., parabolic trough, power tower, and dish=20
engine systems), and photovoltaic technologies. Because the=20
Programmatic EIS involves environmental effects over a broad geographic=20
and time horizon, the depth and detail of the impact analysis is=20
general, focusing on major impacts in a qualitative manner. The=20
Programmatic EIS does not assess site-specific issues associated with=20
any future individual solar energy development projects. Future=20
utility-scale solar energy development decisions will be subject to=20
analysis under NEPA that may tier to the programmatic analysis.

BLM-Specific Information

    The BLM has identified a need to respond in a more efficient and=20
effective manner to the high interest in siting utility-scale solar=20
energy development on public lands and ensure consistent application of=20
measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate the adverse impacts of such=20
development. The BLM proposes to develop a new Solar Energy Program to=20
further support utility-scale solar energy development on BLM-
administered lands that would be applicable to all pending and future

[[Page 78982]]

solar energy development applications upon execution of the Record of=20
Decision for the Solar Programmatic EIS.
    The proposed Solar Energy Program has been designed to further the=20
BLM's ability to meet the requirements for facilitating solar energy=20
development on BLM-administered lands established by the Energy Policy=20
Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-58) and Secretarial Order 3285A1 issued by the=20
Secretary of the Interior. In particular, the proposed program has been=20
designed to meet the requirements of Order 3285A1 to identify and=20
prioritize solar energy development in locations best suited for such=20
development, called solar energy zones (SEZ).
    The objectives of the BLM's proposed Solar Energy Program include:
     Facilitating near-term utility-scale solar energy=20
development on public lands;
     Minimizing potential negative environmental, social, and=20
economic impacts;
     Providing flexibility to consider a variety of solar=20
energy projects (i.e., by location, facility size, or technology);
     Optimizing existing transmission infrastructure and=20
corridors; and
     Standardizing and streamlining the authorization process=20
for utility-scale solar energy development on BLM-administered lands.
    The anticipated elements of the BLM's proposed Solar Energy Program=20
include:
     Identification of lands excluded from utility-scale solar=20
energy development in the 6-state study area;
     Identification of priority areas within the lands open to=20
solar energy development that are best suited for utility-scale=20
production of solar energy in accordance with the requirements of=20
Secretarial Order 3285A1 (i.e., proposed SEZs);
     Establishment of mitigation requirements for solar energy=20
development on public lands to ensure the most environmentally=20
responsible development and delivery of solar energy; and
     Amendment of BLM land use plans in the 6-state study area=20
to adopt those elements of the new Solar Energy Program that pertain to=20
land use planning.
    A reasonably foreseeable development (RFD) scenario was developed=20
as part of the Programmatic EIS to help define the potential magnitude=20
of solar energy development that could occur within the 6-state study=20
area over the next 20 years. On the basis of the RFD scenario, the=20
estimated amount of solar energy generation on BLM-administered lands=20
in the study area over the 20-year study period is about 24,000=20
megawatts, with a corresponding dedicated use of about 214,000 acres of=20
BLM-administered lands.
    Through the Programmatic EIS, the BLM is evaluating 3 alternatives=20
for managing utility-scale solar energy development on BLM-administered=20
lands in the 6-state study area. These alternatives include two action=20
alternatives--a solar energy development program alternative and a SEZ=20
program alternative--and a no action alternative.
    Under the solar energy development program alternative, the BLM=20
would establish a new Solar Energy Program of administration and=20
authorization policies and required design features to replace certain=20
elements of its existing solar energy policies. The lands that would be=20
excluded from solar energy development include BLM-administered lands=20
currently off-limits to solar energy development, including lands=20
prohibited by law, regulation, presidential proclamation, or executive=20
order (e.g., lands in the National Landscape Conservation System),=20
along with lands that (1) have slopes greater than or equal to 5=20
percent; (2) have solar insolation levels (i.e., a measurement of the=20
amount of sunlight that strikes the earth's surface) below 6.5=20
kilowatt-hours per square meter per day; and (3) have known resources,=20
resource uses, or special designations identified in local land use=20
plans that are incompatible with solar energy development. On the basis=20
of these exclusions, approximately 22 million acres of BLM-administered=20
lands would be available for right-of-way (ROW) application under this=20
alternative.
    As part of the solar energy development program alternative, the=20
BLM would also identify a number of SEZs within the lands available for=20
ROW application. An SEZ is defined by the BLM as an area well suited to=20
utility-scale energy production, with few impediments to facility=20
construction and operation where BLM would prioritize solar energy and=20
associated transmission infrastructure development. Approximately=20
677,400 acres have been identified as proposed SEZs. The elements of=20
the BLM's new program under this alternative would be implemented=20
through amendment of the land use plans within the 6-state area.
    Under the SEZ program alternative, the BLM would replace certain=20
elements of its current solar energy policies with a program that would=20
authorize utility-scale solar energy development only in the SEZs.=20
Unlike the solar energy development program alternative, lands outside=20
of SEZs would be excluded from utility-scale solar energy development=20
ROW applications. Under this alternative, about 677,400 acres of BLM-
administered lands have been identified as proposed SEZs and would be=20
available for ROW application. Under the SEZ program alternative, the=20
management of solar energy development on BLM-administered lands would=20
be the same as described for the solar energy development program=20
alternative. The BLM would establish comprehensive program=20
administration and authorization policies and design features. The=20
elements of the BLM's new program under this alternative would be=20
implemented through amendment of the land use plans within the 6-state=20
area.
    Under the no action alternative, solar energy development would=20
continue on BLM-administered lands in accordance with existing solar=20
energy policies. The BLM would not implement a comprehensive Solar=20
Energy Program to provide guidance to BLM field staff, developers, and=20
other stakeholders in the 6-state study area. Specifically, the=20
required program administration and authorization policies as well as=20
design features and land use plan amendments proposed in the 2 action=20
alternatives would not be implemented. Future solar energy projects and=20
land use plan amendments would continue to be evaluated solely on an=20
individual, case-by-case basis.

DOE-Specific Information

    The DOE is required to take actions to meet mandates under=20
Executive Order 13212, ``Actions to Expedite Energy-Related Projects,''=20
published in the Federal Register on May 22, 2001 (66 FR 28357);=20
Executive Order 13514, ``Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy,=20
and Economic Performance,'' published in the Federal Register on=20
October 5, 2009 (74 FR 52117); and Section 603 of the Energy=20
Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) (Pub. L. 109-58). The=20
DOE's purpose and need is to satisfy both executive orders and comply=20
with congressional mandates to promote, expedite, and advance the=20
production and transmission of environmentally sound energy resources,=20
including renewable energy resources and, in particular, cost-
competitive solar energy systems at the utility scale.
    Specifically, the DOE proposes to further integrate environmental=20
considerations into its analysis and selection of solar projects that=20
it will support. In the Programmatic EIS, the DOE will build on the=20
BLM's analysis of potential impacts of utility-scale solar

[[Page 78983]]

development on the environment for all phases of development to provide=20
a technical basis for the development of guidance. The DOE will=20
consider, as appropriate, the relevance of the analytical results for=20
all lands, not just BLM-administered lands in the six state area.
    The DOE would use this information to develop guidance for the=20
development of solar energy projects. The DOE's investment and=20
deployment strategy would incorporate a decision-making framework of=20
guidance for early consideration of sound environmental practices and=20
potential mitigation measures for solar energy development. Development=20
of a guidance framework, based on the analyses of the Programmatic EIS,=20
would give the DOE the tools with which to make more informed,=20
environmentally sound decisions at the outset, help to streamline=20
future environmental analysis and documentation for DOE-supported solar=20
projects, and support the DOE's efforts to comprehensively (1)=20
determine where to make technology and resource investments to minimize=20
the environmental impacts of solar technologies and (2) establish=20
environmental mitigation recommendations for financial assistance=20
recipients to consider in project plans when applying for DOE funding.
    Through this Programmatic EIS, the DOE is evaluating 2=20
alternatives: an action alternative and a no action alternative. Under=20
the action alternative, the DOE would develop programmatic guidance to=20
further integrate environmental considerations into its analysis and=20
selection of solar projects that it will support. The DOE would use the=20
information about environmental impacts provided in this Programmatic=20
EIS to appropriately amend its programmatic approaches to facilitate=20
the advancement of solar energy development. Under the no action=20
alternative, the DOE would continue to conduct environmental reviews of=20
DOE-funded solar projects on a case-by-case basis. It would not develop=20
programmatic guidance and explicit environmental guidelines and=20
mitigation recommendations to apply to DOE-funded solar projects.
    DOE's Western Area Power Administration (Western) markets and=20
transmits wholesale electrical power through an integrated 17,000-
circuit mile, high-voltage transmission system across 15 western=20
states, including parts of the 6-state study area for this Programmatic=20
EIS. Western's purpose and need for participating in this Programmatic=20
EIS is to identify potential transmission impacts and recommend=20
mitigation measures for transmission lines associated with solar energy=20
projects. Western anticipates using the transmission environmental=20
impact and mitigation measures analyses in this Programmatic EIS to=20
streamline its own NEPA documents once specific projects are identified=20
and interconnection requests are filed with Western. With the=20
Programmatic EIS providing the basis for this analysis, interconnection=20
project-specific NEPA documents should be more concise and take less=20
time to prepare, resulting in efficiencies for both Western and the=20
project proponent.

Preferred Alternative

    The solar energy development program alternative is the BLM=20
preferred alternative. The DOE has not yet identified a preferred=20
alternative.

Public Participation

    A notice of intent to prepare this PEIS was published in the=20
Federal Register on May 29, 2008 (73 FR 30908). This notice initiated=20
the first scoping period, which lasted from May 29 to July 15, 2008.=20
During that period, the BLM and the DOE invited the public to provide=20
comments on the scope and objectives of the Programmatic EIS, including=20
identification of issues and alternatives that should be considered in=20
the Programmatic EIS analyses. Public meetings were held at 11=20
locations across the 6 states. Comments were also collected via the=20
project Web site and by mail. A second scoping period was announced=20
through the ``Notice of Availability of Maps and Additional Public=20
Scoping'' published in the Federal Register on June 30, 2009 (74 FR=20
31307). This scoping period was initiated to solicit public comments on=20
24 specific tracts of BLM-administered land proposed to receive in-
depth study for solar development in the Programmatic EIS.=20
Specifically, the Agencies solicited comments about environmental=20
issues, existing resource data, and industry interest with respect to=20
the 24 solar energy study areas. Public comments were collected via the=20
project Web site and by mail.
    Approximately 15,900 individuals, organizations, and government=20
agencies provided comments during the first scoping process, and=20
approximately 300 entities provided comments during the second scoping=20
process.
    In addition to public scoping, the BLM initiated government-to-
government consultation with 316 Native American Tribes, Chapters, and=20
Bands with a potential interest in solar energy development on BLM-
administered lands in the 6-state study area. The BLM is also=20
coordinating with and soliciting input from the State Historic=20
Preservation Offices (SHPO) in each of the 6 states in the study area=20
and from the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. In addition,=20
the National Council of SHPOs, the National Trust for Historic=20
Preservation, and tribal governments have been invited to consult on=20
the Programmatic EIS and the preparation of a National Programmatic=20
Agreement regarding solar energy development.
    The Draft Programmatic EIS consists of approximately 11,000 pages=20
in 8 volumes. All readers are encouraged to review the document=20
electronically. The Executive Summary and Reader's Guide, including a=20
digital versatile disc (DVD) containing the entire document, is=20
available upon request. The document is also available through the=20
project Web site at http://frweb=
gate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dl=
inklog&to=3Dhttp://solareis.anl.gov, the BLM Web site at http://frwebgate.=
access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dlinklo=
g&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov, and the DOE NEPA Web site at http://frwebg=
ate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dli=
nklog&to=3Dhttp://nepa.energy.gov.

Other Agency Involvement

    Cooperating Federal agencies on the Programmatic EIS include the=20
Department of Defense; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the National=20
Park Service; the Bureau of Reclamation; the U.S. Environmental=20
Protection Agency, Region 9; and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,=20
South Pacific Division.
    Other cooperating agencies on the Programmatic EIS include the=20
Arizona Game and Fish Department; the California Energy Commission and=20
Public Utilities Commission; the Nevada Department of Wildlife, the N-4=20
Grazing Board; the Utah Public Lands Policy Coordination Office; Clark,=20
Esmeralda, Eureka, Lincoln, and Nye Counties, Nevada; Saguache County,=20
Colorado; and Dona Ana County, New Mexico.
    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.


[[Page 78984]]


    Authority:  40 CFR 1506.6, 1506.10, and 43 CFR 1610.2

Michael D. Nedd,
Assistant Director, Minerals and Realty Management, Bureau of Land=20
Management.
Cathy Zoi,
Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy,=20
Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2010-31725 Filed 12-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P