[Federal Register: March 29, 2010 (Volume 75, Number =
59)]
[Notices] =20
[Page 15427-15429]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29mr10-53] =20
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
=20
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/
Staff Assessment for the Proposed Construction and Operation of the=20
Rice Solar Energy Project, Riverside County, CA (DOE/EIS-0439) and=20
Possible Land Use Plan Amendments
AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE; Bureau of Land=20
Management, DOI.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/
Staff Assessment, Possible Land Use Plan Amendments and to Conduct=20
Scoping Meetings; Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement.
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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 (FLPMA), as amended, and the California Environmental Quality Act=20
(CEQA), the Western Area Power Administration (Western), an agency of=20
the DOE, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Palm Springs--South=20
Coast Field Office, together with the California Energy Commission=20
(CEC), intend to prepare a joint Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/
Staff Assessment (SA), which may include an amendment to the California=20
Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan (1980, as amended) and by this=20
notice are announcing the beginning of the scoping process to inform=20
the public and interested parties and to solicit public comments and=20
identify issues concerning the scope, proposed actions, and=20
alternatives to be addressed in the EIS and SA for the proposed Rice=20
Solar Energy Project (Project) in Riverside County, California. Rice=20
Solar Energy, LLC (RSE) has applied to Western to interconnect the=20
proposed Project to Western's electrical transmission system. This EIS/
SA will address Western's proposed Federal action of interconnecting=20
the proposed Project to Western's transmission system and making any=20
necessary modifications to Western facilities to accommodate the=20
interconnection and will also address BLM's proposed action of=20
authorizing rights of way (ROW) for a 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission=20
line, access road, and fiber optic line and possibly amending the CDCA.=20
The EIS/SA will also review the potential environmental impacts of=20
constructing, operating, and maintaining RSE's 150-megawatt (MW) solar-
powered generating facility, consisting of a solar field of heliostat=20
mirrors, power block, thermal energy storage system, substation site,=20
transmission line, temporary laydown areas, and other ancillary=20
facilities.
DATES: The public scoping period begins with the publication of this=20
notice and will end on April 28, 2010. Western and BLM will host public=20
scoping meetings to provide information on the proposed Project and=20
gather comments on the proposal. The public scoping meetings will be on=20
March 31, 2010 at Big River Community Services District, 150351 Del Rey=20
Street, Big River, California, and on April 1, 2010 at University of=20
California Riverside-Palm Desert Campus, 75080 Frank Sinatra Drive,=20
Palm Desert, California 92211. Scoping meetings will be from 4 p.m. to=20
7 p.m. The meetings will be informal, and attendees will be able to=20
speak directly with Western, BLM, and RSE representatives about the=20
proposed Project. Oral or written comments may be provided at the=20
public scoping meetings, mailed or e-mailed to Ms. Liana Reilly at the=20
address listed in the addresses section.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS/SA and possible=20
land use plan amendment should be addressed to:
Ms. Liana Reilly, NEPA Document Manager, Western Area Power=20
Administration, P.O. Box 281213, Lakewood, Colorado 80228-8213 or e-
mail at RiceSolar@wapa.gov.
Allison Shaffer, Project Manager, Palm Springs-South Coast Field=20
Office, BLM 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, California 92262 or=20
e-mail at CAPSSolarRice@blm.gov.
John Kessler, Project Manager, Siting, Transmission and=20
Environmental Protection Division, CEC 1516 Ninth Street, Sacramento,=20
California 95814 or e-mail at Jkessler@energy.state.ca.us.
To help define the scope of the EIS, written comments should be=20
received no later than April 28, 2010.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the proposed=20
Project, the EIS process or to receive a copy of the Draft EIS (DEIS)=20
when it is published, contact Ms. Reilly at (720) 962-7253, or (800)=20
336-7288, or the address provided above.
For information relating to BLM's participation, contact Allison=20
Shaffer at (760) 833-7100 or the address provided above.
For information relating to the CEC's participation, contact John=20
Kessler at (916) 654-4679 or the address above or information can be=20
obtained through the CEC's Public Adviser's Office at (916) 654-8236 or=20
toll free in California, (800) 822-6228, or by e-mail at=20
publicadviser@energy.sta=
te.ca.us.
For general information on DOE's NEPA review procedures or status=20
of a NEPA review, contact Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director of NEPA=20
Policy and Compliance, GC-54, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000=20
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, telephone (202) 586-
4600 or (800) 472-2756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Western, an agency within DOE, markets=20
Federal hydroelectric power to preference customers, as specified by=20
law. These customers include municipalities, cooperatives, irrigation=20
districts, Federal and State agencies, and Native American tribes.=20
Western's service territory covers 15 western states, including=20
California. Western owns and operates more than 17,000 miles of high-
voltage transmission lines. Under Federal law, BLM is responsible for=20
responding to applications for ROW on public lands. BLM has received an=20
application for a ROW authorization to construct and operate a=20
transmission line that would interconnect the Rice Solar Energy Project=20
to Western's transmission system. A portion of the transmission line=20
would cross managed lands in eastern Riverside County, California.=20
Pursuant to BLM's CDCA Plan, sites associated with power generation or=20
transmission not identified in the CDCA Plan will be considered through=20
the plan amendment process. By this notice, the BLM is complying with=20
the requirements in 43 CFR 1610.2 (c) to notify the public of potential=20
amendments to land use plans, subject to the findings of the EIS.
Western and BLM intend to prepare an EIS to analyze the impacts of=20
their respective proposed Federal action and RSE's proposed Project in=20
accordance with the NEPA, as amended, CEQ
[[Page 15428]]
regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1500-1508), and agency=20
implementing regulations. This will be accomplished through preparation=20
of a DEIS/SA in coordination with the CEC. Under California law, the=20
CEC is responsible for reviewing the Applications for Certification=20
(AFC) filed for thermal power plants over 50 MW, and also has the role=20
of lead agency for the environmental review of such projects under the=20
CEQA (Pub. Res. Code, sections 21000 et seq. and, 25500 et seq.). The=20
CEC conducts these reviews in accordance with the administrative=20
adjudication provisions of California's Administrative Procedure Act=20
(Government Code section 11400 et seq.) and its own regulations=20
governing site certification proceedings (Cal. Code Regulations., title=20
20, section 1701 et seq.), which have been deemed CEQA-equivalent by=20
the Secretary of Resources.
RSE is a Santa Monica, California based energy company formed by=20
U.S. Renewables Group, a private equity firm focused exclusively on=20
renewable energy development.
RSE's Proposed Project
RSE proposes to construct a 150-MW solar-powered electrical=20
generation facility in eastern Riverside County, California. The=20
proposed solar generation facility is located within a private land=20
holding of 3,324 acres, of which 2,560 acres constitute the project=20
parcel. The solar generation facility site is approximately 40 miles=20
from Blythe, 65 miles from Needles, and 75 miles from Twentynine Palms.=20
State Route 62 is immediately adjacent to the northern boundary of the=20
proposed solar generation facility and would be the primary access=20
during construction and operation. The proposed solar generation=20
facility would be located on the site of a former airfield (Rice Army=20
Airfield) that was used during World War II as a training site, later=20
transferred to private use, and then abandoned sometime between 1955=20
and 1958.
The proposed Project would use concentrating solar ``power tower''=20
technology to capture the sun's heat to make steam, which would power=20
traditional steam turbine generators. The solar generation facility=20
would contain the power block, a central receiver or tower, solar=20
fields which consist of mirrors or heliostats to reflect the sun's=20
energy to the central tower, a thermal energy storage system, technical=20
and non-technical buildings, a storm water system, two on-site water=20
wells, water supply and treatment system, a wastewater system,=20
evaporation ponds, and other supporting facilities. These facilities=20
would be situated on 1,410 acres within the project parcel and would be=20
surrounded by a site fence. Other Project components would include a=20
new transmission line, a new electrical substation, and an access road.
RSE has applied to Western to interconnect the proposed Project to=20
Western's transmission system. The new 230-kV transmission line from=20
the solar facility would extend approximately ten miles from the solar=20
facility boundary to a new substation to be constructed adjacent to=20
Western's existing line. The substation, to be owned and operated by=20
Western, would be located adjacent to Western's existing Parker-Blythe=20
transmission line. The new substation would be approximately 300 x 400=20
feet or about three acres.
An on-site temporary laydown area would be used during the=20
construction phase of the Project. Laydown areas within the project=20
parcel total approximately 30 acres and would be used for storage and=20
assembly of proposed Project components and for temporary construction=20
trailers. Because of the remote location of the site, RSE will make=20
available a construction workforce RV/trailer parking camp on the=20
project site near the parking and laydown areas at the north end of the=20
heliostat field. This workforce camp will offer spaces for up to 300=20
trailers or RVs (in keeping with the county requirement that limits=20
trailer parks to 20 per acre), electrical hookups, and mobile water and=20
sanitary sewer service for the trailers and RVs.
Proposed Agency Actions and Alternatives
Western's proposed action is to interconnect the proposed Project=20
to Western's transmission system at the substation described above.=20
BLM's proposed action is to authorize a ROW in favor of a 230-kV=20
transmission line, access road, and fiber optic line and possibly amend=20
the CDCA.
Western and BLM will also consider the no-action alternative in the=20
EIS. Under the no-action alternative, Western would deny the=20
interconnection request and BLM would not grant a ROW. There would be=20
no plan amendment to the CDCA. For the purpose of impact analysis and=20
comparison in the EIS/SA, it will be assumed that RSE's proposed=20
Project would not be built and the environmental impacts associated=20
with construction and operation would not occur.
Agency Responsibilities
Because interconnection of the proposed Project would incorporate a=20
major new generation resource into Western's power transmission system,=20
Western has determined that an EIS is required under DOE NEPA=20
implementing procedures, 10 CFR part 1021, Subpart D, Appendix D, class=20
of action D6.\1\
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\1\ On October 4, 1999, DOE's Assistant Secretary for=20
Environmental, Safety and Health delegated to Western's=20
Administrator the authority to approve EISs for integrating=20
transmission facilities with Western's transmission grid.
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Western and BLM are serving as co-lead Federal agencies, as defined=20
at 40 CFR 1501.5, for preparation of the EIS and will coordinate with=20
the CEC in preparation of a joint NEPA/CEQA EIS/SA. Western and BLM=20
invite other Federal, State, local, and Tribal agencies with=20
jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to environmental=20
issues to be cooperating agencies on the EIS, as defined at 40 CFR=20
1501.6. Such agencies may make a request to Western and BLM to be a=20
cooperating agency by contacting Ms. Reilly at the address listed in=20
the ADDRESSES section. Because the proposed Project may involve action=20
in floodplains or wetlands, this NOI also serves as a notice of=20
proposed floodplain or wetland action, in accordance with DOE=20
regulations for Compliance with Floodplain and Wetlands Environmental=20
Review Requirements at 10 CFR 1022.12(a). The EIS will include a=20
floodplain/wetland assessment and, if required, a floodplain/wetland=20
statement of findings will be issued with the Final EIS or Western and=20
BLM's Records of Decision.
Environmental Issues
This notice is to inform agencies and the public of Western and=20
BLM's intent to prepare an EIS and solicit comments and suggestions for=20
consideration in the EIS. To help the public frame its comments, the=20
following list contains potential environmental issues preliminarily=20
identified for analysis in the EIS:
1. Impacts on protected, threatened, endangered, or sensitive=20
species of animals or plants
2. Impacts on migratory birds
3. Introduction of noxious weeds, invasive, and non-native species
4. Impacts on recreation and transportation
5. Impacts on land use, wilderness, farmlands, and Areas of=20
Critical Environmental Concern
6. Impacts on cultural or historic resources and tribal values
7. Impacts on human health and safety
[[Page 15429]]
8. Impacts on air, soil, and water resources (including air quality=20
and surface water impacts)
9. Visual impacts
10. Socioeconomic impacts and disproportionately high and adverse=20
impacts to minority and low-income populations
This list is not intended to be all-inclusive or to imply any=20
predetermination of impacts. Western and BLM invite interested parties=20
to suggest specific issues within these general categories, or other=20
issues not included above, to be considered in the EIS/SA.
A certificate designating approval from the CEC must be obtained by=20
RSE before construction of power plants and/or electric transmission=20
lines and related facilities.
Public Participation
The EIS process includes a public scoping period; public scoping=20
meetings, public review, and hearings on the draft EIS, publication of=20
a final EIS, and publication of separate records of decision by Western=20
and BLM. Persons interested in receiving future notices, Project=20
information, copies of the EIS, and other information on the NEPA=20
review process should contact Ms. Reilly at the address listed in the=20
ADDRESSES section.
Western and BLM will hold public scoping meetings as described in=20
the DATES section above.
The purpose of the scoping meetings is to provide information about=20
the proposed Project, review Project maps, answer questions, and take=20
written comments from interested parties. All meeting locations are=20
handicapped-accessible. Anyone needing special accommodations should=20
contact Ms. Reilly to make arrangements. The public will have the=20
opportunity to provide written comments at the public scoping meetings.=20
Written comments may also be sent to Ms. Reilly by fax, e-mail, or U.S.=20
Postal Service mail. To help define the scope of the EIS, comments=20
should be received by Western no later than April 28, 2010.
Dated: March 24, 2010.
Timothy J. Meeks,
Administrator, Western Power.
Dated: March 19, 2010.
Karla D. Norris,
Associate Deputy State Director, Bureau of Land Management.
[FR Doc. 2010-7019 Filed 3-26-10; 8:45 am]
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