[Federal Register: January 13, 2010 (Volume 75, Number = 8)] [Notices] =20 [Page 1807-1809] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr13ja10-92] =20 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management =20 Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for=20 the Restoration Design Energy Project and Possible Land Use Plan=20 Amendment 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, and the [[Page 1808]] Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau=20 of Land Management (BLM) Arizona State Office intends to prepare an=20 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to support possible amendments to=20 several BLM-Arizona Resource Management Plans (RMP) to identify sites=20 and/or areas managed by the BLM that may be suitable for the=20 development of renewable energy and to establish appropriate design=20 criteria for such projects. By this notice, BLM-Arizona State Office is=20 announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public=20 comments and identify issues. DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS and=20 possible plan amendments. Comments on issues may be submitted in=20 writing until March 1, 2010. The dates and locations of any scoping=20 meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local=20 media, newspapers and the BLM Web site at: htt= p://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&am= p;log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov/az/st/en.html. In order = to be included in the Draft EIS, all comments must be=20 received prior to the close of the scoping period or 15 days after the=20 last public meeting, whichever is later. We will provide additional=20 opportunities for public participation upon publication of the Draft=20 EIS. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria=20 related to the Restoration Design Energy Project by any of the=20 following methods:Web site: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?fr= om=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov/az/st/e= n/prog/energy/arra_solar.htm; E-mail: Include your name, any organization you represent,=20 and return address in the e-mail message to: az_arra_rdep@blm.gov; Fax: Attn: Teri Raml, (602) 417-9454; and Mail or other delivery service: Please be sure to include=20 your name, any organization you represent, and a return address to:=20 Restoration Design Energy Project, Attention: Teri Raml, BLM-Arizona=20 State Office, One North Central Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix, Arizona=20 85004-4427. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the BLM- Arizona State Office, One North Central Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix,=20 Arizona 85004. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have=20 your name added to our mailing list, contact Teri Raml, Project=20 Manager, telephone (602) 417-9388; address One North Central Avenue,=20 Suite 800, Phoenix, Arizona 85004; or by e-mail teri_raml@blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Restoration Design Energy=20 Project is to foster environmentally responsible production of=20 renewable energy by amending plans, as necessary, to identify sites or=20 areas that are already disturbed or that may be in need of some level=20 of remediation or restoration, and which may be suitable for siting of=20 renewable energy projects, as well as allocate such sites or areas for=20 this purpose. Possible plan amendments may also include decisions about=20 acquisition, disposal, or retention of sites or areas. The BLM will=20 establish management direction for lands acquired for the purposes of=20 this Project or will extend the applicable land use plan decisions to=20 these lands, provided there are no unresolved management issues=20 associated with the newly acquired lands. The environmental analysis=20 will address, at each site or area, both existing remediation needs and=20 any potential for renewable energy generation, and may also identify=20 project design criteria to address environmental issues particular to=20 the site or area identified. Implementation of the Project will help=20 meet community energy needs, create economic opportunities, and provide=20 good value to the taxpayer for the use of public lands. To accomplish=20 this, some or all of the BLM's RMPs throughout Arizona may need to be=20 amended. Plans that may be amended include the following: the Yuma=20 Field Office RMP--2010; the Agua Fria and Bradshaw-Harquahala RMP-- 2010; the Arizona Strip Field Office RMP--2008; the Lake Havasu Field=20 Office RMP--2007; the Kingman Resource Area RMP--1995; the Safford=20 District RMP--1991; the Phoenix RMP--1988; the Lower Gila South RMP-- 1988 as amended 2005; and the Lower Gila North Management Framework=20 Plan--1983 as amended 2005. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Title II, Sec. 211) establishes a=20 goal that at least 10,000 megawatts of renewable energy production=20 capacity be approved on public lands by 2015. Additionally, Secretarial=20 Order 3285 directs agencies within the Department of the Interior to=20 encourage the development of environmentally responsible renewable=20 energy generation. The Project is consistent with the Congressional=20 direction, Department of the Interior policies, and is unique in that=20 it offers an alternative process for site selection that includes the=20 identification of lands in need of remediation that have renewable=20 energy generation potential. At the initiation of the Project, the BLM- Arizona State Office requested individual field offices and members of=20 the public to identify previously utilized sites that might be suitable=20 for development of renewable energy for consideration for inclusion in=20 the Project. Examples of submitted sites include gravel pits, mine=20 sites, landfills, isolated parcels that have been disturbed, and=20 abandoned unauthorized airstrips. Sites and/or areas proposed for the=20 Project will be analyzed according to the BLM's planning regulations at=20 43 CFR part 1600, and proposed planning amendments will analyzed in the=20 EIS. This analysis will take into consideration: (1) 42 proposed sites=20 covering approximately 26,000 acres; (2) knowledge of existing and=20 proposed energy transmission options; (3) concentrations of existing=20 and proposed energy generation; (4) technical factors; and (5)=20 environmental factors. The sites submitted so far include BLM- administered, State, municipal, and private lands. While the BLM=20 planning process will primarily address management of those lands and=20 interests in lands administered by the BLM, the analysis in the EIS may=20 be broader in scope. Additional restoration design concepts, which may=20 be incorporated into the possible design criteria applicable to=20 particular sites or areas, are expected to be developed through=20 scoping. Suitable sites for application of this approach to reuse of=20 land may also continue to be identified over time, and may be=20 considered in this or subsequent planning initiatives, depending on=20 when they are identified. 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 (1) Site or area suitability for renewable energy generation and scale=20 of possible generation; (2) site or area proximity to the existing=20 electrical transmission grid and the feasibility of integrating new=20 electric generation projects with the grid; (3) site or area proximity=20 to population and electric use (load) centers; (4) determining the=20 appropriate renewable energy generation technologies for implementation=20 on a site-by-site and/or area-by-area basis; and (5) the possible need=20 for environmental remediation of project sites or areas based on=20 previous uses and levels of disturbance and possible contamination of=20 the sites or areas, as well as how addressing the possible need for=20 remediation may be incorporated into design criteria that may be=20 applicable to projects proposed for a particular site or area. The EIS will use existing data for the analysis to support the=20 planning decisions (e.g., allocation, disposal, or [[Page 1809]] retention decisions) that may be made as a result of this initiative.=20 When individual project proposals for renewable development are=20 received, any site-specific analysis could be tiered to the EIS for=20 this Project to avoid unnecessary duplication of analysis. Authorization of the project may require amendment of some or all=20 of the BLM RMPs throughout Arizona, as listed above. By this notice,=20 the BLM is complying with requirements in 43 CFR 1610.2(c) to notify=20 the public of potential amendments to land use plans, predicated on the=20 findings of the EIS. If land use plan amendments are necessary, the BLM=20 will integrate the land use planning process with the NEPA process for=20 this project. The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA commenting process to=20 satisfy the public involvement process for Section 106 of the National=20 Historic 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, including impacts on Indian trust assets, will be=20 given due consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with=20 other stakeholders that may be interested or affected by the BLM's=20 decision on this project are invited to participate in the scoping=20 process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM to=20 participate as a cooperating agency. Before including your address,=20 phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information=20 in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment-- including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly=20 available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold=20 your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot=20 guarantee that we will be able to do so. Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2. Helen Hankins, BLM Associate State Director. [FR Doc. 2010-404 Filed 1-12-10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-32-P