[Federal Register: January 13, 2010 (Volume 75, Number = 8)] [Notices] =20 [Page 1801-1802] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr13ja10-88] =20 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CACA 048649, LLCAD06000 L51010000 FX0000 LVRWB09B2520] =20 Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for=20 the Proposed First Solar Desert Sunlight Solar Farm Project, Riverside=20 County, CA and Possible Land Use Plan Amendment Agency: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 1802]] SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act=20 (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management=20 Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Palm=20 Springs South Coast Field Office, Palm Springs, California, intends to=20 prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for First Solar Inc.'s=20 application for a right-of-way authorization to develop a solar=20 photovoltaic generating facility. The EIS may also support an amendment=20 to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan (1980), as=20 amended; by this notice the BLM is 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 EIS and=20 possible plan amendment. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing=20 until February 12, 2010. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping=20 meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through the=20 local media, and the BLM 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. In order to be considered in the Draft EIS, all=20 comments must be received prior to the close of the scoping period or=20 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. The BLM will=20 provide additional opportunities for public participation upon=20 publication of the Draft EIS. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria=20 related to the First Solar Desert Sunlight Solar Farm Draft EIS/Plan=20 Amendment by any of the following methods:Web site: 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; E-mail: CAPSSolarFirstS= olarDesertSunlight@blm.gov; Fax: (760) 833-7199; or Mail: Allison Shaffer, Project Manager, Palm Springs South=20 Coast Field Office, BLM, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs,=20 California 92262. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Palm=20 Springs South Coast Field Office. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to have=20 your name added to our mailing list, contact Allison Shaffer, BLM=20 Project Manager, telephone (760) 833-7100; address Palm Springs South=20 Coast Field Office, BLM, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs,=20 California 92262; e-mail CAPSSolarFirstS= olarDesertSunlight@blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant, First Solar Inc., has=20 requested a right-of-way authorization to develop a solar photovoltaic=20 generating facility with a proposed output of 550 megawatts and a=20 project footprint of approximately 4,410 acres. The proposed project=20 would be located on BLM-administered lands in Riverside County=20 approximately 6 miles north of the rural community of Desert Center,=20 California. The overall site layout and generalized land uses would=20 include a substation, an administration building, operations and=20 maintenance facilities, a transmission line, and temporary construction=20 lay down areas. The project's 230-kilovolt (kV) generation=20 interconnection transmission line also would be located on BLM- administered lands and would utilize a planned 230- to 500-kV=20 substation (referred to as the Red Bluff substation). The Red Bluff=20 substation would connect the project to the Southern California Edison=20 regional transmission grid. Should the project be approved, the=20 interconnection transmission line would be about 9 miles to about 13=20 miles long, depending on the alternative selected. If approved,=20 construction would begin in late 2010 and would take approximately 41=20 months to complete. 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 Air quality, biological resources, recreation, cultural resources,=20 water resources, geological resources, special management areas, land=20 use, noise, paleontological resources, public health, socioeconomic,=20 soils, traffic and transportation, visual resources, and other issues.=20 Authorization of this proposal may require amendment of the CDCA Plan.=20 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, based on the findings of the EIS. If a land use plan amendment=20 is necessary, the BLM will integrate the land use planning process with=20 the NEPA process for this project. The BLM will use 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 appropriate consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies-- along with other stakeholders who 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. Thomas Pogacnik, Deputy State Director, California. Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2. [FR Doc. 2010-403 Filed 1-12-10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-40-P