Notice2022-19586
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Yahthumb Solar Project, Clark County, Nevada
Primary source
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Published
September 12, 2022
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentIndian Affairs Bureau
Abstract
This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), as the lead Federal agency, with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), Clark County, and the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians (Moapa Band) as cooperating agencies, intends to file a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) with the EPA for the proposed Yahthumb Solar Project (Project). The DEIS evaluates a photovoltaic (PV) solar energy generation and storage project on the Moapa River Indian Reservation (Reservation) and a generation interconnection (gen-tie) line along with the use of existing access roads located on the Reservation, Reservation lands managed by BLM, BLM lands, and private land. This notice also announces that the DEIS is now available for public review and that public meetings will be held to solicit comments on the DEIS.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 175 (Monday, September 12, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 175 (Monday, September 12, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55838-55839]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19586]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
[2231A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900]
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Yahthumb
Solar Project, Clark County, Nevada
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian
Affairs (BIA), as the lead Federal agency, with the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS), Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), Clark
County, and the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians (Moapa Band) as
cooperating agencies, intends to file a draft environmental impact
statement (DEIS) with the EPA for the proposed Yahthumb Solar Project
(Project). The DEIS evaluates a photovoltaic (PV) solar energy
generation and storage project on the Moapa River Indian Reservation
(Reservation) and a generation interconnection (gen-tie) line along
with the use of existing access roads located on the Reservation,
Reservation lands managed by BLM, BLM lands, and private land. This
notice also announces that the DEIS is now available for public review
and that public meetings will be held to solicit comments on the DEIS.
DATES: The dates and times of the virtual public meetings will be
published in the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Moapa Valley Progress and
on the following website 15 days before the public meetings:
<a href="http://www.YahthumbSolarProjectEIS.com">www.YahthumbSolarProjectEIS.com</a>. In order to be fully considered,
written comments on the DEIS must arrive no later than 45 days after
EPA publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: You may mail, email, hand carry or telefax written comments
to Mr. Chip Lewis, Regional Environmental Protection Officer, BIA
Western Regional Office, Branch of Environmental Quality Services, 2600
North Central Avenue, 4th Floor Mail Room, Phoenix, Arizona 85004-3008.
Comment may also be sent via email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#56353e3f26783a33213f2516343f3778313920"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4b2823223b65272e3c22380b29222a652c243d">[email protected]</span></a> or on the
Projects website at <a href="http://www.YahthumbSolarProjectEIS.com">www.YahthumbSolarProjectEIS.com</a>. Please see the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice for directions on
submitting comments. The public meetings can be joined online through
the Projects website at <a href="http://www.YahthumbSolarProjectEIS.com">www.YahthumbSolarProjectEIS.com</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Chip Lewis, BIA Western Regional
Office, Branch of Environmental Quality Services at (602) 379-6750 or
Mr. Garry Cantley at (602) 379-6750. Individuals in the United States
who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability
may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications
relay services.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed Federal action, taken under 25
U.S.C. 415, is the BIA's approval of a solar energy ground lease and
associated agreements entered into by the Moapa Band with Yahthumb
Solar Project, LLC (Applicant). The agreements provide for
construction, operation and maintenance (O&M), and eventual
decommissioning of a PV electricity generation and battery storage
facilities located entirely on the Reservation and specifically on
lands held in trust for the Moapa Band, in Clark County Nevada.
The PV electricity generation and battery storage facilities would
be located on up to 1,400 acres within a 1,695-acre lease area on
tribal trust land and would have a capacity of up to 138 megawatts
(MW). The solar field and associated facilities would be in parts of
Sections 29, 30, 31, and 32 in Township 15 South, Range 65 East;
Section 1 in Township 16 South, Range 64 East; and Section 6 in
Township 16 South, Range 65, East Mount Diablo Base Meridian.
Construction of the Project would take up to 14 months. The
electricity generation and storage facilities are expected to be
operated for up to 56.5 years under the terms of the lease, with time
for construction and decommissioning.
Major onsite facilities include multiple blocks of solar PV panels
mounted on fixed tilt or tracking systems, pad mounted inverters and
transformers, battery storage, access roads, and O&M facilities. A gen-
tie line approximately 8.5 to 10 miles long would interconnect the
Project to the regional electrical grid at the existing Reid-Gardner
Substation. This line would be built within the designated utility
corridor on the Reservation that is managed by BLM, on BLM-managed
federal land, and on private land near the existing substation. Water
will be needed during construction for dust control and a minimal
amount will be needed during operations for administrative and sanitary
water use and for panel washing. The water supply required for the
Project would be leased from the Moapa Band, drawn from the Band's
existing water rights, and delivered to the site via temporary water
pipeline or by truck. Access to the Project will be provided via I-15
to the existing Ute Road on the Reservation that would be upgraded as
needed. Secondary access would be provided via an existing road within
the designated utility corridor that would also be upgraded as needed.
The purposes of the proposed Project are, among other things, to:
(1) provide a long-term, diverse, and viable economic revenue base and
job opportunities for the Moapa Band; (2) assist Nevada to meet their
State renewable energy needs; and (3) allow the Moapa Band, in
partnership with the Applicant, to optimize the use of the lease site
while maximizing the potential economic benefit to the Band.
The BIA and BLM will use the EIS to make decisions on the land
lease and right-of-way applications under their respective
jurisdiction; the EPA may use the document to make decisions under its
authorities; the Moapa Band may use the DEIS to make decisions under
its
[[Page 55839]]
Environmental Policy Ordinance; and the USFWS may use the DEIS to
support its decision under the Endangered Species Act.
Directions for Submitting Comments: Please include your name,
return address and the caption: ``DEIS Comments, Proposed Yahthumb
Solar Project'' on the first page of your written comments. You may
also submit comments verbally during one of the virtual public meeting
presentations or provide written comments to the address listed above
in the ADDRESSES section.
To help protect the public and limit the spread of the COVID-19
virus, virtual public meetings will be held, where team members will
provide a short presentation and remain available to discuss and answer
questions. The PowerPoint presentation will be posted to the project
website prior to the virtual meetings. Those who cannot live stream the
presentation would be able to access the meeting presentation on the
website and could join by telephone. Additionally, the live
presentation will be recorded and made accessible for viewing
throughout the comment period. The first public meeting will be held in
the afternoon and the second public meeting will be held in the evening
both by video and telephone conference. The dates, times, and access
information for the virtual meetings will be included in notices to be
published in the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Moapa Valley Progress and
on the project website at <a href="http://www.YahthumbSolarProjectEIS.com">www.YahthumbSolarProjectEIS.com</a> 15 days
before the meetings.
Locations Where the DEIS is Available for Review: The DEIS will be
available for review at: BIA Western Regional Office, 2600 North
Central Avenue, 12th Floor, Suite 210, Phoenix, Arizona; BIA Southern
Paiute Agency, 180 North 200 East, Suite 111, St. George, Utah; and the
BLM Southern Nevada District Office, 4701 North Torrey Pines Drive, Las
Vegas, Nevada. The DEIS is also available online at:
<a href="http://www.YahthumbSolarProjectEIS.com">www.YahthumbSolarProjectEIS.com</a>.
To obtain an electronic copy of the DEIS, please provide your name
and address in writing or by voicemail to Mr. Chip Lewis or Mr. Garry
Cantley. Their contact information is listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice. Individual paper copies of
the DEIS will be provided only upon request.
Public Comment Availability: Written comments, including names and
addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the
BIA Western Regional Office, at the mailing address shown in the
ADDRESSES section during regular business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Before including your
address, telephone number, email address, or other personal identifying
information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire
comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made
publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to
withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Authority: This notice is published in accordance with section
1503.1 of the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 1500
et seq.) and the Department of the Interior Regulations (43 CFR part
46) implementing the procedural requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and in accordance
with the exercise of authority delegated to the Assistant Secretary--
Indian Affairs by part 209 of the Department Manual.
Bryan Newland,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2022-19586 Filed 9-9-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P
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