Notice2023-08718
Notice of Intent To Amend the Las Vegas Resource Management Plan and Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Golden Currant Solar Project in Clark County, Nevada
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Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 25, 2023
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentLand Management Bureau
Abstract
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada State Director intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan amendment (RMPA) with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Golden Currant Solar Project and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping period to solicit public comments and identify issues, and is providing the planning criteria for public review.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 79 (Tuesday, April 25, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 25, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25011-25013]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08718]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM_NV_FRN_MO4500167453]
Notice of Intent To Amend the Las Vegas Resource Management Plan
and Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Golden
Currant Solar Project in Clark County, Nevada
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada
State Director intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan amendment
(RMPA) with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the
Golden Currant Solar Project and by this notice is announcing the
beginning of the scoping period to solicit public comments and identify
issues, and is providing the planning criteria for public review.
DATES: The BLM requests the public submit comments concerning the scope
of the analysis, potential alternatives, and identification of relevant
information, and studies by June 9, 2023. To afford the BLM the
opportunity to consider issues raised by commenters in the RMPA/EIS,
please ensure your comments are received prior to the close of the 45-
day scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever
is later.
The BLM will conduct two public scoping meetings (virtually):
<bullet> May 10, 2023, 6-8 p.m. Pacific Time, Virtual via Zoom.
Registration is required. To register in advance for this webinar,
visit: <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TTSUwNMlRvquIS0d5kV2rA">https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TTSUwNMlRvquIS0d5kV2rA</a>.
<bullet> May 11, 2023, 6-8 p.m. Pacific Time, Virtual via Zoom.
Registration is required. To register in advance for this webinar,
visit: <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1aKVxTCHShWKugCNOSQCvw">https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1aKVxTCHShWKugCNOSQCvw</a>.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria
related to the Golden Currant Solar Project by any of the following
methods:
<bullet> Website: <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/admin/project/2021533/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/admin/project/2021533/510</a>.
<bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#51131d1c0e1f070e021f150e143f3423362801233e3b3432252211333d3c7f363e27"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="347678796b7a626b677a706b715a5146534d64465b5e51574047745658591a535b42">[email protected]</span></a>.
<bullet> Mail: BLM, Las Vegas Field Office, Attn: Golden Currant
Solar Project, 4701 North Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130-2301.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at the
project ePlanning page: <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2019523/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2019523/510</a> and at the Southern Nevada District Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jessica Headen, Project Manager,
telephone (702) 515-5206; address 4701 North Torrey Pines Drive, Las
Vegas, NV 89130-2301; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c2808e8f9d8c949d918c869d87aca7b0a5bb92b0ada8a7a1b6b182a0aeafeca5adb4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e7a5abaab8a9b1b8b4a9a3b8a2898295809eb795888d82849394a7858b8ac9808891">[email protected]</span></a>. Contact
Ms. Headen to have your name added to our mailing list. 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 for contacting Ms. Headen.
Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services
offered within their country to make international calls to the point-
of-contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM
Nevada State Director intends to prepare an RMPA with an associated EIS
for the Golden Currant Solar Project, announces the beginning of the
scoping process, and seeks public input on issues and planning
criteria. The RMPA is being considered to allow the BLM to evaluate the
Golden Currant Solar Project, which would require amending the existing
1998 Las Vegas Resource Management Plan (RMP).
The proposed project and planning area is in Clark County,
southeast of the Town of Pahrump and approximately 40 miles west of Las
Vegas. The proposed project encompasses approximately 4,456 acres of
public lands.
In August 2021, Noble Solar LLC submitted an updated right-of-way
application to the BLM Las Vegas Field Office for the Golden Currant
Solar Project (Project) requesting authorization to construct, operate,
maintain, and eventually decommission a 400-megawatt photovoltaic solar
electric generating facility, battery storage facilities, associated
generation tie-line, and access road facilities. The electricity
generated would be conveyed to the Trout Canyon Substation located
north of the project site via a generation (gen-tie) transmission line.
Construction for the facilities is estimated to take approximately 12
months. The lands within the proposed project area were segregated,
subject to valid existing rights, for a term of two years beginning
July 5, 2022, with publication of the Notice of Segregation in the
Federal Register.
The scope of this land use planning process does not include
addressing the evaluation or designation of areas of critical
environmental concern (ACECs), and the BLM is not soliciting ACEC
nominations as part of this process.
Purpose and Need
The BLM's purpose and need for this Federal action is to respond to
right-of-way applications submitted by Noble Solar LLC under title V of
FLPMA (43 U.S.C. 1761) to construct, operate, maintain, and
decommission a solar generation power plant and ancillary facilities on
approximately 4,456 acres of BLM land in Clark County, Nevada, in
compliance with FLPMA, BLM right-of-way regulations, the BLM NEPA
Handbook (BLM 2008), U.S. Department of the Interior NEPA regulations,
and other applicable Federal and State laws and policies. In accordance
with FLPMA, public lands are to be managed for multiple uses that takes
into account the long-term needs of future generations for renewable
and non-renewable resources. The BLM is authorized to grant rights-of-
way on public lands for systems of generation, transmission, and
distribution of electrical energy (FLPMA section 501(a)(4)). The
preliminary purpose and need also includes an amendment to the 1998 Las
Vegas RMP to realign designated utility corridors that
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currently traverse the proposed project area.
Preliminary Alternatives
The Proposed Action is to approve rights-of-way to Noble Solar LLC
to construct, operate, and eventually decommission the proposed solar
project and associated facilities with the potential to generate 400
megawatts of alternating current energy on 4,456 acres of BLM
administered lands. The Proposed Action also includes an amendment to
the 1998 Las Vegas RMP to realign designated utility corridors that
currently traverse the proposed project area.
West-Wide Energy Corridor Segment # 224-225, established under
authority of Section 368 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, traverses
the central portion of the project area from east to west. In addition,
a BLM Southern Nevada District designated utility corridor, established
by the RMP, also traverses the central portion of the project area. Per
43 CFR 1610.5-3, the project must be in conformance with the RMP;
therefore, a plan amendment to modify both utility corridors by
realigning them outside of the Golden Currant Solar Project area would
be required.
Additional action alternatives have not been identified to date but
would be developed by taking into consideration comments and input
submitted during the application evaluation determination process and
scoping.
Under the No Action Alternative BLM would not issue a right-of-way
grant for the solar project and associated facilities. The proposed
Project would not be constructed, and existing land uses in the project
area would continue. Additionally, the BLM would not undertake an RMPA
to realign utility corridors. The BLM welcomes comments on all
preliminary alternatives as well as suggestions for additional
alternatives.
Planning Criteria
The planning criteria guide the planning effort and lay the
groundwork for effects analysis by identifying the preliminary issues
and their analytical frameworks. Preliminary issues for the planning
area have been identified by BLM personnel and from early engagement
conducted for this planning effort with Federal, State, and local
agencies; Tribes; and other stakeholders. The BLM has identified
preliminary issues for this planning effort's analysis. The planning
criteria are available for public review and comment at the ePlanning
website (see ADDRESSES).
Summary of Expected Impacts
The analysis in the EIS will be focused on the proposed solar
project and associated facilities, including battery storage and
transmission line construction. The BLM evaluated the proposed Project
application per the variance process described in the Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement for Solar Energy Development in Six
Southwestern States. Through this process, the BLM completed public
outreach and coordination with agencies and Indian Tribal Nations
specific to the proposed Project. From the input received, the expected
impacts from construction, operation, and eventual decommissioning of
the solar project, associated facilities, and the RMP amendment could
include:
<bullet> Potential desert tortoise habitat disturbance and changes
in genetic connectivity habitat from construction of the proposed
facilities;
<bullet> Potential effects to cultural resources in the project
area from construction activities;
<bullet> Potential effects to basin groundwater resources from the
proposed construction water needs for the Project;
<bullet> Potential socioeconomic impacts from the proposed Project
to local communities;
<bullet> Potential air quality impacts from proposed construction
activities;
<bullet> Potential impacts to vegetation species from construction,
operations, and decommissioning of the Project and associated
facilities;
<bullet> Potential effects to the recreational opportunities and
public use of the proposed Project area due to construction and
operations of the solar facility;
<bullet> Potential effects to the Old Spanish National Historic
Trail; and
<bullet> Potential cumulative effects from other reasonably
foreseeable actions in the area.
Preliminary issues for the Project have been identified by the BLM,
other Federal agencies, the State, local agencies, Tribes, and the
public during the variance process. The following resources, or
resource uses, have potential issues that will need to be analyzed in
detail in the EIS: vegetation and soils, threatened and endangered
species, air quality and climate, cultural and historic resources,
water resources, access to public lands, socioeconomics, public health
and safety, and proximity to Old Spanish National Historic Trail, and
other reasonably foreseeable effects from other projects in the area.
Habitat for the federally listed desert tortoise is in this project
area.
Anticipated Permits and Authorizations
Along with a BLM right-of-way grant as required under 43 CFR
2801.9, Noble Solar LLC anticipates needing the following
authorizations and permits for the proposed project: Biological Opinion
and Incidental Take Permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;
Section 404 Permit from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Wildlife Special
Purpose permit from Nevada Department of Wildlife; Nevada Division of
Environmental Protection Stormwater and Groundwater Discharge permits
and Temporary in Waterways Work permit; Nevada Public Utilities
Commission Permit to Construct; Nevada Division of Water Resources
water rights modification permits; Nevada State Fire Marshal Hazardous
Materials Storage permit; and Clark County permits, as necessary.
Further details on these permitting requirements may be found in the
Plan of Development for the Golden Currant Solar Project.
Schedule for the Decision-Making Process
The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public
participation consistent with the NEPA and land use planning processes,
including a 90-day comment period on the Draft RMPA/EIS and a
concurrent 30-day public protest period and 60-day Governor's
consistency review on the Proposed RMPA and Final EIS. The Draft RMPA/
EIS is anticipated to be available for public review in early 2024, and
the Proposed RMPA and Final EIS is anticipated to be available for
public protest in the summer of 2024 with an Approved RMPA and Record
of Decision in the fall of 2024.
Public Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping period and public
review of the planning criteria, which guide the development and
analysis of the Draft RMPA/EIS.
The BLM will be holding two virtual scoping meetings (see DATES and
ADDRESSES sections earlier). The specific date(s) and location(s) of
any additional scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in
advance through the project ePlanning web page: <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/admin/project/2021533/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/admin/project/2021533/510</a>.
The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis,
including alternatives and mitigation measures, and to guide the
process for developing the EIS. Federal, State, and local
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agencies, along with other stakeholders that may be interested or
affected by the BLM's decision on this project, are invited to
participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be
requested by the BLM to participate as a cooperating agency. The BLM
encourages comments concerning the proposed Golden Currant Solar
Project and RMPA, possible measures to minimize and/or avoid adverse
environmental impacts, and any other information relevant to the
Proposed Action.
The BLM also requests assistance with identifying potential
alternatives to the Proposed Action. As alternatives should resolve an
issue with the Proposed Action, please indicate the purpose of the
suggested alternative. In addition, the BLM requests the identification
of potential issues that should be analyzed. Issues should be a result
of the Proposed Action or Alternatives; therefore, please identify the
activity along with the potential issues.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The BLM Las Vegas Field Office is the lead Federal agency for this
RMPA and EIS and the related National Historic Preservation Act section
106 process. The following have agreed to participate in the
environmental analysis of the Project as Cooperating Agencies: Clark
County Department of Aviation, Nye County, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Nevada Department of
Wildlife, and Nevada Division of Emergency Management. Twenty-one
entities declined or did not respond to the BLM's offer to participate
in the Project as a Cooperating Agency. Federal, State, and local
agencies, Tribes, and stakeholders interested in the scoping process
may request or be requested by the BLM, if eligible, to participate in
the development of the EIS as a Cooperating Agency.
Responsible Official
The Nevada State Director is the deciding official for this
planning effort and proposed Golden Currant Solar Project.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The nature of the decision to be made will be the State Director's
selection of land use planning decisions for managing BLM-administered
lands under the principles of multiple use and sustained yield in a
manner that best addresses the purpose and need.
The BLM will decide whether to grant, grant with conditions, or
deny the right of way application. Pursuant to 43 CFR 2805.10, if the
BLM issues right-of-way grant(s), the BLM decision maker may include
terms, conditions, and stipulations determined to be in the public
interest.
Interdisciplinary Team
The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the EIS
in order to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns
identified. Specialists with expertise in the following disciplines
will be involved in this process: air quality, archaeology, botany,
climate change, environmental justice, fire and fuels, geology/mineral
resources, hazardous materials, hydrology, invasive/non-native species,
lands and realty, National Conservation Lands, National Trails System,
public health and safety, recreation/transportation, socioeconomics,
soils, visual resources, and wildlife.
Additional Information
The BLM will identify, analyze, and consider mitigation to address
the reasonably foreseeable impacts to resources from the proposed
action and all analyzed reasonable alternatives and, in accordance with
40 CFR 1502.14(e), include appropriate mitigation measures not already
included in the proposed action or alternatives. Mitigation may include
avoidance, minimization, rectification, reduction or elimination over
time, and compensation; and may be considered at multiple scales,
including the landscape scale.
The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA and land use planning
processes for this planning effort to help support compliance with
applicable procedural requirements under the Endangered Species Act (16
U.S.C. 1536) and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act
(54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3), including public
involvement requirements of section 106. The information about historic
and cultural resources and threatened and endangered species within the
area potentially affected by the proposed plan amendment will assist
the BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources.
The BLM will consult with Indian Tribal Nations on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175, BLM MS 1780,
and other policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Tribal trust
assets and potential impacts to cultural resources, will be given due
consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with Indian
Tribal Nations, and other stakeholders that may be interested in or
affected by the proposed action that the BLM is evaluating, are invited
to participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or
be requested by the BLM to participate in the development of the
environmental analysis as a cooperating agency. The BLM intends to hold
a series of government-to-government consultation meetings. The BLM
will send invitations to potentially affected Indian Tribal Nations
prior to the meetings. The BLM will provide additional opportunities
for government-to-government consultation during the NEPA process.
Before including your address, phone 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: 40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.2, and 2800.)
Jon K. Raby,
Nevada State Director.
[FR Doc. 2023-08718 Filed 4-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-21-P
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