Notice2023-11872
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Potential Resource Management Plan Amendment for the Bonanza Solar Project in Clark and Nye Counties, Nevada
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Published
June 5, 2023
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentLand Management Bureau
Abstract
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada State Office intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and potential associated amendments to the 1998 Las Vegas Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the proposed solar development referred to as the Bonanza Solar Project. EDF Renewables Development Inc. is proposing to build the Bonanza Solar Project in Clark and Nye counties, Nevada. Publication of this notice initiates the scoping process and a 45-day public comment period to solicit public comments on the scope of the analysis, including issues and alternatives, and to solicit public comments on the planning criteria.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 107 (Monday, June 5, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 107 (Monday, June 5, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36612-36615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11872]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM_NV_FRN_MO#4500170433]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and
Potential Resource Management Plan Amendment for the Bonanza Solar
Project in Clark and Nye Counties, Nevada
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada State Office
intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and
potential associated amendments to the 1998 Las Vegas Resource
Management Plan (RMP) for the proposed solar development referred to as
the Bonanza Solar Project. EDF Renewables Development Inc. is proposing
to build the Bonanza Solar Project in Clark and Nye counties, Nevada.
Publication of this notice initiates the scoping process and a 45-day
public comment period to solicit public comments on the scope of the
analysis, including issues and alternatives, and to solicit public
comments on the planning criteria.
DATES: The BLM requests the public submit comments concerning the scope
of the analysis, potential alternatives, and identification of relevant
information, and studies by July 20, 2023. To afford the BLM the
opportunity to consider issues raised by commenters in the Draft 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 expects to hold a combination of virtual and in-person
scoping meetings during the 45-day scoping period. The BLM will provide
the public at least 15-days' notice prior to the workshops.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues related to the Bonanza
Solar Project by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Website: <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2020905/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2020905/510</a>.
<bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#aae8c5c4cbc4d0cbd9c5c6cbd8eac8c6c784cdc5dc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="65270a0b040b1f04160a090417250709084b020a13">[email protected]</span></a>.
<bullet> Mail: BLM, Nevada State Office, Attn: Renewable Energy
Coordination
[[Page 36613]]
Office, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Reno, Nevada 89502.
The website also contains available documents relevant to the
planning process for the Bonanza Solar Project.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Buttazoni, Planning &
Environmental Specialist, telephone (775) 861-6491; address 1340
Financial Boulevard, Reno, NV 89502; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#febc91909f90849f8d91929f8cbe9c9293d0999188"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1c5e73727d72667d6f73707d6e5c7e7071327b736a">[email protected]</span></a>.
Contact us at this email address 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. 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:
Background
On December 1, 2020, EDF Renewables Development Inc. filed an
Application for Transportation, Utility Systems, Telecommunications,
and Facilities on Federal Lands and Property (Standard Form 299) and a
preliminary Plan of Development (POD) with the BLM for a Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) right-of-way (ROW)
authorization for the Bonanza Solar Project (NVN-100224). The requested
ROW would be for the construction, operation and maintenance, and
eventual decommissioning of a 300 megawatt (MW) alternating current
solar photovoltaic power generating facility with a 300 MW battery
energy storage system on approximately half of the 5,133-acre
application area located approximately five miles west of Indian
Springs in Clark and Nye counties, Nevada. Additionally, the
application includes an approximately five and one-half mile gen-tie
line that would tie into the existing GridLiance Innovation Substation.
The proposed facilities would be located entirely on lands administered
by the BLM.
The 5,133-acre application area is on lands identified as variance
areas in the 2012 Western Solar Plan. The BLM has satisfied the
requirements of the Western Solar Plan for evaluating this application
through the variance process, including preliminary meetings and public
outreach. On August 22, 2022, the BLM initiated a 30-day public input
period for the variance process, which ended on September 22, 2022.
During that period, the BLM hosted three virtual input sessions, one
for agencies and Tribal Nations on September 1, 2022, and two for the
public on September 7 and 8, 2023. The BLM received approximately 35
comments during the public input period. The BLM Director signed a
variance concurrence memo in April 2023, which allowed the project to
move forward with the environmental analysis.
On December 12, 2022, the BLM published a Notice of Land
Segregation in the Federal Register, which segregated the lands within
the application area from appropriation under the public land laws,
including the Mining Law, but not the Mineral Leasing or Material Sales
Acts, for a period of 2 years, subject to valid existing rights (87 FR
76081).
Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969,
as amended (NEPA), and FLPMA, the BLM intends to complete an EIS for
this project. The BLM has also determined that it will be necessary to
evaluate the need for Resource Management Plan Amendments (RMPA) for
this project, and as a result the document will be a combined EIS/RMPA
following the requirements of the BLM's land use planning regulations.
The EIS/RMPA will consider amending the 1998 Las Vegas Resource
Management Plan to evaluate whether the re-classification of visual
resources management class iii to class iv is warranted, and whether
the re-alignment of existing RMP corridors is warranted.
The BLM's preliminary purpose and need for this Federal action is
to respond to a right-of-way application submitted by EDF Renewables
Development Inc. under title V of FLPMA (43 U.S.C. 1761) to construct,
operate, maintain, and eventually decommission a 300 MW alternating
current solar photovoltaic power generating facility; a 300 MW battery
energy storage system on approximately half of the 5,133-acre
application area; and a five and one-half mile gen-tie line located
approximately five miles west of Indian Springs in Clark and Nye
Counties, Nevada, in compliance with FLPMA, the BLM right-of-way
regulations, 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 and
sustained yield that consider the long-term needs of future generations
for renewable and non-renewable resources. The BLM is authorized to
grant ROWs on public lands for systems of generation, transmission, and
distribution of electrical energy (section 501(a)(4)).
Planning criteria are the standards, rules, and other factors
developed by managers and interdisciplinary team members for use in
forming judgements about decision making, analysis, and data collection
during the planning process. The BLM has identified some preliminary
planning criteria to guide development of the RMP amendments, to avoid
unnecessary data collection and analysis, and to ensure the RMP
amendments are tailored to the issues. These criteria may be modified
and/or other criteria may be identified during the public scoping
process. The following preliminary specific planning criteria will help
guide the planning process:
Criteria 1: The BLM will use a systematic interdisciplinary
approach to integrate physical, biological, economic, and other
sciences.
Criteria 2: The BLM will use the best available data regarding
natural resources.
Criteria 3: The BLM will consider the present and potential uses of
public lands, and where existing RMP decisions are valid, those
decisions will remain unchanged.
Criteria 4: The BLM will consider the relative scarcity of values
and availability of alternative means and sites for recognizing those
values.
Criteria 5: Any plan amendments will be completed in compliance
with FLPMA, NEPA, and all other relevant Federal laws, executive
orders, and BLM polices.
Criteria 6: The BLM will seek coordination and consistency with
other government programs including Tribal plans and policies.
Criteria 7: Existing land use planning decisions will not change
unless specifically amended.
Criteria 8: Any RMP amendments will recognize valid existing
rights.
Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives
The Proposed Action is to authorize a ROW to EDF Renewables
Development Inc. to construct, operate, and eventually decommission the
proposed solar project, including associated facilities, with the
potential to generate 300 MW of alternating current energy on public
lands.
Additional action alternatives have not been identified to date but
would be developed by taking into consideration comments and input
submitted during the public outreach process and public scoping.
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Under the No Action Alternative, the BLM would not issue a ROW for
the proposed solar project and associated facilities. The proposed
project would not be constructed, and existing land uses in the
application area would continue. Additionally, the BLM would not
undertake a RMPA to evaluate the re-classification of visual resources
management designations and re-alignment of RMP utility corridors.
The BLM welcomes comments on all preliminary alternatives as well
as suggestions for additional reasonable alternatives.
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 43 CFR part 2800 application evaluation
determination process. Through this process, the BLM gathered input
from an interdisciplinary team of resource specialists pursuant to the
requirements of the Western Solar Plan and completed public, agency,
and tribal outreach during a 32-day input period. From the input
received, the expected impacts from construction, operation,
maintenance, and eventual decommissioning of the solar project, and
associated facilities and the RMPA could include:
<bullet> Vegetation and soils.
<bullet> Threatened & endangered species, and Bureau sensitive
species.
<bullet> Air quality and climate.
<bullet> Cultural and historical resources.
<bullet> Water resources.
<bullet> Access to public lands.
<bullet> Socioeconomics.
<bullet> Public health and safety.
Anticipated Permits and Authorizations
Along with a BLM ROW, as required under 43 CFR 2801.9, EDF
Renewables Development Inc. 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 the Nevada Department of Wildlife; Temporary
Discharge Permits and Working in Waterways Temporary Permit from the
Nevada Division of Environmental Protection; Permit to Construct from
the Nevada Public Utilities Commission; water rights modification
permits from the Nevada Division of Water Resources; Hazardous
Materials Storage permit from the Nevada State Fire Marshal; and Clark
and Nye county permits, as necessary. Further details on these
permitting requirements may be found in the POD which is available on
the project website at: <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2020905/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2020905/510</a>.
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 EIS/RMPA and concurrent
30-day public protest period and 60-day Governor's consistency review
on the Final EIS and Proposed RMPA. The Draft EIS/RMPA is anticipated
to be available for public review in winter 2023, and the Final EIS and
Proposed RMPA is anticipated to be available for public protest in
spring 2024 with an Approved RMPA and Record of Decision (ROD) in the
summer of 2024.
Public Scoping Process
This Notice of Intent initiates the scoping period, which guides
the development and analysis of the Draft EIS/RMPA.
The BLM expects to hold two in-person scoping meetings and one
virtual meeting. The specific date(s) and location(s) of any additional
scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through
the project <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2020905/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2020905/510</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 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 Bonanza Solar Project and potential 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 Nevada State Office is the lead agency for this EIS and
RMPA. The BLM has initially identified the following agencies and
organizations as potential Cooperating Agencies to participate in the
environmental analysis of the Project: Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Department of the Air Force, Department of Defense, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency Region 9, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada
Department of Transportation, Big Pine Paiute Tribe of Owens Valley,
Bishop Paiute Tribe, Chemehuevi Indian Tribe, Colorado River Indian
Tribes, Fort Independence Indian Community of Paiute Indians, Fort
Mojave Indian Tribe, Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, Las Vegas Paiute
Tribe, Lone Pine Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Paiute
Indian Tribe of Utah, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Timbisha Shoshone
Tribe, Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians, Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute
Tribe, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Nevada Division of Environmental
Protection, Nevada Division of Minerals, Nevada Division of State
Lands, Clark County, and Nye County. Additional agencies and
organizations may be identified as potential Cooperating Agencies to
participate in the environmental analysis of the Project.
Responsible Official
The Nevada State Director is the deciding official for the proposed
Bonanza Solar Project.
Interdisciplinary Team
The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the EIS
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 (greenhouse gases), environmental justice, geology/mineral
resources, hydrology, invasive/non-native species, lands and realty,
public health and safety, recreation, 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 all analyzed
reasonable alternatives and, in accordance with 40 CFR 1502.14(e),
include appropriate
[[Page 36615]]
mitigation measures not already included in the proposed 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 the NEPA process 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
project 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 Manual
Section 1780, and other policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on
Indian 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 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.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The BLM will decide whether to grant, grant with conditions, or
deny the ROW application. Pursuant to 43 CFR 2805.10, if the BLM issues
a ROW, the BLM decision maker may include terms, conditions, and
stipulations determined to be in the public interest. The BLM will make
the decision as to whether or not to approve any RMP amendments, in
accordance with BLM policy about delegation of authorities. In the ROD,
the BLM will clearly distinguish the RMPA decision from the selected
alternative for the proposed solar development project.
Personal Identifying Information
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. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and
considered.
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of
the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of
the public scoping period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's
concerns.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR part 2800.)
Christopher Bush,
Acting Nevada State Director.
[FR Doc. 2023-11872 Filed 6-2-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-21-P
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