Notice2023-17060
Notice of Intent To Amend the Resource Management Plan for the Proposed GridLiance West Core Upgrades Transmission Line Project in Nye and Clark Counties, Nevada and Prepare an Associated Environmental Impact Statement
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Published
August 9, 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 Office (NVSO) intends to prepare a resource management plan amendment (RMPA) with an associated environmental impact statement (EIS) for the GridLiance West Core Upgrades Transmission Line Project (Project). With this notice, the BLM is announcing the scoping period to solicit public comments and identify issues and providing the planning criteria for public review.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 152 (Wednesday, August 9, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 9, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53908-53911]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17060]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM_NV_FRN_MO4500170889]
Notice of Intent To Amend the Resource Management Plan for the
Proposed GridLiance West Core Upgrades Transmission Line Project in Nye
and Clark Counties, Nevada and Prepare an Associated Environmental
Impact Statement
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 Office (NVSO) intends to prepare a resource management plan
amendment (RMPA) with an associated environmental impact statement
(EIS) for the GridLiance West Core Upgrades Transmission Line Project
(Project). With this notice, the BLM is announcing the scoping period
to solicit public comments and identify issues and providing the
planning criteria for public review.
DATES: The BLM requests the public submit written comments concerning
the scope of the analysis, potential alternatives, and identification
of relevant information and studies by September 8, 2023. To afford the
BLM the opportunity to consider issues raised by commenters in the
Draft RMPA/EIS, please ensure your comments are received prior to the
close of the 30-day scoping period or 15 days after the last public
meeting, whichever is later. The BLM will conduct two public scoping
meetings (virtually) which will be held August 29, 2023, and August 30,
2023, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific time. Additional information on the
meetings, including how to register, can be found on the BLM National
NEPA Register at: <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2025248/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2025248/510</a>.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria
related to the project by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Website: <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2025248/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2025248/510</a>.
<bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0c4e404153425a535f4248435342495c4d534f6361616962787f4c6e6061226b637a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cf8d8382908199909c818b8090818a9f8e908ca0a2a2aaa1bbbc8fada3a2e1a8a0b9">[email protected]</span></a>.
<bullet> Mail: BLM, Southern Nevada District Office, Attn:
GridLiance West Core Upgrades Transmission Line Project, 4701 North
Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130-2301.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at
<a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2025248/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2025248/510</a> and at the
Southern Nevada District Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Ann Vinson, Realty Specialist,
telephone 702-515-5059; address 4701 North Torrey Pines Drive, Las
Vegas, NV 89130-2301; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#96fbe0fff8e5f9f8d6f4fafbb8f1f9e0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b3dec5daddc0dcddf3d1dfde9dd4dcc5">[email protected]</span></a>. Contact Ms. Vinson 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. Vinson. 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
NVSO intends to prepare a potential resource management plan (RMP)
amendment with an associated EIS for the 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 right-of-way (ROW) grant application for the project,
which would require amending the existing 1998 Las Vegas RMP for plan
conformance and consistency purposes.
The planning area is located in Clark and Nye Counties, Nevada, and
encompasses up to approximately 4,900 acres of public land.
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 considering ACEC
nominations as part of this process.
Purpose and Need
The BLM's purpose and need for this federal action is to respond to
FLPMA right-of-way applications submitted by GridLiance under Title V
of FLPMA (43 U.S.C. 1761) to amend portions of their existing ROW
grants to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission approximately
155 miles of transmission system upgrades across BLM-administered lands
in Nye and Clark Counties, Nevada, in compliance with FLPMA, BLM right-
of-way regulations (43 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 2800), the
2008 BLM NEPA Handbook, 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 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 (FLPMA section 501(a)(4)). Proposed
amendments to the existing ROW grants may require plan amendments to
the 1998 Las Vegas RMP, which the BLM will analyze in the EIS. The
purpose and need for the plan amendment is to bring the project into
compliance and consistency with the 1998 Las Vegas RMP as it pertains
to elements of the project for which there is no other option to attain
compliance.
Preliminary Alternatives
The Proposed Action is to amend portions of existing BLM ROW grants
to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission approximately 155
miles of upgraded alternating current overhead transmission lines on
BLM, Las Vegas Paiute Snow Mountain Reservation, Department of Defense,
and State of Nevada-administered lands, as well as private lands in
Clark and Nye Counties, Nevada. The project is an upgrade of an
existing overhead transmission system that is currently comprised of a
single-circuit 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line system and seven
substations. The proposed upgrade consists of four segments, with
double-circuit 230-kV or double-circuit 500-kV options being considered
for each segment, unless otherwise noted:
<bullet> Segment 1: Sloan Canyon Switchyard to Trout Canyon
Switchyard. Includes upgrades and expansions at both switchyards; only
the Trout Canyon Switchyard upgrades are located on BLM-administered
lands. This segment would be upgraded to a double-circuit 500-kV
transmission line, regardless of the voltage option chosen for the
remainder of the system.
<bullet> Segment 2: Trout Canyon Switchyard to Pahrump Substation.
Includes upgrades and expansions at the Gamebird Substation and at
Pahrump Substation, both located on private lands.
<bullet> Segment 3: Pahrump Substation to Innovation Substation.
Includes upgrades at Innovation Substation. The transmission line
upgrades between the Pahrump Substation and the proposed Johnnie Corner
Substation would be constructed at either double-circuit 230 kV or
double-circuit 500 kV; however, the proposed substation at Johnnie
Corner would not be constructed if the transmission line is constructed
as double-circuit 230 kV. The portion from the proposed Johnnie Corner
Substation
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to Innovation Substation would consist of a double-circuit 230-kV
transmission line, regardless of the voltage option chosen for the
remainder of the system.
<bullet> Segment 4: Innovation Substation to Northwest Substation.
Includes upgrades at the Desert View Substation. This segment would be
upgraded to a double-circuit 230-kV transmission line, regardless of
the voltage option chosen for the remainder of the system.
The final voltage configuration of the transmission line requested
by GridLiance would be determined based on ongoing studies being
completed by the California Independent System Operator and would be
finalized before the signing of the record of decision (ROD) for the
proposed upgrades. GridLiance is currently advancing design efforts for
both voltages of the transmission line in order to provide the
necessary information for analysis of either option in the EIS. Double-
circuit 500-kV components of the project would require a 275-foot-wide
right-of-way, while the double-circuit 230-kV components of the project
would require a 150-foot-wide right-of-way.
For the majority of Segments 1, 2, and 3, the upgraded transmission
line would be constructed adjacent to the existing transmission line in
a right-of-way that mostly does not overlap with the existing
transmission line right-of-way. A notable exception is the portion of
Segment 3 from Johnnie Corner Substation to Innovation Substation where
the existing transmission line would be fully removed, and the new line
would be constructed in a ROW that mostly would overlap with the
existing transmission line ROW. Work in these segments would require
upgrades to existing access roads and the development of new access
roads to safely access the work areas. Access roads would be improved
or constructed to contain a 16-foot-wide travel surface and appropriate
ditches and berms. The total disturbance width of the access roads is
anticipated to be up to 24 feet. In addition to access roads, the
project would require temporary work areas, including laydown yards and
pulling and tension sites, as described in the relevant Plans of
Development submitted to the BLM by GridLiance. Structures would vary
based on the voltage option selected as well as specific site
characteristics and would be steel lattice or tubular steel structures
between 120 and 200 feet tall.
For Segment 4, the upgraded transmission line would be constructed
in an expanded ROW that wholly overlaps with the existing transmission
line ROW. Upgrades in this section would be limited to adding a second
circuit to the existing tubular steel transmission line poles and
reconductoring the existing circuit, both of which would require
laydown yards and pulling and tensioning sites. Individual poles that
do not meet the structural requirements of the upgraded conductors
would need to be replaced.
The project would also involve the decommissioning of the existing
single-circuit 230-kV transmission line from the Sloan Canyon
Switchyard to the Innovation Substation. In Segments 1, 2, and the
portion of Segment 3 from the proposed Johnnie Corner Substation to the
Innovation Substation, the existing transmission line would be removed,
and any disturbances associated with the line (including roads to tower
locations not required for access to the upgraded transmission line)
would be reclaimed. For the portion of Segment 3 from approximately the
Pahrump Substation to the proposed Johnnie Corner Substation, the
existing transmission line is strung on poles shared with an existing
138-kV transmission line owned and operated by Valley Electric
Association. In this area, the GridLiance 230-kV transmission conductor
would be removed, but the poles and existing Valley Electric
Association transmission line would remain. No decommissioning of the
existing line in Segment 4 would be required.
The Proposed Action also includes amending the 1998 Las Vegas RMP
(updated 2019). One potential amendment would be to adjust the Visual
Resource Management (VRM) class associated with portions of the
project. The project area includes VRM Classes II, III, and IV within
the proposed right-of-way. In some instances, design and mitigation may
be insufficient to make the project consistent with VRM classes and may
require an RMPA to change the class.
There is one preliminary action alternative being considered
involving a modification of Segment 2. This alternative route follows
the designated utility corridor approximately 0.5 mile further north
before turning west to approach the Pahrump Substation. The total
length difference between this alternative and the proposed route is
negligible. This alternative route is intended to utilize more of the
designated utility corridor and would result in fewer angle structures.
The EIS will fully disclose all impacts of this alternative and any
other alternatives developed through the EIS process.
A No-Action Alternative is also being considered. Under this
alternative the BLM would not issue right-of-way grant amendments for
the project and the project would not be constructed. Existing land
uses in the project area would continue. Additionally, the BLM would
not undertake an RMP amendment.
The BLM welcomes written 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 stakeholders. The BLM has identified 16
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 project is anticipated to cause direct and indirect impacts
during construction, operations and maintenance, and decommissioning.
During construction (including decommissioning of the redundant
existing transmission line) impacts would occur from land disturbance;
operation of construction equipment; installation of towers, access
roads, and other facilities; and presence of work forces. During
operations and maintenance, impacts would occur from continued presence
of project facilities and from maintenance activities. Impacts from
eventual decommissioning of the upgraded line would be similar to those
expected from the construction phase. Cumulative impacts from relevant
reasonably foreseeable future actions will also be disclosed in the
EIS.
The following resources could be impacted by the project and will
be analyzed in the EIS. This is not necessarily a comprehensive list
and other resources may be added as a result of scoping. These
preliminary resources include geology and soils; general vegetation,
riparian, and noxious and invasive species; general wildlife;
threatened and endangered species; sensitive species; wetlands; air
quality; minerals; paleontological resources; visual resources;
National Historic Trails; surface water and groundwater quality and
quantity; cultural resources; socioeconomics and environmental justice;
public health and safety; land use and recreation; and special
designations.
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Anticipated Permits and Authorizations
Authorization of this proposal may require amendments to the
applicable RMPs in effect for the Southern Nevada District Office to
modify locations of some Visual Resource Management class locations
involving the proposed ROW Project. Along with the ROW grant issued by
the BLM, GridLiance anticipates needing the following authorizations
and permits for the proposed project: construction authorization from
the Bureau of Indian Affairs; clearance for survey and construction on
Department of Defense lands; biological opinion and incidental take
permit(s) from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for
Endangered Species Act compliance; USFWS Migratory Bird Treaty Act
compliance; USFWS Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act compliance;
section 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Clean
Water Act compliance; effect concurrence from the Nevada State Historic
Preservation Office for National Historic Preservation Act compliance;
No Hazard Declaration from the Federal Aviation Administration;
Department of Homeland Security consultation regarding military radar;
Utilities Environmental Protection Act Permit to Construct from the
Public Utilities Commission of Nevada; Rare and Endangered Plant Permit
from the Nevada State Division of Forestry; Desert Tortoise and Gila
Monster Handling Permit from the Nevada Department of Wildlife; Native
Cacti and Yucca Commercial Salvaging and Transportation Permit from the
Nevada Division of Forestry; Incidental Take Permit from the Nevada
Department of Wildlife; Clean Water Act, section 401 Compliance with
the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) and Bureau of
Water Quality Planning; Notification for Stormwater Management During
Construction for the Clean Water Act, section 402 permit for stormwater
discharge from NDEP; Groundwater Discharge Permit from NDEP; ROW
Occupancy Permit from the Nevada Department of Transportation; Over
Legal Size/Load Permit from the Nevada Department of Transportation;
Uniform Permit (for transportation of hazardous materials) from the
Nevada Department of Public Safety; NDEP Phase 1 Environmental Site
Assessment; Clark County Dust Control Permit; Clark County Grading
Permit; Clark County Building Permit; Nye County Dust Control Permit;
Nye County Grading Permit; and other permits as necessary. Further
details on these permitting requirements may be found in the relevant
Plans of Development submitted to the BLM by GridLiance.
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 concurrent
30-day public protest period and 60-day Governor's consistency review
on the Proposed RMPA. The Draft RMPA/EIS is anticipated to be available
for public review fall 2023 and the Proposed RMPA/Final EIS is
anticipated to be available for public protest of the Proposed RMPA
spring 2024 with an Approved RMPA and ROD summer 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 date(s) and location(s) of any
additional scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in
advance through the BLM National NEPA Register, news release, and BLM
social media pages.
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 and
Tribes, along with 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 written
comments concerning the Project and RMP amendment, 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 Southern Nevada District Office is the lead agency for this
EIS and RMPA. The BLM has initially invited 31 Agencies and 17 Indian
Tribal Nations to be cooperating agencies to participate in the
environmental analysis of the project. 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 this
planning effort.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The nature of the decision to be made will be the Nevada 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 applications for right-of-way amendments associated with the
project. The BLM will also make the decision whether or not to approve
any RMP amendment. In the ROD, the BLM will clearly distinguish the RMP
amendment decision from the right-of-way grant decision concerning the
selected alternative for the project.
Interdisciplinary Team
The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the plan
amendment in order to consider the variety of resource issues and
concerns identified. Specialists with expertise in the following
disciplines will be involved in this planning effort: geology and
soils, vegetation and noxious and invasive species, wildlife,
hydrology, air quality, minerals, paleontology, visual resources,
cultural resources, socioeconomics, public health and safety, land use
and recreation, and special designations, among others deemed necessary
based on the results of the scoping process.
Additional Information
The BLM will identify, analyze, and consider mitigation to address
the reasonably foreseeable impacts to resources from the proposed plan
amendment and all analyzed reasonable alternatives and, in accordance
with 40 CFR 1502.14(e), include appropriate mitigation measures not
already included in the proposed plan amendment or alternatives.
Mitigation
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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 Departmental policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on
Indian trust assets and potential impacts to cultural resources, will
be given due consideration.
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 and 43 CFR 1610.2)
Jon K. Raby,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2023-17060 Filed 8-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-21-P
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