Notice2024-29142
Notice of Segregation of Public Lands for the Pinyon Solar Project, Maricopa County, Arizona and Elisabeth Solar Project, Yuma County, Arizona County, Utah
Primary source
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Published
December 12, 2024
Effective
December 12, 2024
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentLand Management Bureau
Abstract
In connection with its consideration of the right-of-way (ROW) application (AZA38172) for the Pinyon Solar Project, and the proposed plan of development for the Elisabeth Solar Project, for which the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) previously issued a right-of-way lease (AZA38371), the BLM is segregating 4,439.92 acres of public lands from appropriation under the public land laws, including location under the Mining Law of 1872, but not the Mineral Leasing Act or Material Sales Act, for a period of 2 years from the date of publication of this notice, subject to valid existing rights. This segregation is to allow for the orderly administration of the public lands and to facilitate consideration of development of renewable energy resources.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 239 (Thursday, December 12, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 239 (Thursday, December 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 100520-100521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-29142]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM_AZ_FRN_MO4500181293]
Notice of Segregation of Public Lands for the Pinyon Solar
Project, Maricopa County, Arizona and Elisabeth Solar Project, Yuma
County, Arizona County, Utah
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In connection with its consideration of the right-of-way (ROW)
application (AZA38172) for the Pinyon Solar Project, and the proposed
plan of development for the Elisabeth Solar Project, for which the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) previously issued a right-of-way lease
(AZA38371), the BLM is segregating 4,439.92 acres of public lands from
appropriation under the public land laws, including location under the
Mining Law of 1872, but not the Mineral Leasing Act or Material Sales
Act, for a period of 2 years from the date of publication of this
notice, subject to valid existing rights. This segregation is to allow
for the orderly administration of the public lands and to facilitate
consideration of development of renewable energy resources.
DATES: The segregation of the lands identified in this notice is
effective on December 12, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have
your name added to the project mailing list, send requests to: Derek
Eysenbach, Project Manager, at telephone (602) 417-9505; address 1 N.
Central Ave., Suite 800, Phoenix, AZ 85004; or email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7612130f0513181417151e36141a1b58111900"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9df9f8e4eef8f3fffcfef5ddfff1f0b3faf2eb">[email protected]</span></a>. 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 Derek Eysenbach. 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: Regulations found at 43 CFR 2091.3-1(e) and
2804.25(f) allow the BLM to temporarily segregate public lands
described within a ROW application for solar energy development from
the operation of the public land laws, including the Mining Law, by
publication of a notice in the Federal Register. The BLM uses the
temporary segregation authority to preserve the ability to approve,
approve with modifications, or deny a proposed ROW, and to facilitate
the orderly administration of the public lands. This temporary
segregation is subject to valid existing rights.
The BLM previously segregated the public lands associated with the
Pinyon and Elisabeth Solar Projects in a notice of segregation
published in the Federal Register on December 8, 2022 (87 FR 75283).
265BH 8me, LLC, a subsidiary of Avantus, LLC, submitted a right-of-
way application to the BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office for the Pinyon
Solar Project requesting authorization to construct, operate, maintain,
and eventually decommission a 300-megawatt photovoltaic solar electric
generating facility and ancillary facilities. On January 30, 2024, the
BLM initiated an Environmental Assessment (EA) by opening a public
scoping period. The BLM is currently preparing an EA and in
consultation with the applicant, requires additional time to complete
the assessment and reach a decision.
Elisabeth Solar, LLC, a subsidiary of Leeward Renewable Energy,
LLC, and the BLM executed a right-of-way lease within the Agua Caliente
Solar Energy Zone on September 16, 2022. On
[[Page 100521]]
September 29, 2023, the BLM initiated an EA to consider Elisabeth
Solar, LLC's proposed plan of development for the Elisabeth Solar
Project within the lease area. On July 25, 2024, a Draft EA was made
available for public comment. The BLM is currently preparing a Final EA
and in consultation with the applicant, needs additional time to
complete the assessment and reach a decision.
The public lands segregated by this notice are described as
follows:
Pinyon Solar Project--AZA38172
Gila and Salt River Meridian, Arizona
T. 4 S., R. 1 E.,
Sec. 34, SW\1/4\ SE\1/4\;
T. 5 S., R. 1 E.,
Sec. 2, SW\1/4\, NW\1/4\, SW \1/4\, and SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\;
Sec. 3, lots 1 thru 4, S\1/2\, NE\1/4\, S\1/2\, NW\1/4\ and S\1/
2\;
Sec. 10;
Sec. 11, W1/2.
The areas described as the Pinyon Solar Project contain 1,879.92
acres, according to the official plats of the surveys of the said
lands on file with the BLM.
Elisabeth Solar Project--AZA38371
Gila and Salt River Meridian
T. 5 S., R. 12 W.,
Sec. 15, S\1/2\ NE\1/4\ NE\1/4\, S\1/2\ NW\1/4\ NE\1/4\, S\1/2\
NE\1/4\, S\1/2\ NE\1/4\ NW\1/4\, S\1/2\ NW\1/4\ NW\1/4\, SE\1/4\;
Sec. 17, SE\1/4\, NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\;
Sec. 20, NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\, NW\1/4\, E\1/2\, SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\;
Sec. 22, E\1/2\, NE\1/4\, E\1/2\ SE\1/4\;
Sec. 23, W\1/2\;
Sec. 26, N\1/2\, NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\, NW\1/4\, NW\1/4\;
Sec. 28, W\1/2\, NE\1/4\, W\1/2\, W\1/2\, SE\1/4\;
Sec. 29, NE\1/4\, E\1/2\, NW\1/4\, E\1/2\, SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\;
Sec. 33, NW\1/4\, NW\1/4\, NE\1/4\, N\1/2\, NW\1/4\, NW\1/4\,
SW\1/4\; NW\1/4\.
The areas described as the Elisabeth Solar Project aggregate
2,560 acres, more or less, according to the official plats of the
surveys of the said lands on file with the BLM.
As provided in the regulations under 43 CFR 2091.3-1(e)(3), the
segregation of the lands described in this notice will not exceed 2
years from the date of publication in the Federal Register.
For a period until December 12, 2026, subject to valid existing
rights, the public lands described in this notice will be segregated
from appropriation under the public land laws, including location under
the Mining Law of 1872, but not from leasing under the mineral and
geothermal leasing laws, or disposal under the Mineral Materials Act,
while the ROW application is being processed. Licenses, permits,
cooperative agreements, or discretionary land use authorizations of a
temporary nature that will not significantly impact the application
area may be allowed with the approval of the authorized officer of the
BLM during the segregation period.
The segregation period will terminate and the lands will
automatically open to appropriation under the public land laws,
including the Mining Law, at the earliest of the following dates: upon
issuance of a decision by the authorized officer granting, granting
with modifications, or denying the application for a ROW; without
further administrative action at the end of the segregation period; or
upon publication of a Federal Register notice terminating the
segregation and opening the lands.
(Authority: 43 CFR 2091.3-1(e) and 43 CFR 2804.25(f))
Amber Cargile,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 2024-29142 Filed 12-11-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-12-P
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