Notice2025-08949
Notice of Intent To Amend the Resource Management Plan for the Robinson Summit Substation Expansion and 525kV Interconnection Project and Prepare an Associated Environmental Assessment
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Published
May 20, 2025
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, we) Nevada State Director intends to prepare a resource management plan (RMP) amendment with an associated environmental assessment (EA) for the Robinson Summit Substation Expansion and 525 kV Interconnection Project (Project). This notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping period to solicit public comments and identify issues and alternatives. It is also providing the planning criteria for public review.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 96 (Tuesday, May 20, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 96 (Tuesday, May 20, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21506-21507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-08949]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[PO #4820000251; Order #02412-014-004-047181.0]
Notice of Intent To Amend the Resource Management Plan for the
Robinson Summit Substation Expansion and 525kV Interconnection Project
and Prepare an Associated Environmental Assessment
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, we)
Nevada State Director intends to prepare a resource management plan
(RMP) amendment with an associated environmental assessment (EA) for
the Robinson Summit Substation Expansion and 525 kV Interconnection
Project (Project). This notice is announcing the beginning of the
scoping period to solicit public comments and identify issues and
alternatives. It is also providing the planning criteria for public
review.
DATES: The BLM requests that the public submit comments concerning the
scope of the analysis, potential alternatives, and identification of
relevant information and studies. We must receive your comments by June
20, 2025 or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later.
This will afford us the opportunity to consider all the issues that you
raise in the draft RMP amendment/EA. The date and time of the scoping
meeting will be announced at least 15 days in advance through a news
release, social media, and the BLM's National NEPA Register website at
<a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/admin/project/2038325/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/admin/project/2038325/510</a>.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues, alternatives, and
planning criteria related to the Project and proposed RMP amendment by
any of the following methods:
<bullet> Website: <a href="https://eplanning.bblm.gov/eplanning-ui/admin/project/2038325/510">https://eplanning.bblm.gov/eplanning-ui/admin/project/2038325/510</a>
<bullet> Mail: 702 North Industrial Way, Ely, NV 89301
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at
<a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/admin/project/2038325/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/admin/project/2038325/510</a> and at
the Ely District Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tiera Hooper, Deputy District Manager,
Ely, by telephone, (775) 289-1803; mail, 702 North Industrial Way, Ely,
NV 89301; or email, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#93e7fbfcfce3f6e1d3f1fffebdf4fce5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a1d5c9ceced1c4d3e1c3cdcc8fc6ced7">[email protected]</span></a>. Contact Greg Gresh by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#482f2f3a2d3b20082a2425662f273e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7a1d1d081f09123a181617541d150c">[email protected]</span></a> 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. Hooper.
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 RMP amendment with an
associated EA for the Project, announces the beginning of the scoping
process, and seeks public input on issues, alternatives, and planning
criteria. The RMP amendment is being considered to allow the BLM to
evaluate the proposed designation of a utility corridor, which would
require amending the existing 2008 Ely District Record of Decision and
[[Page 21507]]
Approved Resource Management Plan (2008 Ely District RMP), as amended.
The RMP amendment and proposed utility corridor are necessary to
resolve conformance issues related to Greater Sage-Grouse adaptive
management strategies under the 2015 Record of Decision and Nevada and
Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Approved Resource
Management Plan Amendment in the planning area.
The planning area is located in White Pine County, Nevada, and
encompasses approximately 307 acres of public land. The Project would
include: (a) the construction, operation, and maintenance of an
approximately 50-acre expansion of the existing Robinson Summit
Substation (Expansion); (b) the construction, operation and maintenance
of a new 1.3-mile, single circuit 525 kV alternating current
transmission line connecting to the east side of Robinson Summit
Substation via a new 200-foot right-of-way (ROW); and, (c) a new access
road that would be approximately 20 feet wide with 2-foot berms on each
side (Interconnection). Additionally, the BLM would amend the 2008 Ely
District RMP, as amended, to establish a designated utility corridor
between the Expansion and Interconnection locations. The scope of this
land use planning process does not include addressing the evaluation or
designation of Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) and the
BLM is not considering ACEC nominations as part of this process.
Purpose and Need
The BLM's purpose is to respond to the applicant's ROW application
for: (1) The construction, operation and maintenance of an
approximately 50-acre expansion of the existing Robinson Summit
Substation; (2) construction, operation and maintenance of a new 1.3-
mile, single circuit 525 kV alternating current transmission line
connecting to the east side of Robinson Summit Substation via a new
200-foot ROW; and, (3) construction of a new access road that would be
approximately 20 feet wide with 2-foot berms on each side. The BLM's
purpose is also to amend the 2008 Ely District RMP to establish a
designated utility corridor between the Expansion and Interconnection
locations.
The BLM's need for action is to consider a use of public land to
advance energy generation and transmission consistent with the BLM's
multiple-use mandate and section 501(a)(4) of FLPMA, 43 U.S.C.
1761(a)(4). Additionally, a land use plan amendment to designate a
right-of-way corridor would ensure collocation of rights-of-way to
minimize environmental impacts and address conformance issues
associated with the proposed Project consistent with section 503 of
FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1763.
Preliminary Alternatives
The BLM is currently considering the proposed Action and a no
action alternative. The proposed action includes the potential RMP
amendment, which would designate a utility corridor and amend resource
decisions and allocations in the 2008 Ely District RMP within the
proposed utility corridor boundary. The BLM welcomes comments on the
preliminary alternatives as well as suggestions for additional
alternatives.
Planning Criteria
The planning criteria guides the planning effort and lays the
groundwork for effective 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
several preliminary issues for this planning effort. The planning
criteria are available for public review and comment at the ePlanning
website (see ADDRESSES).
Public Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping period and public
review of the issues, preliminary alternatives, and planning criteria,
which guide the development and analysis of the RMP amendment and EA.
The BLM will be holding one public scoping meeting in Ely, Nevada.
The date(s) and location(s) of any additional scoping meetings will be
announced at least 15 days in advance through a news release, social
media, and the BLM's National NEPA Register website at <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/admin/project/2038325/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/admin/project/2038325/510</a>.
Interdisciplinary Team
The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the plan
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: rangeland management,
minerals and geology, outdoor recreation, archaeology, paleontology,
wildlife and fisheries, Greater Sage-Grouse, lands and realty,
hydrology, and soils.
Additional Information
The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA and land use planning
processes to evaluate this proposed Project and 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 the 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 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
1780, and other Departmental 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 Robinson Summit
Substation Expansion and 525 kV Interconnection Project 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.
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: 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347, 43 CFR 46.435, and 43 CFR 1610.2)
Kimberly Prill,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 2025-08949 Filed 5-19-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-21-P
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