[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 97 (Tuesday, May 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27619-27620]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13086]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

[CA-920-06-1330-00]


Notice of Intent

AGENCIES: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 
Alturas Resource Area; and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 
Service, Modoc National Forest.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
for a Plan of Operation (POO) for Development and Production; and for a 
POO for Utilization and Disposal for a proposed geothermal development 
project, including: a power plant, geothermal production and injection 
wellfield, ancillary facilities, and transmission line on the Modoc 
National Forest in Siskiyou and Modoc Counties, California. The 
proposed project may require amending the Modoc National Forest Land 
and Resource Management Plan if the proposed action is approved.

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SUMMARY: Notice is given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (USFS); U.S. Department of 
Energy, Bonneville Power Administration (BPA); and the Siskiyou County 
Air Pollution Control District (APCD) will jointly prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) 
for a proposed 48 megawatt (MW)(gross) geothermal electric power plant 
with associated facilities and operations, and an approximately 21-
mile, 230-kilovolt (kV), transmission line. This proposed action (known 
as the Telephone Flat Geothermal Development Project) would be located 
on the Modoc National Forest in northeastern California. BPA will 
participate in the EIS/EIR process as a cooperating agency to analyze 
potential effects.
    Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA), and 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., the BLM, USFS, BPA, and 
Siskiyou County APCD will be directing a third-party contractor in the 
preparation of the EIS/EIR on the impacts of the proposed action. 
Comments are being requested to help identify significant issues or 
concerns related to the proposed action, determine the scope of issues, 
and identify and refine alternatives to the proposed action.

DATES: Federal, state, and local agencies and the public are invited to 
participate in the scoping process for the EIS/EIR. Scoping meetings to 
encourage and facilitate public participation are proposed to be held 
in Yreka (June 9, 1997), Dorris (June 10, 1997), Tulelake (June 11, 
1997), and Fall River Mills (June 12, 1997), California. Times and 
locations of the scoping meetings will be announced in the local news 
media.

ADDRESS FOR COMMENTS: In addition to the public scoping meetings, the 
BLM is inviting written comments and suggestions on the proposed action 
and the scope of the analysis. Written comments or requests to be added 
to the project mailing list should be submitted by June 30, 1997. 
Written comments should be addressed to Mr. Randall M. Sharp, USFS/BLM, 
Telephone Flat Geothermal Development Project EIS/EIR Project Leader, 
800 W. 12th Street, Alturas, CA 96101.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Randall M. Sharp (916) 233-5811.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: California Energy General Corporation 
submitted a POO for Development and Production and a POO for 
Utilization and Disposal to the BLM for constructing, operating, and 
maintaining a 48 MW (gross), dual flash, geothermal power plant, 
cooling tower, associated geothermal production and injections wells, 
well pads, roads, interconnected geothermal fluid pipelines, and 
accompanying segments of a 230 kV transmission line. This project, 
known as the Telephone Flat Geothermal Development Project, would be 
located within the Glass Mountain Unit of the Glass Mountain Known 
Geothermal Resource Area (KGRA) on the Modoc National Forest.
    The proposed geothermal power plant, well pads, and fluid pipelines 
would be located within Federal geothermal leases CA 12370, CA 12371 
and CA 12372, all within the Glass Mountain Unit of the Glass Mountain 
KGRA. The proposed power plant site would be located within Section 18 
of the eight-section area known as the Telephone Flat project area, 
located in Sections 7, 8, 16, 17, and 18 Township 43 North, Range 4 
East and Sections 1, 12, and 13 Township 43 North, Range 3 East, Mount 
Diablo Base and Meridian, Siskiyou County, California. The geothermal 
fluid supplies and wellhead reserves are projected to be

[[Page 27620]]

sufficient for the life of the project which is expected to be 50 
years.
    The proposed action would involve production of geothermal fluids 
(hot water, steam, and noncondensable gases) from an underground 
reservoir. These fluids would be produced from 10 to 20 two-phase 
production wells located on well pads selected from 22 alternative 
production well pad sites. The fluids would be separated at the surface 
in high and low pressure flash chambers located at each of the well 
pads. The high pressure and low pressure steam would be transported via 
parallel surface pipelines to the proposed power plant, where the steam 
would be directed to a turbine-generator unit. The unflashed spent 
geothermal fluid, cooling tower blowdown, and other fluids would be 
transported through surface pipelines to from three to five proposed 
injection wells for return of these fluids to the subsurface geothermal 
reservoir.
    Each of the production and injection well pads would occupy from 
3.7 to 5.5 acres, for a total alternative well pad area of about 81 to 
121 acres. The power plant site would occupy approximately 18.5 acres. 
There would be a total of about four miles of surface pipeline 
corridor, and about one mile of new road associated with the power 
plant and wellfield. Approximately 16 miles of existing access roads in 
the project area would also be subject to potential reconstruction or 
surface improvement.
    The proposed action would also include development of a 
transmission line that would extend from the proposed power plant via 
either a northern or southern route eastward for approximately 21 miles 
to an existing BPA transmission line. Alternatively, a short segment 
(about 1.5 miles) of transmission line from the power plant could tie 
into a proposed 230 kV transmission line extending from a separately 
proposed geothermal power plant project (i.e., the Fourmile Hill 
Geothermal Development Project) if that project is developed. The 
proposed transmission line would be constructed using H-frame wood 
poles. The proposed transmission line would be located entirely within 
the Modoc National Forest; however, transmission route alternatives may 
cross other Forests or parcels of private land. An approximately 100-
foot wide right-of-way would exist along the constructed length of the 
transmission line. Access roads would be required along the length of 
the transmission line.
    Alternatives thus far identified for evaluation in the EIS/EIR are: 
(1) The proposed action, (2) the no action alternative (the 
consequences of not developing the project), and (3) alternate 
transmission line route alternatives. The principal issues identified 
thus far for consideration in the EIS/EIR include Native American 
concerns; cumulative impacts considering existing, proposed, and 
potential other geothermal projects in the area; potential impacts on 
cultural resources; potential effects on wildlife; potential land use 
conflicts; potential visual impacts; and potential impacts on surface 
water and groundwater resources. The EIS/EIR will also address other 
issues such as geology, geothermal resources, vegetation, threatened or 
endangered species, air quality, noise, recreation, transportation, 
human health and safety, and socioeconomics as well as any issues 
raised during the scoping process.
    If the proposed action or a selected alternative is approved, and 
if the proposed action or the selected alternative is inconsistent with 
the management direction provided in the Modoc National Forest Land and 
Resource Management Plan (LRMP), then the LRMP would be amended, as 
necessary, to reconcile any inconsistency.
    Federal, state, and local agencies and other individuals or 
organizations who may be interested in or affected by the BLM's 
decision for the proposed action are invited to participate in the 
scoping process. Input and comments received during this process will 
be considered during preparation of the EIS/EIR.

    Dated: May 9, 1997.
Rich Burns,
Alturas Resource Area Manager, USDI Bureau of Land Management.
    Dated: May 9, 1997.
Diane Henderson-Bramlette,
Modoc National Forest Supervisor, USDA Forest Service.
[FR Doc. 97-13086 Filed 5-19-97; 8:45 am]
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