[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]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P