[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 113 (Friday, June 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32239-32240]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15629]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Proposed 
Southpoint Power Plant Project on the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation, 
Mohave County, AZ

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of DEIS and public hearing dates.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that a Draft Environmental 
Statement (DEIS) is available for public review and that public 
hearings will be held on this document. A lease between the Fort Mojave 
Indian Tribe (FMIT) and Calpine Corporation was executed on April 28, 
1998. Approval of the pending lease by the Bureau of Indian Affairs is 
a major federal action. Calpine Corporation proposes to construct and 
operate a natural gas fired, 500 megawatt combined cycle power plant 
and associated ancillary facilities on leased tribal trust land. The 
proposed lease is for a term of 50 years, with an option to renew for 
an additional 15 years. The proposed power plant would provide 
electrical power for distribution through the Western Area Power 
Administration grid to meet existing demand. By entering into the 
proposed lease the FMIT will enhance its tribal sovereignty and self-
determination.
    This notice is published pursuant to Section 1503.1 of the Council 
of Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR, parts 1500 through 1508) 
implementing the procedural requirements of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C 4321 et seq.), and the 
Department of the Interior Manual (516 DM 1-6), and is in the exercise 
of authority delegated to the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs by 209 
DM 8.

DATES: Public hearings on the DEIS will be held on July 15, 1998 at 
10:00 AM MST and 7:00 PM MST at the FMIT tribal headquarters, 500 
Merriman Street, Needles, California, and on July 16, 1998 at 7:00 PM 
MST at Mohave High School auditorium, 2251 Highway 95, Bullhead City, 
Arizona. Written comments must be received on or before August 15, 
1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments and participation at the public hearings are 
solicited. Please direct written comments to Mr. Allen J. Anspach, 
Superintendent, Colorado River Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Rt. 1, 
Box 9-C, Parker, Arizona 85344, or to Mr. Wayne Nordwall, Phoenix Area 
Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Phoenix Area Office, P.O. Box 10, 
Phoenix, AZ 85001.
    Persons wishing copies of this DEIS should immediately contact Ms. 
Goldie Stroup, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Colorado River Agency, Rt. 1, 
Box 9-C, Parker, Arizona 85344, Telephone (520) 669-7121 or Ms. Amy 
Heuslein, Area Environmental Protection Officer, Phoenix Area Office, 
Bureau of Indian Affairs, 400 North 5th Street, 2 Arizona Center--14th 
Floor, Phoenix, Arizona 85004. Telephone (602) 379-6750. Copies of the 
DEIS have been sent to all agencies and individuals who participated in 
the scoping process from December 1994 through January 1995, and to all 
others who have already requested copies of the document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Amy L. Heuslein, 602-379-6750.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of 
the Interior, in cooperation with the FMIT, has prepared a DEIS on the 
proposed construction and operation of a natural gas fired 500 megawatt 
combined cycle power plant on leased land of approximately 320 acres on 
the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation in Mohave County, Arizona. In 
addition to the power plant, there is a proposal for an administrative 
building and parking areas on a 15 acre compound, a 30 acre evaporation 
pond, and a storm water retention area of approximately 30 acres. A 
buffer area would be provided around the development. The power plant 
would use consumptively approximately 4,000 acre feet of water per year 
from the FMIT's allocation of Colorado River water. Natural gas would 
be supplied to the site in buried lines on new right-of-way across 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. The power generated by the 
proposed plant could potentially be wheeled and distributed by 
facilities of the multi-state federal Western Area Power 
Administration, and by local distribution facilities such those of 
Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Needles Electric Company, Aha Macav 
Power Services, and others.
    The purpose and need for this action is to support tribal economic 
development on the reservation and augment current power supply sources 
in the region. By entering into the proposed lease, the FMIT would 
enhance its tribal sovereignty and self-determination and obtain 
revenues from this activity.
    Under the Preferred Alternative, the proposed natural gas combined 
cycle 500 megawatt power plant with ancillary facilities would be 
constructed and operated on 320 acres in the east half Section 8, T17N 
R21W, Gila and Salt River Base and Meridian, Mohave County, Arizona, on 
the north side of the Davis Dam-Topock Highway. The power plant 
buildings and equipment, and the retention basins, would be located on 
the valley floor. The evaporation pond would be located on top of the 
bluffs. Natural gas would be supplied by new lines in rights-of-way 
across BLM land.
    Under Alternative Two, the proposed power plant would be 
constructed and operated on 160 acres in the west half of Section 30, 
T18N, R21W, Gila and Salt River Base and Meridian, Mohave County 
Arizona. This site is approximately two and one-half miles northwest of 
the Preferred Alternative site. The power plant proposed to be built on 
the Alternative Two site would be identical in size to that proposed 
for the Preferred Alternative. All plant facilities, except paved 
access roads, would be located on top of the bluffs. Natural gas would 
be available to the plant from the same sources as for the Preferred 
Alternative and would require construction of two branch lines across 
BLM land to the reservation boundary.
    Under Alternative Three, the proposed power plant would be built on 
160 acres in the west half of Section 16, T17N, R21W, Gila and Salt 
River Base and Meridian, Mohave County, Arizona. This site is 
immediately to the south of the Preferred Alternative site, on the 
south side of the Davis Dam-Topock Highway. The power plant proposed to 
be built on the Alternative Three site would be identical in size to 
that proposed for the Preferred Alternative.

[[Page 32240]]

All plant facilities would be located on the valley floor. Natural gas 
would be available to the site from the same sources as for the 
Preferred Alternative and would require construction of two branch 
lines on right-of-way across BLM land to the reservation boundary.
    Agencies and individuals are urged to provide comments on this DEIS 
as soon as possible. All comments received by August 15, 1998 will be 
considered in preparation of the Final EIS.

    Dated: June 4, 1998.
Kevin Gover,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 98-15629 Filed 6-11-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-P