[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71940-71941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34371]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service
Bureau of Land Management


Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for Federal 
Permits Associated With Construction and Operation of the High Desert 
Power Plant Project, Victorville, San Bernardino County, CA

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior (Lead Agency); Bureau of 
Land Management, Interior (Cooperating Agency).

ACTION: Notice of intent; announcement of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service, with the Bureau of Land 
Management as a cooperator, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement. This Impact Statement will consider the Federal actions 
associated with the High Desert Power Plant Project. Specifically, the 
Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to issue an Endangered Species Act 
permit to the High Desert Power, Limited Liability Company, and other 
project proponents for take of the desert tortoise (Gopherus 
agassizii), a threatened species under the Federal Endangered Species 
Act, and for the future take, should it be needed, of the Mohave ground 
squirrel (Spermophilus mohavensis) and the burrowing owl (Athene 
cunicularia), a threatened species and a sensitive species, 
respectively, under the California Endangered Species Act. Take of 
these species would be incidental to the construction and operation of 
a natural gas power plant, electric lines, gas lines, and water lines 
associated with the High Desert Power Project. As part of the proposed 
action for the project, the Bureau of Land Management proposes to issue 
a right-of-way grant under Section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act of 
1920 to the Southwest Gas Corporation for the construction and 
maintenance of a natural gas pipeline through Federal lands designated 
as desert tortoise critical habitat and managed by the Bureau.
    The purpose of scoping is to obtain suggestions and information 
from other agencies and the public on the range of issues and 
alternatives to be considered in preparation of the Environmental 
Impact Statement. All comments received, including names and addresses, 
will become part of the administrative record and may be made available 
to the public. This notice is provided pursuant to the Council on 
Environmental Quality regulations for

[[Page 71941]]

implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22).

DATES: Oral and written comments will be accepted at public meetings to 
be held on January 28, 1999, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 
9:00 p.m. Written comments should be received on or before February 1, 
1999.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Mojave Desert Air Quality 
Management District Office, Board Chambers (2nd floor), 15428 Civic 
Drive, Victorville, California. Comments should be addressed to Diane 
Noda, Field Supervisor, Fish and Wildlife Service, 2493 Portola Road, 
Suite B, Ventura, California 93003. Written comments may be sent by 
facsimile to (805) 644-3958.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denise Washick, Fish and Wildlife 
Biologist, at the above address (telephone 805-644-1766).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Project Description

    The High Desert Power Plant Project is located on a 25-acre parcel 
in the northeast corner of the Southern California International 
Airport, formerly part of George Air Force Base, in the City of 
Victorville, San Bernardino County, California. The project site is 
bordered by Perimeter Road on the east, Southern California 
International Airport taxiways to the west, abandoned bunkers adjacent 
to Phantom Street on the south, and existing evaporation ponds on the 
north. The project site is located in Section 24, Township 6 North, 
Range 5 West. The site has been previously graded and leveled.
    The High Desert Power Project, Limited Liability Company (lead 
project proponent), and others propose to construct and operate a 680- 
to 830-megawatt natural gas-fueled electricity generation power plant 
on a 25-acre site located in the northeast corner of the Southern 
California International Airport. In addition to the power plant, an 
additional 24 acres, which is currently graded, will be used as a 
staging area. The project includes the construction of 7 water 
extraction wells within the Mojave River watershed. The linear 
facilities associated with the project include a 7-mile electrical 
transmission line; a 3.5-mile natural gas pipeline; and construction of 
2 water pipelines with pipeline #1 measuring 2.5 miles and pipeline #2 
measuring 6.5 miles. These linear facilities are all to be constructed 
within private lands.
    As part of the project, the High Desert Power Project, Limited 
Liability Company, proposes to prepare a habitat conservation plan to 
be submitted to the Fish and Wildlife Service as part of an application 
for an Endangered Species Act incidental take permit for the desert 
tortoise, Mohave ground squirrel, and burrowing owl. The latter two 
species would be listed on the permit with a delayed effective date. 
Should these species be listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act 
in the future, the permit for incidental take would become effective 
concurrent with their listing.
    Construction of a 32-mile natural gas pipeline through Federal 
lands designated as desert tortoise critical habitat and managed by the 
Bureau of Land Management are also part of the High Desert Power Plant 
Project. The Bureau proposes to issue a right-of-way permit under the 
Federal Land Policy and Management Act to Southwest Gas Corporation for 
the construction and maintenance of this pipeline.

Supplemental Reports

    The High Desert Power Project, Limited Liability Company, has 
prepared several reports required by the California Energy Commission, 
including an Application for Certification. The Commission is serving 
as the lead licensing and environmental review agency in accordance 
with the California Environmental Quality Act. The Commission required 
preparation of a Draft Biological Resources Mitigation Implementation 
Plan and a Draft Erosion Control and Revegetation Plan for the High 
Desert Power Plant Project. These plans have been prepared for the 
project site and all linear facilities including the 32-mile natural 
gas pipeline which is also being permitted as part of the High Desert 
Power Plant Project. Copies of the reports may be requested by 
contacting Ms. Amy Cuellar at Resource Management International, Inc., 
3100 Zinfandel Drive, Suite 600, P.O. Box 15516, Sacramento, California 
95670-1516, or calling (916)-852-1300. Copies may also be reviewed at 
the following libraries:
    California Energy Commission, Energy Library, 1516 Ninth Street, 
Sacramento, California 95814; California State Library, Government 
Publication Section, 914 Capitol Mall, Room 400, Sacramento, California 
95814; Fresno County Library, Central Headquarters, 2420 Mariposa 
Street, Fresno, California 93721; Humboldt Library, 421 ``I'' Street, 
Eureka, California 95501; Norman Feldheym Central Library, 555 West 
Sixth Street, San Bernardino, California 92415; San Bernardino County 
Library, Adelanto Branch, 11744 Bartlett Avenue, Adelanto, California 
92301; San Bernardino County Library, Victorville Branch, 15011 Circle 
Drive, Victorville, California 92392; San Diego Public Library, 920 E 
Street, San Diego, California 92101; San Francisco Public Library, 
Civic Center, San Francisco, California 94102; UCLA, University 
Research Library, Public Affairs Service, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los 
Angeles, California 90024; California Depository Specialist, 
Acquisitions--Green Library, Stanford University, Stanford, California 
94305-6004.

    Dated: December 15, 1998.
Elizabeth Stevens,
Acting Manager, California/Nevada Operations Office, Fish and Wildlife 
Service.

    Dated: December 14, 1998.
Tim Read,
Field Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Barstow Field Office.
[FR Doc. 98-34371 Filed 12-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P