[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 251 (Friday, December 29, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 83078-83079]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-33222]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV-050-01-5101-ER-F323; N-66472, N-73726, N-66150, N-61191]


Notice of Realty Action--Clark County, NV; Notice of Intent for a 
Table Mountain Area Environmental Impact Statement Focusing on Wind 
Power Projects and Other Planned Energy Projects, Notice of Public 
Meetings, Request for Interest In a Right-of-way for a Wind Array, and 
Request for Other Potential Applications for Power Generating 
Facilities Not Known to the Bureau of Land Management

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS), notice of EIS public scoping meetings for construction 
of an array of wind turbines and ancillary facilities, and other power 
generating facilities, in the Table Mountain Area of Clark County, 
Nevada, a request for interest in acquiring a right-of-way for an array 
of wind turbines and ancillary facilities, and a request for other 
potential applications for power generating facilities not known to the 
Bureau of Land Management in the same area.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102 (2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Las Vegas 
Field Office, will be directing the preparation of an EIS and 
conducting scoping meetings on Table Mountain, Shenandoah Peak and 
Potosi Peak area to assess the potential impacts of a proposed right-
of-way for an array of wind turbines and ancillary facilities, and 
possible rights-of-way for other power generating facilities. The area 
is essentially encompassed by Sandy Valley, Goodsprings, Jean, and 
Primm, Nevada.
    This Notice is also a call for parties interested in competitively 
bidding for an opportunity to apply to have a right-of-way application 
for wind power development to be analyzed in an EIS.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Table Mountain area is located in the 
extreme southern part of Nevada essentially encompassed by Sandy 
Valley, Goodsprings, Jean, and Primm, Nevada. The site is located in 
the Springs Mountain Range at an elevation of approximately 5,000 feet. 
The area is accessible by Inter-state Highway 15, State Highway 161 and 
a Clark County road that passes through Sandy Valley. Existing dirt 
roads throughout the area provide access to microwave towers, radio 
towers, weather station, transmission lines and numerous mining claims.
    The proposed wind power development area encompasses approximately 
4,500 acres of public lands. The legal description of the public land 
proposed to be available for wind power development is as follows:

Mount Diablo Meridian

T. 24 S., R. 57 E.
    Sec. 13, E\1/2\.
T. 24 S., R. 58 E.
    Sec. 5, S\1/2\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, S\1/2\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 6, S\1/2\, NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 7, All;
    Sec. 8, All;
    Sec. 18, All;
    Sec. 19, All;
    Sec. 29, W\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 30, All;
    Sec. 31, N\1/2\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 32, N\1/2\, SE \1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 33, All;
    Sec. 34, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, S\1/2\SW\1/4\, S\1/
2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 35, S\1/2\SW\1/4\ .
T. 25 S., R. 58 E.
    Sec. 2, NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 3, All;
    Sec. 4, All;
    Sec. 5, E\1/2\NE\1/4\, E\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 9, N\1/2\, SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 10, All;
    Sec. 15, All;
    Sec. 16, NE\1/4\, E\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 22, N\1/2\, SE\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\.

    The extent of other potential applications for power generating 
facilities is unknown at this time, but may include power lines and a 
substation located along the perimeter of the area described above.
    All applicants will share in the cost reimbursement and preparation 
of the EIS through the Record of Decision, and construction.

Written Expressions of Interest

    With publication of this notice and until the end of the NOI 
comment period, the BLM is accepting written expressions of interest 
for taking part in a competitive auction for a preference right to file 
a right-of-way application for a site on which to construct, operate, 
and maintain an array of wind turbines. All except the successful 
bidder's proposed project would be eliminated from being considered in 
the EIS. Thus, the unsuccessful bidder(s) could invest their capital 
elsewhere and a more focused EIS could be provided. Written expressions 
of interest filed and received after the comment period closes will be 
returned.
    Information specific to written expressions of interest for taking 
part in a competitive auction for a preference right to file a right-
of-way application for a site to construct, operate, and maintain an 
array of wind turbines is available in writing, by telefax, or on e-
mail by visiting the BLM, Las Vegas home page at www.nv.blm.nv/vegas.

Competitive Auction for a Preference Right

    The preference right competitive auction will be held on February 
8, 2001, at 2:00 p.m. at the Bureau of Land Management, Las Vegas Field 
Office, 4765 Vegas Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada. The bidding process shall 
be an oral auction. A $16,500 sealed bid must be submitted to be 
qualified to take part in the oral auction. The opening bid will be 
considered to be the $16,500 sealed bid, and will be determined by 
draw. Bid raises will be at increments dictated by the participating 
bidders. The last bid taken will be considered the high bid. It is to 
be noted that this bidding is to determine which interested party will 
be considered the applicant and have their proposal evaluated in the 
EIS. The successful bidder would become the applicant and would submit 
a build out plan (Plan of Development). The Plan of Development (POD) 
would be in sufficient detail to develop the proposed action for the 
EIS. This information will also be presented at the second round of 
public meetings, see below.
    The POD would include a detailed schematic illustrating the 
proposed locations of the turbines, power cables, roads, 
telecommunication system, substations, and related facilities. Detailed 
drawings of the turbines and their support structures are required. The 
POD would include a weed inventory and management plan, storm water 
pollution control plan, hazardous materials spill prevention and 
control plan, emergency services plan, reclamation plan, and mitigation 
measures designed to reduce anticipated impacts. It would also include 
an electric transmission and wheeling plan

[[Page 83079]]

that details method of interconnection and means to transmit power 
output to the market. The transmission plan should show evidence that 
there is a transmission interconnect study with a local electrical 
utility illustrating that the utility has sufficient capacity and can 
upgrade its system to handle the wind generation output.
    As part of processing the right-of-way application, the annual rent 
will be established by an appraisal. Rent must be paid prior to 
issuance of the right-of-way, should that be the decision in the EIS. 
No warranty of any kind shall be given or implied by the United States 
as to the potential uses of the lands offered by competitive bid or 
that a right-of-way shall be issued.
    A bond will be required, in accordance with 43 CFR 2803.1-4.
    The Las Vegas Field Office's rationale for this request is to 
better manage processing of the volume of applications being filed, 
provide for better management of right-of-way corridors, and more 
completely analyze the cumulative impacts in the area specified. With 
publication of this notice and until the end of the NOI comment period, 
the BLM is encouraging the filing of applications for rights-of-way for 
other power generating facilities on the public lands described above 
and for the surrounding area. Applications received after that time 
will be held and processed after a decision is made on the EIS.

Preliminary Issues

    Tentatively identified issues of concern may include: threatened 
and endangered species, visual resources, wildlife, cultural resources, 
land use, and wild horses.

Posssible Alternatives

    The EIS will analyze the Proposed Actions and No Action 
Alternative. Other alternatives may include modifying proposed tower/
turbine locations, road, power cable and line locations, rerouting 
linear electric power line right-of-way locations, as well as 
mitigating measures.

Decisions To Be Made

    Separate Records of Decision would be issued for the right-of-way 
for an array of wind turbines and ancillary facilities, and the rights-
of-way for other types of power generating facilities, roads, and 
transmission lines.

Public Scoping Meetings

    Two sets of public scoping meetings are planned. The first round of 
meetings will be ``open houses'' giving an opportunity for each entity 
anticipating filing a letter of interest to be considered for 
competitive bidding on the wind power development, and for applicants 
for rights-of-way for other power generating facilities, to provide 
informational brochures, present models or other presentations 
addressing their planned facility. Since space is limited, those 
applicants and potential applicants planning to make presentations need 
to contact the Project Manager named below to determine the 
applicability of the space available to their proposed presentation.
    The successful bidder for the preference right to construct, 
operate, and maintain an array of wind turbines will be selected prior 
to the second round of public meetings. This entity and the applicants 
for the rights-of-way for other power generating facilities, will 
present detailed proposals at the second round of public meetings.
    The second round of meetings will be more formal, providing time 
for a description of the proposals that are presented and time to 
present comments and issues that need to be addressed in the EIS.
    The first round of public meetings will be ``open houses'' starting 
at 6 p.m. and ending at 9:00 p.m. Beginning at 7 p.m. the EIS process 
will be explained and an opportunity will be given for written comments 
and general concerns. Meetings have been scheduled for the following 
locations:

January 16, 2001 at the Clark County Government Center, Room ODC #3, 
500 Grand Central Parkway, Las Vegas, Nevada.
January 17, 2001 at the Community Center, W. Quartz Ave., Sandy Valley, 
Nevada.
January 18, 2001 at the Community Center, 375 W. San Pedro Ave., 
Goodsprings, Nevada.

    The second round of public meetings will be more formal with 
determination of the successful bidder for application of the wind 
power right-of-way having been made. These scoping meetings will be 
held from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

February 27, 2001 at the Community Center, 375 W. San Pedro Ave., 
Goodsprings, Nevada.
February 28, 2001 at the Clark County Government Center, Room ODC #3, 
500 Grand Central Parkway, Las Vegas, Nevada.
March 1, 2001 at the Community Center, W. Quartz Ave., Sandy Valley, 
Nevada.

Public Input Requested

    Comments concerning the Proposed Actions and EIS should address 
issues to be considered, feasible alternatives to examine, possible 
mitigation, and information relevant to or having a bearing on the 
Proposed Action.

Comment Dates

    The comment period for scoping the EIS will commence with the 
publication of this notice. Those having concerns, issues, or 
alternatives they would like to see addressed in the EIS should respond 
with written comments within 30 days from the date of this notice. This 
Scoping Notice will be distributed by mail on or about the date of this 
notice. Comments on the proposed EIS and responses for the call for 
interest will be accepted for 30 days following the date of this 
notice.
    All comments received at the public meeting or through written 
comments submitted will aid the BLM in identifying alternatives and 
assuring all issues are analyzed in the environmental impact analysis.

ADDRESSES: Information and a copy of this Scoping Notice for the Table 
Mountain Wind Power EIS can be obtained by either writing to or 
visiting the Bureau of Land Management, Las Vegas Field Office, 4765 
Vegas Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89108. Comments and issues on the 
proposed EIS, expressions of interest for participating in competitive 
bidding, or other energy related proposals in the area specified above 
should be mailed to Anna M. Wharton, Project Manager, Bureau of Land 
Management, Las Vegas Field Office, 4765 Vegas Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 
89108 or at e-mail [email protected] (e-mail is not applicable for 
the expression of interest as announced above).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna M. Wharton, (702) 647-5000 or at 
e-mail [email protected].

    Dated: December 18, 2000.
Rex Wells,
Assistant Field Manager, Division of Lands.
[FR Doc. 00-33222 Filed 12-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P