[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 244 (Friday, December 19, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70832-70833]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31101]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA-660-1430-ER-CACA-44491]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the Imperial 
Irrigation District's Desert Southwest Transmission Line Project, 
California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended, 42 U.S.C 4321-4347, and title 40 CFR part 1500, the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hereby gives notice that the draft 
Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) 
for the Imperial Irrigation District's (IID) Desert Southwest 
Transmission Line Project is available for public review and comment. 
This project may involve an amendment to the applicable BLM land use 
plan: The California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan of 1980, as 
amended.

DATES: Comments will be accepted until 90 days have elapsed after 
publication of a notice of availability of this document, in the 
Federal Register, by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments by any 
of several methods. You may mail comments to: James G. Kenna, Field 
Manager; Bureau of Land Management, Palm Springs--South Coast Field 
Office, P.O. Box 581260, North Palm Springs, CA 92258.
    You may also comment via the Internet to [email protected]. Please 
include in the subject line: ``Draft EIS/EIR, Desert Southwest 
Transmission Line Project'' and your name and return address in your 
Internet message. If you do not receive a confirmation that we have 
received your Internet message, contact Diane Gomez at (760) 251-4852. 
You may also hand-deliver comments to: Bureau of Land Management, Palm 
Springs-South Coast Field Office, 690 W. Garnet Avenue, North Palm 
Springs, CA 92258.
    Oral comments will be accepted at any of three public meetings to 
be held during the month of November 2003. These meetings will be held 
in El Centro, Blythe, and North Palm Springs, California. Notices 
published in local media will be provided at least 15 days prior to the 
scheduled public meetings.
    Individuals may request confidentiality with respect to their name, 
address, and phone number. If you wish to have your name or street 
address withheld from public review, or from disclosure under the 
Freedom of Information Act, the first line of the comment should start 
with the words `CONFIDENTIALITY REQUESTED' in uppercase letters in 
order for BLM to comply with your request. Such request will be honored 
to the extent allowed by law. Comment contents will not be kept 
confidential. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and 
from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials 
of organizations or businesses, will be available for public inspection 
in their entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Gomez at (760) 251-4852 or e-
mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A copy of the draft Environmental Impact 
Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the Imperial 
Irrigation District's Proposed Desert Southwest Transmission Line 
Project is available for review via the Internet at http://www.ca.blm.gov/palmsprings. Electronic (on CD-ROM) and paper copies may 
also be obtained by contacting Diane Gomez at the aforementioned 
addresses and phone number.
    The IID is proposing to construct a 230 or 500 kilovolt (kV) 
electrical transmission line located parallel and adjacent to 
Interstate Highway 10 between North Palm Springs and Blythe, 
California, a distance of approximately 118 miles. Four alternatives to 
the proposed project are being considered in this EIS/EIR. These 
alternatives are consistent with the California Desert Conservation 
Area (CDCA) Plan of 1980, as amended, with the exception of Alternative 
B. This alternative is located partially outside of designated utility 
corridors under the CDCA Plan and would; if selected, require an 
amendment to this land use plan.
    The BLM, together with the IID, have jointly prepared this draft 
EIS/EIR. The BLM is the lead Federal agency for the preparation of this 
EIS/EIR in compliance with the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act

[[Page 70833]]

(NEPA). The IID is the lead State of California agency for the 
preparation of this EIS/EIR in compliance with the requirements of the 
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

    Dated: September 29, 2003.
John R. Kalish,
Acting Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 03-31101 Filed 12-18-03; 8:45 am]
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