[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 62 (Friday, March 31, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16338-16339]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4663]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[ID-220-5101-ER-D025; IDI-33676]


Notice of Availability (NOA), Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed Cotterel Wind Power Project and Proposed 
Resource Management Plan Amendment, Burley Field Office, Cassia County, 
ID

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA).

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[[Page 16339]]

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the Burley 
Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Proposed Cotterel 
Mountain Wind Power Project and Proposed Resource Management Plan 
Amendment.

DATES: No decision on the Proposed Plan Amendment will be made for at 
least 30 days after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes 
the NOA of this FEIS/Proposed Plan Amendment in the Federal Register. 
BLM regulations (43 CFR 1610.5-2) state that any person who 
participated in the planning process and has an interest that may be 
adversely affected may protest the proposed decision that would be 
implemented on BLM administered land. The proposed decision which may 
be protested under this notice is the Proposed Plan Amendment. The 
protest must be filed within 30 days of the date that the EPA publishes 
its NOA. Instructions for filing protests are included in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

ADDRESSES: The FEIS/Proposed Plan Amendment has been mailed in hard 
copy to those who participated in the planning process by providing 
comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)/Draft Plan 
Amendment. Additional copies in both paper and digital format are 
available in limited numbers. To receive a copy, refer to the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section below. The FEIS/Proposed Plan 
Amendment is also posted to the Internet at http://www.id.blm.gov/planning/cotterel.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Barker, Project Manager, BLM 
Burley Field Office, 15 East, 200 South, Burley, Idaho 83318, phone 
208-677-6678, fax (209) 677-6699; or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Windland, Inc. in partnership with Shell 
Wind Energy, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Royal Dutch/Shell 
Group of Companies, is proposing to construct, operate, and maintain a 
wind-powered electric generation facility on the ridgeline of Cotterel 
Mountain, near the towns of Albion, Malta, and Burley, Idaho. The FEIS/
Proposed Plan Amendment presents comments received on the DEIS/Draft 
Plan Amendment and associated responses to those comments. Four 
alternatives are analyzed in this FEIS/Proposed Plan Amendment and the 
effects disclosed. Alternative A, the No Action Alternative, reflects 
existing Resource Management Plan direction. Alternative B is the 
proponent's Proposed Action as submitted in their right-of-way 
application. Alternative C, is a modification of the Proposed Action 
which includes fewer but larger output wind turbines, alternative 
access, alternative transmission line locations, and alternative 
turbine types. Alternative D is a modified version of Alternative C 
with a reduced number of wind turbines.
    Alternatives B, C, and D are not consistent with the Cassia RMP, 
which does not allow for the granting of rights-of-way in the proposed 
project area. The Proposed Plan Amendment would allow the decision 
maker to grant a right-of-way should that person decide to do so. The 
proposed decision is to amend the Cassia RMP by implementing 
Alternative C. Protests must address the proposed decision to amend the 
Cassia RMP.
    Protests regarding proposed decisions affecting BLM administered 
lands must be in writing and filed with the BLM Director. Protests may 
raise only those issues that were submitted for the record during the 
planning process. Email and faxed protests will not be accepted as 
valid protests unless the protesting party also provides the original 
letter by either regular or overnight mail postmarked by the close of 
the protest period. Under these conditions, the BLM will consider the 
email or faxed protest as an advance copy, and it will receive full 
consideration. If you wish to provide the BLM with such advance 
notification, please direct faxed protests to the attention of the BLM 
Protest Coordinator at (202) 452-5112 and e-mails to [email protected]. Please direct the follow up letters to the 
appropriate address provided below. To be considered complete, your 
protest must contain at minimum, the following information: (1) The 
name, mailing address, telephone number, and interest of the person 
filing the protest; (2) a statement of the issue or issues being 
protested; (3) a statement of the part or parts of the Proposed Plan 
Amendment being protested; (4) a copy of all documents addressing the 
issue or issues that were submitted during the planning process by the 
protesting party or an indication of the date the issue or issues were 
discussed for the record; and (5) a concise statement explaining why 
the Director's proposed decision is believed to be wrong. A protest 
merely expressing disagreement with the Director's proposed decision 
without providing any supporting data will not be considered a valid 
protest. All written protests must be sent to one of the following 
addresses: Regular Mail, Director, WO-210/LS-1075, Bureau of Land 
Management, Attn: Brenda Hudgens-Williams, Department of the Interior, 
P.O. Box 66538, Washington, DC 20035, or Overnight Mail, Director, WO-
210/LS-1075, Bureau of Land Management, Attn: Brenda Hudgens-Williams, 
Department of the Interior, 1620 L Street, NW., Suite 1075, Washington, 
DC 20036.
    To be considered timely, your protest must be postmarked no later 
than the last day of the protest period. Though not a requirement, it 
is suggested that protests be sent by certified mail, return receipt 
requested. You are also encouraged, but not required, to forward a copy 
of your protest to the project manager at the address listed above 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. This may allow the BLM to 
resolve the protest through clarification of intent or discussion with 
the protestor.
    Please note that protests, including names and street addresses are 
available for public review and/or release under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA). Individual respondents may request 
confidentiality. Respondents who wish to withhold their name and/or 
street address from public review or from disclosure under FOIA must 
state so prominently at the beginning of the written correspondence. 
Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All 
submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals 
identifying themselves as representing organizations or businesses, 
will be made available for public inspection in their entirety. 
Following resolution of any protests of the proposed decision, a record 
of decision (ROD) will be signed by the Assistant Director of the 
Bureau of Land Management. A NOA of the ROD will be published in the 
Federal Register and through local news media.
    Cooperating Agencies: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior; 
Bureau of Reclamation, Interior; Bonneville Power Administration, 
Energy; Idaho Department of Lands; Cassia County Commissioners. 
Participating Agency Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

    Dated: February 9, 2006.
Kenneth E. Miller,
Burley Field Office Manager, Bureau of Land Management.
 [FR Doc. E6-4663 Filed 3-30-06; 8:45 am]
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