[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 76 (Friday, April 20, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19955-19956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-7341]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV-040-06-5101-ER-F344; (N-78091)]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for a Proposed Coal-Fired Electric Power Generating 
Plant in Eastern White Pine County and Notice of Public Meetings; 
Nevada

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, a DEIS has been prepared by the Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM), Ely Field Office for the White Pine Energy 
Station (WPES) and is now available for comment. This document 
evaluates the environmental effects from constructing a coal-fired 
electric power generating plant (up to 1,600-megawatts) and associated 
features on public lands in White Pine County, Nevada.

DATES: The DEIS is now available for comment. Copies of the DEIS will 
be mailed to individuals, agencies, or companies who previously 
requested copies. Mailed comments on the DEIS must be postmarked by 
June 19, 2007. Written comments on the document should be addressed to 
Jack Tribble, Acting Assistant Field Manager, Bureau of Land 
Management, Ely Field Office, HC 33 Box 33500, Ely, NV 89301-9408. Oral 
and/or written comments may also be presented at two public meetings. 
There will one public meeting in Ely and one public meeting in Reno. 
The date, time, and location will be made available at least 15 days 
before each meeting.

ADDRESSES: Public reading copies of the DEIS will be available for 
reading at public libraries listed below:

--University of Nevada-Reno, Getchell Library, Government Publication 
Dept., Reno, NV 89507.
--Washoe County Library, 301 South Center Street, Reno, NV 89501.
--White Pine County Library, 950 Campton Street, Ely, NV 89301.

    A limited number of copies of the document will be available at the 
following BLM offices:

--Bureau of Land Management, Elko Field Office, 3900 Idaho Street, 
Elko, NV 89801.
--Bureau of Land Management, Carson City Field Office, 5665 Morgan Mill 
Road, Carson City, NV 89701.
--Bureau of Land Management, Ely Field Office, 702 North Industrial 
Way, Ely, NV 89301-9408.
--Nevada State Office, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Reno, NV 89502-7147.
--Washington Office of Public Affairs, 18th and C Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20240.

    Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to 
withhold your name and/or street address from public review or from 
disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this 
prominently at the beginning of your written comments. Such requests 
will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from 
organizations, 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: Doris Metcalf at the above address, or 
phone: 775-289-1852.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DEIS addresses alternatives to resolve 
the following major issues: Ground water, air quality, visual 
resources, biological resources, and socioeconomic effects.
    The Proposed Action includes the following actions: Northern coal-
fired power plant site right-of-way (ROW),

[[Page 19956]]

northern transmission line alignment and substations ROW, northern well 
field and water line ROW, northern railroad spur ROW, access roads ROW, 
and ancillary features ROW. Alternative 1 includes the following 
actions: Southern coal-fired power plant site ROW, southern 
transmission line alignment and substations ROW, southern well field 
and water line ROW, southern railroad spur ROW, access roads ROW, and 
ancillary features ROW.
    The Proposed Action and Alternative 1 also include the following 
project actions and features: Issue ROWs for White Pine Energy Station 
construction and operation and subsequently arrange for the sale of the 
power plant site to White Pine Energy Associates; construct, operate, 
and maintain a 1,600-megawatt (maximum) coal-fired electric power 
generating plant using hybrid cooling systems that has an expected 
commercial life of 50 years or longer; develop a well field in the 
Steptoe Valley Hydrographic Basin to meet the water needs of the power 
plant; construct a new rail spur from the Nevada Northern Railway (NNR) 
to the power plant site to supply coal; develop the linear 
infrastructure necessary to connect the power plant to the new water 
source, to existing electric transmission lines serving the region, and 
to provide site access; and implement a seeding project to enhance the 
grazing and wildlife value of 700 to 900 acres. The Proposed Action and 
Alternative 1 differ primarily in the location of the power plant site, 
well field, and transmission line alignment (northern vs. southern).
    The No Action Alternative represents the current situation (i.e., 
not approving or implementing any of the above-described actions).
    Public participation is occurring throughout the processing of the 
application for this proposed project. A Notice of Intent was published 
in the Federal Register on August 6, 2004, 69 FR 47954-47955. One round 
of public meetings was held. Comments presented throughout the process 
have been considered and incorporated into the DEIS as appropriate.

    Dated: October 13, 2006.
Jack Tribble,
Acting Assistant Field Manager, Nonrenewable Resources.

    Note: This notice was received by the Office of the Federal 
Register on April 13, 2007.

[FR Doc. E7-7341 Filed 4-19-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P