[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 101 (Friday, May 23, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30148-30149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11480]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV-040-5101-ER-F852; N-79734]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Lincoln County Land Act Groundwater Development and 
Utility Right-of-Way Project

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to 
analyze a proposed grant of rights-of-way for groundwater development 
and utility facilities in Lincoln County, Nevada, and by this notice 
invites public comments.

DATES: To assure that they will be considered, BLM must receive written 
comments on the DEIS within 60 days following the date the 
Environmental Protection Agency publishes their Notice of Availability 
in the Federal Register. The BLM intends to hold four public meetings 
in Nevada during the 60-day comment period, one each in Mesquite, 
Caliente, Carson City and Las Vegas. BLM will announce all public 
meeting times and locations at least 15 days in advance through public 
notices, media news releases, and mailings. In addition, information on 
public meetings may be posted on the Internet at http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en.html.

[[Page 30149]]


ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the DEIS using any of the 
following methods:
     Mail: Penny Woods, BLM Project Manager, P.O. Box 12000, 
Reno, NV 89520.
     Fax: 775-861-6689 (Attention: Penny Woods, Project 
Manager).
     E-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Penny Woods, BLM Project Manager, P.O. 
Box 12000, Reno, NV 89520, by fax 775-861-6466 (Attention: Penny 
Woods), or by e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DEIS describes and analyzes a proposal 
for groundwater development in the Clover Valley and Tule Desert 
hydrographic basins as submitted by the Lincoln County Water District 
(LCWD). The DEIS addresses the proposal as submitted by LCWD; an 
alternative alignment of pipelines, power lines and facilities; and a 
no action alternative. Under the proposed action, LCWD would develop 
and convey groundwater in Tule Desert and Clover Valley hydrographic 
basins to private land for community development in the Toquop Township 
(Lincoln County Land Act) tract just north of Mesquite, Nevada. The 
volume of water to be transported through the proposed facilities could 
be up to 24,000 acre-feet per year.
    The proposed project would be located in unincorporated portions of 
southeastern Lincoln County, Nevada, and consists of approximately 47 
miles of a main transmission pipeline; approximately 54 miles of 
lateral pipelines; up to 30 production wells; water storage tanks, 
booster stations, and access roads; 138 kV, 22.8 kV and 4.16 kV power 
lines and a power substation; a natural gas pipeline; underground 
telephone lines; and a telemetry system utilizing a fiber optic line.
    The water wells and associated facilities would be located 
primarily within or adjacent to a utility corridor established by the 
Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation and Development Act of 2004--
Public Act 108-424 (LCCRDA). A portion of the pipeline would be 
constructed outside of the LCCRDA corridor to follow existing roads, 
which would reduce disturbance by following gentler gradients. Lateral 
pipelines (up to 12-inch diameter) would connect the transmission 
pipeline (up to 54-inch diameter) to the production wells. Associated 
facilities would include overhead power lines, buried fiber optic lines 
for telemetry, telephone lines, natural gas lines, access roads, and 
temporary storage areas. The power lines and communication lines would 
be placed in a permanent right-of-way to provide power and 
communication for project facilities. Depending on final well sitings, 
access roads approximately 12 feet wide may be needed from existing 
public roads to each well site. Temporary work areas up to 1 acre in 
size would be spaced approximately every mile along the right-of-way. 
Up to 20, five-acre sites, may also be needed for temporary storage, 
parking, or construction activities along the right-of-way. All 
temporary work spaces and ancillary storage sites would be reclaimed 
following completion of project consultation.
    The proposed width of the permanent right-of-way for the main 
transmission pipeline and connected lateral pipelines is 60 feet. A 
temporary adjacent right-of-way would also be established to 
accommodate construction activities and would be 40-feet wide. Where 
power lines are routed, an additional 100-foot permanent right-of-way 
would be placed adjacent to the 60-foot pipeline right-of-way.
    Scoping of the project occurred from March 31 through May 1, 2006. 
Comments were received in the following broad categories: NEPA 
development (38 percent), social impacts (22 percent) and physical 
resources (40 percent). The DEIS addresses the following issues 
identified during scoping: NEPA process (consultation/coordination, the 
proposed action, alternatives, connected actions, cumulative impacts, 
and data needs/validity); social impacts (aesthetics, cultural 
resources, competing land uses, recreation, and socioeconomic 
resources); and physical resources (air quality, biological resources, 
geology and water resources). Key issues identified by individuals, 
groups and governmental entities include water supply and use, 
competing or conflicting land uses, and cumulative impacts and 
connected actions.
    A map of the proposed project is available for viewing at the BLM 
Nevada State Office, 1340 Financial Blvd., in Reno and at the BLM Ely 
Field Office, 702 North Industrial Way, Ely, Nevada. Copies of the DEIS 
or the executive summary are available on request from the BLM Nevada 
State Office, 1340 Financial Blvd., P.O. Box 12000, Reno, NV 89520, 
775-861-6681 or e-mail to [email protected]. The DEIS is available 
both in hard copy and on compact disc (CD). The DEIS and summary will 
be available electronically on the Web site: http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en.html. Copies of the DEIS will be available for public inspection at 
the following locations:
     Bureau of Land Management, Nevada State Office, 1340 
Financial Blvd., Reno, Nevada.
     Bureau of Land Management, Ely Field Office, 702 North 
Industrial Way, Ely, Nevada.

All public comments, including names and mailing addresses, will be 
available for public review at the Nevada State Office in Reno during 
public room hours from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays, and may be published as part of the Final EIS.
    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying 
information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Ron Wenker,
State Director.
 [FR Doc. E8-11480 Filed 5-22-08; 8:45 am]
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