[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 149 (Friday, August 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 45050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17556]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[Cost Code: 1220 AL]


Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the Truckhaven 
Geothermal Leasing Area Final Environmental Impact Statement, 
California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Record of Decision.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) and the Bureau 
of Land Management (BLM) management policies, the BLM announces the 
availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Truckhaven 
Geothermal Leasing Area, Imperial County, managed by the El Centro 
Field Office. The El Centro Field Manager has signed the ROD, which 
constitutes the final decision of the BLM.

DATES: The appeal period will end 30 days after publication of this 
notice in accordance with 43 CFR 4.411(a).

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD are available upon request from the Field 
Manager, El Centro Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, 1661 S. 4th 
Street, El Centro, CA 92243 or via the Internet at http://www.ca.blm.gov/elcentro. Copies of the ROD are available for public 
inspection at the following locations:
     Bureau of Land Management, California State Office, 2800 
Cottage Way, Suite W-1834, Sacramento, CA 95825.
     Bureau of Land Management, El Centro Field Office, 1661 S. 
4th Street, El Centro, CA 92243.
     Bureau of Land Management, California Desert District, 
22835 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Dalton, Truckhaven Geothermal 
Leasing Area EIS Project Manager, at (951) 691-5200, Bureau of Land 
Management, 22835 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Truckhaven Geothermal Leasing Area 
encompasses approximately 14,731 acres of Federal minerals in western 
Imperial County, California, north of State Route 78 and generally west 
and south of County Highway S-22. The area is part of the California 
Desert Conservation Area. The main issues addressed in the Final EIS 
were geothermal resource leasing, recreation, and special status 
species. Three alternatives were analyzed in the Final EIS: (1) No 
action, which would not lease any geothermal resources; (2) leasing 
only lands with existing noncompetitive lease applications; and (3) the 
proposed action, which would offer all BLM managed lands within this 
area for lease, subject to certain stipulations and mitigation measures 
to be applied either at lease issuance or at the development stage.
    After careful consideration of all factors, including balancing the 
need for renewable energy, the need to protect biological, cultural and 
visual values, and the need to maintain areas for recreational 
opportunities associated with the Ocotillo Wells State Vehicle 
Recreation Area, the BLM has selected Alternative 3 as the preferred 
alternative. Some areas will be required by stipulation to unitize as 
appropriate in order to consolidate production facilities and, thereby, 
minimize surface impacts. Two power plants are anticipated to be 
constructed within the planning area, which would involve an initial 
disturbance of approximately 502 acres. Following construction, 
approximately 95 acres would be reclaimed, leaving approximately 405 
acres disturbed by roads, well pads, pipelines, and the two plants. 
Various site-specific Conditions of Approval will be imposed at the 
development stage to protect other resources and uses.
    Comments on the Truckhaven Geothermal Leasing Area Draft EIS 
received from the public and via internal BLM review were incorporated 
into the Final EIS. These comments resulted in corrections, clarifying 
text, and the addition of new data used in the analysis of impacts. The 
Final EIS Truckhaven Geothermal Leasing Area addresses comprehensive, 
long-range decisions for the use and management of geothermal resources 
in the planning area and management of other resources and uses 
potentially affected by geothermal resource management decisions. The 
ROD for this project addresses only BLM's decisions for public lands 
and resources administered by BLM.

Sean E. Hagerty.
Acting Deputy State Director, Division of Energy and Minerals, BLM--
California State Office.
[FR Doc. E8-17556 Filed 7-31-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P