[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 26, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72076-72077]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28198]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV030-08-1430-ER; 09-08807; TAS: 14X1109]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the New Comstock Wind Energy Project, Nevada

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Carson City District 
Office intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 
the Great Basin Wind New Comstock Wind Energy Project proposal in 
Carson City, Lyon, Storey, and Washoe counties. This notice announces 
the beginning of the scoping process and solicits input on the 
identification of issues.

DATES: The BLM will accept comments until December 26, 2008. A public 
scoping meeting will be held regarding the EIS on Wednesday, December 
10, 2008, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the BLM's Carson City District 
Office, 5665 Morgan Mill Road, Carson City, Nevada.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to:
     BLM Carson City District Office, Attn: New Comstock Wind 
Energy Project EIS Project Manager, 5665 Morgan Mill Road, Carson City, 
NV 89701.
     Fax: (775) 885-6147.
     E-mail: [email protected].
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Carson 
City District Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and to have 
your name added to the Comstock EIS mailing list, call Mark Struble 
(775) 885-6107; or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EIS for the New Comstock Wind Energy 
Project (Project) will analyze the direct, indirect, and cumulative 
impacts resulting from construction and operation of a commercial wind 
turbine facility proposed in a right-of-way application submitted by 
Great Basin Wind, LLC. The proposed project includes the construction 
of approximately 69 wind turbines with the potential of producing 192 
megawatts of electricity. The turbine towers would be 210 feet to 330 
feet tall supporting a nacelle and three blades 115 feet to 170 feet in 
length. Turbine units would be connected to a proposed electric 
substation by approximately 20 miles of underground electrical 
distribution system. A proposed 120 kV overhead transmission line 
approximately 5 miles in length would connect the new substation to an

[[Page 72077]]

existing substation operated by NV Energy located near U.S. Highway 50 
east of Carson City. A series of 15 feet to 40 feet wide access roads 
will be improved or constructed to facilitate site development. Other 
facilities will include several small outbuildings for storage of 
materials and temporary work areas and storage yards.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, 
including alternatives, and guide the EIS process. The EIS will address 
issues brought forth through scoping and will be evaluated by an 
interdisciplinary team of BLM and other agency specialists. A range of 
alternatives and mitigating measures will be considered to evaluate and 
minimize environmental impacts and to assure that the proposed actions 
do not result in undue or unnecessary degradation of public lands. 
Federal, State, and local agencies and other individuals and 
organizations that may be interested in or affected by the BLM decision 
on the New Comstock Wind Energy Project are urged to participate in the 
EIS process. It is important that those interested in the proposed 
activities participate in the scoping and commenting processes of the 
EIS.
    Written comments may be provided to BLM at the public scoping 
meetings or may be submitted to the BLM using one of the methods listed 
in the Addresses section. 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 publically 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.

    Authority: 43 CFR 2804.

    Dated: November 14, 2008.
Linda J. Kelly,
Field Manager, Sierra Front Field Office.
 [FR Doc. E8-28198 Filed 11-25-08; 8:45 am]
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