[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 132 (Monday, July 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 33458]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16415]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVS03000.L51010000.ER0000.F09F8590; NVN-84359; 9-08807: TAS:14X5017]


Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Solar Millennium, LLC, Amargosa Farm Road Solar Energy 
Project, Nye County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Field Office, Southern 
Nevada District, Pahrump Field Office intends to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Amargosa Farm Road Solar 
Energy Project, located on public lands in Nye County, Nevada and by 
this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process and 
soliciting input on the identification of issues.

DATES: This notice initiates public scoping. Scoping comments shall be 
submitted on or before August 12, 2009.
    The BLM will announce public scoping meetings to identify relevant 
issues through local news media, newsletters, and the BLM Web site 
(http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo.html) at least 15 days prior to 
each meeting. We will provide additional opportunities for public 
participation upon publication of the Draft RMP/EIS, including a 90-day 
public comment period.

ADDRESSES: Comments related to the project may be submitted by any of 
the following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: (702) 515-5064 (attention: Gregory Helseth).
     Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Southern Nevada District 
Office, Pahrump Field Office, Attn: Gregory Helseth, Project Manager, 
4701 North Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130-2301.
    Documents pertinent to this project may be examined at the Pahrump 
Field Office. Additional opportunities for public participation will be 
provided on publication of the draft EIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to the mailing list, call Gregory Helseth, (702) 515-
5173, or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Solar Millennium, LLC, has submitted a 
right-of-way application to BLM to construct two concentrated solar 
thermal parabolic trough power plant facilities on public lands, 
approximately 80 miles northwest of Las Vegas, in Nye County, Nevada. 
The Project site would consist of approximately 4,350 acres of public 
land located in Amargosa Valley, south of Highway 95. Each facility is 
expected to operate for approximately 30 years. Each plant would 
utilize solar thermal parabolic trough technology, consisting of a 242 
megawatt (MW) power block equipped with thermal storage tanks capable 
of producing additional energy for 3.5 hours after sundown, and a solar 
field composed of parabolic trough mirrors.
    The solar field would be highly modular and would consist of 
``loops,'' each containing 4 curved glass mirror collectors. A loop is 
22m wide and 400m long (72.18' wide and 1312.33' long). The solar field 
would consist of approximately 400 loops. The orientation of the 
collectors would be north-south, and the collectors would track the sun 
from east to west during the day. The collector would focus the sun's 
direct beam radiation on a receiver tube. The row of collectors would 
have a hydraulic drive unit with sensors to track the sun's path 
throughout the day. The solar energy would heat a transfer fluid which 
cycles through a series of heat exchangers to generate steam, which 
drives a steam turbine to ultimately generate electricity. The electric 
output of the Project would be generated entirely by solar energy. No 
electricity would be generated by the use of fossil fuel in these 
facilities.
    The proposed Project facilities would include the solar fields, 
power blocks, buildings, parking area, laydown area, stormwater 
retention pond, and evaporating ponds. A single overhead 230 kilovolt 
(kV) transmission line would connect the facilities to the nearby 
Valley Electric Valley substation, located on Anvil Road. Additional 
elements of the Project would include access roads and optional water 
pipeline. The proposed Project may require the rerouting of a road and 
an existing low voltage distribution power line. The EIS will analyze 
the site-specific impacts of the Project on air quality, biological 
resources, cultural resources, water resources, geological resources, 
paleontological resources, public health, socioeconomics, soils, 
traffic and transportation, and visual resources. It will analyze the 
geologic hazards, hazardous materials handling, land use and airspace, 
noise, waste management, worker safety, and fire protection potentially 
associated with the Project. It will also analyze facility design 
engineering, efficiency, and reliability; transmission system 
engineering; and transmission line safety and nuisance. Native American 
Tribal consultations will be conducted in accordance with policy, and 
Tribal concerns will be given due consideration. The EIS will include 
the consideration of any impacts on Indian trust assets.
    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. Federal, State, and local agencies, as well as 
individuals or organizations that may be interested in or affected by 
the BLM's decision on this project are invited to participate in the 
scoping process and, if eligible, may requested or be requested by the 
BLM to participate as a cooperating agency.

(Authority: 43 CFR Part 2800)

Patrick Putnam,
Field Manager, Pahrump Field Office.
[FR Doc. E9-16415 Filed 7-10-09; 8:45 am]
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