[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 142 (Monday, July 27, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37053-37054]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-17784]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CACA 49834; L51010000.ER0000 LLCAD09000 LVRWB09B3160]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Joint Environmental Impact 
Statement and Final Environmental Impact Report for the Southern 
California Edison, Eldorado-Ivanpah Transmission Project; California, 
Nevada

    Agency: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the California Environmental Quality Act 
of 1970 (CEQA), the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM), together with the California Public Utilities 
Commission (CPUC), intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) on the impacts of the Eldorado-
Ivanpah Transmission Project (EITP).

DATES: This notice initiates the public participation and scoping 
processes for the EIS. A public scoping period of at least 30 days is 
hereby announced, and at least one public meeting has been announced 
through the local news media, newspapers, and BLM's Web page (http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/needles.html). During the public scoping 
period, the BLM solicits public comment on issues, concerns, and 
opportunities that should be considered in the analysis of the proposed 
action. Comments on issues, potential impacts, or suggestions for 
additional alternatives may be submitted in writing to the address 
listed below. In order to be included in the Draft EIS all comments 
must be received prior to the close of the scoping period or 15 days 
after the last public meeting, whichever is later. Additional 
opportunities for public participation and formal comment will occur 
when the Draft EIS/Draft EIR is issued.

ADDRESSES: Comments and other correspondence should be sent to the BLM 
Needles Office, attention George R. Meckfessel, Planning and 
Environmental Coordinator, Needles Field Office, 1303 South U.S. 
Highway 95, Needles, California, 92363-4228, or by fax at (760) 326-
7099 or by e-mail at mailto:[email protected] attention EITP. Documents 
pertinent to this proposal, including comments of respondents, will be 
available for public review at the BLM Needles Field Office

[[Page 37054]]

during regular business hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, excluding holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Tom Hurshman, Project 
Manager, 2465 South Townsend Ave., Montrose, CO 81401, Phone (970) 240-
5345, fax (970) 240-5368, or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant, Southern California Edison, 
has requested a right-of-way (ROW) authorization to construct a 
proposed electric transmission line and associated facilities on public 
lands located in San Bernardino County, California, and Clark County, 
Nevada. The EIS/EIR will analyze the site-specific impacts to the 
environment resulting from the proposed project. The CPUC is the lead 
State of California agency for the licensing of electric transmission 
facilities and, in the present case, for compliance with the 
requirements of CEQA. BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA 
commenting process to satisfy the public involvement process for 
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 U.S.C. 
470f) as provided for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3).
    Southern California Edison has applied for a ROW authorization to 
upgrade and replace an existing 115 kV electric transmission line on 
public lands with a new double circuit 220 kV electric transmission 
line. The proposed transmission line would handle projected electricity 
produced from several renewable energy project proposals in and around 
the Ivanpah Valley, including the Ivanpah Solar Energy Generation 
System planned by Solar Partners, LLC. The proposed electric 
transmission line and a new substation would be constructed within an 
existing designated utility corridor. The public lands are managed by 
BLM in accordance with the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) 
Plan and the Las Vegas Field Office Resource Management Plan (RMP). The 
segment of electric transmission line to be replaced is approximately 
36 miles long and originates at the existing Eldorado Substation in T. 
25 S., R. 62 E., Sec. 1, Mount Diablo PM, and terminates at the 
proposed Ivanpah Substation in T. 16 N., R. 14 E., Sec. 4, San 
Bernardino PM.
    In addition to the electric transmission line, the applicant 
requires telecommunications facilities to operate the substation. 
Primary telecommunications would be provided with an optical overhead 
ground wire constructed on the proposed electric transmission line, and 
redundant telecommunications would be established by construction of an 
independent fiber optics cable that will be located on other existing 
electric transmission towers owned by the applicant.
    BLM will consider approval of the proposed Project in a manner that 
avoids or reduces impacts to public lands. This action is consistent 
with Federal law and BLM's policy allowing the use of public lands for 
the generation and transmission of electrical energy from renewable 
energy projects pursuant to Title V of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act (FLPMA) and Section 211 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 
(119 Stat. 594, 660). BLM has an established process to respond to 
applications for ROW's for major utilities while protecting the 
environment. The CDCA Plan, the Las Vegas Field Office RMP, and the 
FLPMA recognize that public lands will be managed for multiple uses and 
emphasize the use of ROW corridors.
    The EIS/EIR will describe and analyze the project as proposed and 
will include: (1) Measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts on 
the environment; (2) alternative routes and locations for facilities; 
and (3) the ``No Action'' alternative (no upgrades to the existing 
electric transmission line). Through public scoping, BLM expects to 
identify various issues, potential impacts, and mitigation measures. As 
proposed, the electric transmission line has been sited to take 
advantage of existing designated ROW corridors, which are areas 
identified by BLM land use plans as suitable for ROW development.
    BLM has identified a potential list of issues that will need to be 
addressed in this analysis including but not limited to: Social and 
economic impacts, including impacts to the public from traffic; ground 
and surface water quantity and quality impacts; plant and animal 
species including special status species; cultural resources; and 
visual resource impacts. If approved, the electric transmission line 
project on public lands would be authorized in accordance with the 
FLPMA and federal regulations at Title 43 Code of Federal Regulations 
Part 2800.
    You may submit comments in writing at the public scoping meeting, 
by mail, or via e-mail (see ADDRESSES section above). Before including 
your address, phone number, email 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.

Tom Zale,
Deputy State Director, Natural Resources (acting), California State 
Office.
[FR Doc. E9-17784 Filed 7-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P