[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 175 (Friday, September 11, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46786-46787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-21928]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LL91310000EI]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Leasing of National System of Public Lands for Geothermal 
Resource Development in the Haiwee Geothermal Leasing Area Located in 
Inyo County, CA and To Amend the California Desert Conservation Area 
Plan of 1980

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1976 (NEPA), as amended, and section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) Ridgecrest Field Office intends to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the proposed leasing of 
approximately 22,060 acres of BLM-managed public lands for geothermal 
exploration, development, and utilization in the Haiwee Geothermal 
Leasing Area located in Inyo County, California. The leasing of public 
lands for geothermal resources will require an amendment to the 
California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan of 1980. Comments are 
being solicited to help identify significant issues or concerns related 
to the proposed action, determine the scope of issues, and identify and 
refine alternatives to the proposed action. The BLM will also use and 
coordinate the NEPA commenting process to satisfy the requirements for 
public involvement in section 106 of the National Historic Preservation 
Act.

DATES: This Notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS and 
plan amendment. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until 
October 13, 2009. The date(s) and location(s) of the public scoping 
meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local 
news media, newspapers and the BLM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en.html. 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. We will provide additional 
opportunities for public participation upon publication of the Draft 
EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to Geothermal Leasing in the 
Haiwee Geothermal Leasing Area located in Inyo County, California by 
any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en.html.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: (951) 697-5299.
     Mail: Bureau of Land Management, California Desert 
District Office, Attn: John Dalton, Haiwee Geothermal Leasing Area 
Coordinator, 22835 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, 
California 92553.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Dalton at (951) 697-5311, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM has received three noncompetitive 
geothermal lease applications for 4,460 acres of public land within the 
Haiwee Geothermal Leasing Area in Inyo County, California. In addition, 
the BLM identified approximately 17,600 acres of public lands, also 
within the Haiwee Geothermal Leasing Area and adjacent to the three 
geothermal lease applications, which will be considered for competitive 
geothermal leasing under 43 CFR 3203.10(e). The proposed action is to 
amend the CDCA Plan to allocate project area lands as open or closed to 
consideration for geothermal leasing, with appropriate stipulations 
necessary to maintain and protect other resource values and uses, and 
to develop a Reasonably Foreseeable Development Scenario for geothermal 
resources development under the authority of the FLPMA and the 
Geothermal Steam Act of 1970, as amended (30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.). 
Individual lease issuance decisions and parcels to be included in a 
sale will be considered in a manner consistent with the final plan as 
amended, as subsequent implementation decisions. The public lands being 
considered for geothermal leasing in the Haiwee Geothermal Leasing Area 
are located in sections 11-14, 23-26, 35, and 36 in Township 21 South, 
Range 37 East, sections 7-10, 15, 17-22, 27-34 in Township 21 South, 
Range 38 East, in sections 1 and 2 in Township 22 South, Range 37 East, 
and sections 5-8 in Township 22 South, Range 38 East, all within the 
San Bernardino and Base Meridian. Total acreage being considered for 
geothermal leasing is approximately 22,060 acres.
    Alternatives thus far identified for evaluation in the EIS will 
include the following:
    1. Proposed action.
    2. No action alternative (not leasing the lands for geothermal 
exploration, development, and utilization).
    3. Leasing fewer than the proposed 22,060 acres of public land.
    The principal issues identified thus far for consideration in the 
EIS include Native American concerns; potential land use conflicts 
including recreation; cumulative impacts considering existing, 
proposed, and potential geothermal projects in the area; and potential 
impacts on cultural resources, wildlife, visual resources, and surface 
and groundwater resources. The EIS will also address other issues such 
as geology, mining, geothermal resources, vegetation, threatened or 
endangered species, air quality, noise, transportation, human health 
and safety, and social and economic issues, as well as any issues 
raised during the scoping process.
    The BLM will identify issues to be addressed in the Plan, and will 
place them into one of three categories:
    1. Issues to be resolved in the plan.
    2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action.
    3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan.
    The BLM will provide an explanation in the plan as to why we placed 
an issue in category two or three. The public is also encouraged to 
help identify any management questions and concerns that should be 
addressed in the Plan. The BLM will work collaboratively with 
interested parties to identify the management decisions that are best 
suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns.
    The following Planning Criteria will be utilized during production 
of this document:
     The plan will be completed in compliance with FLPMA, NEPA, 
and all other relevant Federal law, Executive Orders, and management 
policies of the BLM.
     Where existing planning decisions are still valid, those 
decisions may remain unchanged and be incorporated into the plan 
amendment.
     The plans will recognize valid existing rights.
     Native American Tribal consultations will be conducted in 
accordance with policy and Tribal concerns will be given due 
consideration. The planning process will include the consideration of 
any impacts on Indian trust assets.

[[Page 46787]]

     Consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer 
will be conducted throughout the planning process.
     Consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be 
conducted throughout the planning process, as necessary.
    By this notice, the BLM is complying with requirements in 43 CFR 
1610.2(c) to notify the public of potential amendments to land use 
plans, predicated on the findings of the EIS. The BLM will utilize and 
coordinate the NEPA commenting process to satisfy the public 
involvement process for section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f) as provided for in 36 CFR 
800.2(d)(3). Native American Tribal consultations will be conducted in 
accordance with policy, and Tribal concerns will be given due 
consideration, including impacts on Indian trust assets. Federal, 
State, and local agencies, as well as individuals, organizations, or 
tribes that may be interested or affected by the BLM's decision on this 
project are invited to participate in the scoping process and, if 
eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM to participate as a 
cooperating agency.
    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.

Jack Hamby,
Acting District Manager.
[FR Doc. E9-21928 Filed 9-10-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P