[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 223 (Friday, November 20, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60291-60292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27862]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCAD0000L14300000.DS0000]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, Kern, Los 
Angeles, San Bernardino, Inyo, Riverside, Imperial, San Diego, and 
Tulare Counties, CA and Possible Land Use Plan Amendment

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) California 
Desert District, Moreno Valley, California, intends to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which may include an amendment to 
the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan of 1980, as 
amended, and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping 
process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS and 
possible plan amendment. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing 
until December 21, 2009. The dates and locations of any scoping 
meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local 
media, newspapers, and the BLM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd.html. In order to be considered in the Draft EIS, all 
comments must be

[[Page 60292]]

received before 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 on issues and planning criteria 
related to the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) by any 
of the following methods:
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd.html.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: (916) 978-4657.
     Mail or hand delivery: ATTN: DRECP, BLM California State 
Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1623, Sacramento, California 95825.

Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the BLM 
California State office or the BLM California Desert District office, 
22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, California 92553-
9046.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Amy Fesnock, Project 
Manager, telephone (916) 978-4646; address BLM California State Office, 
2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1623, Sacramento, California 95825; e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM, along with the California 
Department of Fish and Game, the California Energy Commission, and the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, propose to develop the DRECP to advance 
State and Federal conservation goals in the Mojave and Colorado desert 
regions in California, while also facilitating the timely permitting of 
renewable energy projects under applicable State and Federal laws. 
Specifically, the planning goals for the DRECP include, but are not 
limited to, the following:
     Provide for the long-term conservation and management of 
identified species in the planning area;
     Preserve, restore, and enhance natural communities and 
ecosystems that support identified species in the planning area;
     Build on the Competitive Renewable Energy Zones identified 
by the State's Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative that depict 
areas where renewable energy generation project permitting may be 
expedited;
     Identify the most appropriate locations in the planning 
area for the development of utility-scale renewable energy projects, 
taking into account potential impacts to threatened and endangered 
species, sensitive natural communities, and cultural resources;
     Coordinate and standardize mitigation and compensation 
requirements for renewable energy activities in the planning area; and
     Develop an efficient process for authorizing renewable 
energy projects in the planning area that results in greater 
conservation values than the process provided by project-by-project or 
species-by-species reviews.
    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 process for developing the EIS. 
The BLM has identified the following preliminary issues: Special status 
species, mitigation measures for special status species, vegetation 
communities, cultural resources, special area designations, and areas 
of high potential for renewable energy development.
    Authorization of this proposal may require amendment of the CDCA 
Plan. 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. If a land use plan 
amendment is necessary, the BLM will integrate the land use planning 
process with the NEPA process for this proposal.
    The BLM will use 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, Tribes, and local agencies, along with other stakeholders 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.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2.

Tom Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director for Natural Resources.
[FR Doc. E9-27862 Filed 11-19-09; 8:45 am]
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