[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 224 (Monday, November 23, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61166-61167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27989]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CACA49575, LLCAD0000, L14300000, DS0000]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Daggett Ridge Wind Farm, San Bernardino County, 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, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and 
the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) California Desert District (CDD), 
Moreno Valley, California, together with the County of San Bernardino 
(County) intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/
Environmental Impact Report (EIR), which may include an amendment to 
the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan of 1980, as 
amended, and by this notice are announcing the beginning of the scoping 
process to solicit public comments and identify issues. The BLM will be 
the lead agency for NEPA compliance and the County will be the lead 
agency for CEQA compliance.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS/EIR 
and possible plan amendment. Comments on issues may be submitted in 
writing until December 23, 2009. The date(s) and location(s) 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/EIR, 
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/EIR.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 
related to the Daggett Ridge Wind Farm by any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd.html.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: (951) 697-5299.
     Mail or hand delivery: ATTN: Lynnette Elser, BLM 
California Desert District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, 
Moreno Valley, California 92553-9046.
    The administrative record of this proposal may be examined at the 
California Desert District Office or the BLM's California State Office, 
2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 95825.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Lynnette Elser, telephone 
(951) 697-5233; address BLM California Desert District Office, 22835 
Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, California 92553-9046; e-
mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant, AES Wind Generation, has

[[Page 61167]]

requested a right-of-way (ROW) authorization to construct, operate, 
maintain, and decommission the Daggett Ridge Wind Farm. The proposed 
energy facility would generate 82.5 megawatts (MW) of renewable power 
using wind resources. The project would include approximately 10 miles 
of new roads. It would also include one substation on private land. The 
project would require the BLM to approve an amendment to Southern 
California Edison's current Slash X ROW to allow telecommunication use. 
It would also require the BLM to approve two amendments to the Boulder 
Canyon Project permit to allow: (1) The construction and installation 
of additional poles within the existing ROW for telecommunication use; 
and (2) a new 500-foot line from the proposed Seaggett Substation, 
which would include the replacement of one pole on BLM-managed land. 
The proposed project would involve new or expanded utility 
corridors.The proposed project would use 1,577 acres of BLM-managed 
land and 380 acres of private property, all of which is located in 
unincorporated San Bernardino County, southeast of Barstow and 
southwest of Daggett, California. It will have a total of 33 wind 
turbines--28 on BLM-managed land and five on private land.
    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/
EIR. At present, the BLM and the County have identified the following 
preliminary issues: Special status species, vegetation communities, 
special area designations, cultural resources, social impacts, visual 
resources, cumulative effectsand areas of high potential for renewable 
energy development.
    Authorization of this proposal may require amendment of the CDCA 
Plan (1980, as amended). 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 project.
    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 BLM policy, and Tribal concerns will be given due 
consideration, including impacts on Indian trust assets. Federal, 
State, and local agencies, tribes, and other stakeholders that may be 
interested or affected by the BLM's or the County's decision on this 
project, are invited to participate in the scoping process and, if 
eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM or the County 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.

Thomas Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director, Natural Resources, California State Office.
[FR Doc. E9-27989 Filed 11-20-09; 8:45 am]
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