[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 135 (Thursday, July 15, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41231-41232]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-17264]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVSO0530 L5101.ER0000 LVRWF0900110; NVN-0865171; 10-08807; 
MO 4500011976; TAS: 14X5017]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Abengoa Solar Inc., Lathrop Wells Solar Facility, Amargosa 
Valley, Nye County, NV

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, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Pahrump Nevada 
Field Office, Southern Nevada District Office intends to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 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. 
Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until September 13, 
2010. The date(s) and location(s) of any 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/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo.html. Comments must be received prior to the close of the scoping 
period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later, to 
be included in the Draft EIS. Additional opportunities for public 
participation will be provided upon publication of the Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Abengoa Solar Inc., 
Lathrop Wells Solar Facility by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected]
     Fax: (702) 515-5010 (attention: Gregory Helseth)
     Mail: Gregory Helseth, BLM Southern Nevada District 
Office, 4701 North Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89130-2301.
     In person: At any EIS public scoping meeting.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the BLM 
Southern Nevada District Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, send requests to: BLM Southern 
Nevada District Office, Gregory Helseth, Renewable Energy Project 
Manager, Attn: Abengoa Lathrop Wells Solar Facility, 4701 North Torrey 
Pines Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89130; e-mail: [email protected] 
or [email protected]; or phone: (702) 515-5173

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant, Abengoa Solar Inc., has 
requested a right-of-way authorization for the construction, operation, 
maintenance, and termination of a solar energy generation project. The 
proposed Lathrop Wells Solar Facility project would consist of a 
concentrated solar power facility including a solar parabolic trough, 
photovoltaic panels, an electrical transmission substation, switchyard 
facilities, and a transmission line connecting to the existing Valley 
Electric Line south of the project. The proposed project would produce 
approximately 250 megawatts (MW) from a parabolic-trough, dry-cooled 
solar power plant with the option to expand the facility by adding a 
second 250-MW unit. Additionally, the proposal may include up to 20 MW 
of photovoltaic solar power. The proposed project would be located on 
approximately 5,336 acres of public lands in the Amargosa Valley, Nye 
County, Nevada. The purpose of the public scoping process is to 
ascertain the relevant issues that will influence the scope of the 
environmental analysis, including alternatives, and to guide the 
process for developing the EIS. At present, the BLM has identified the 
following preliminary issues: Threatened and endangered species, visual 
resource impacts, impacts to lands with wilderness characteristics, 
recreation impacts, socioeconomic effects, and cumulative impacts.
    The BLM will use 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. 470(f)) as provided for in 36 CFR 
800.2(d)(3). Native American tribal consultations will be conducted, 
and Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets, will be 
given due consideration. 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

[[Page 41232]]

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.

Patrick Putnam,
Field Manager, Pahrump Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2010-17264 Filed 7-14-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P