[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 142 (Monday, July 26, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43551-43552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-18217]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLAZC01000.L51010000.FX0000.LVRWA09A2310; AZA 32315]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Mohave County Wind Farm Project, Mohave County, AZ

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, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976 as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Kingman Field 
Office, Kingman, Arizona, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) and, by this notice, is announcing the beginning of a 
second scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues. 
The original Notice of Intent (NOI) was published in the Federal 
Register on November 20, 2009 (74 FR 60289). This new notice reflects 
significant changes to the project area.

DATES: This notice initiates a second public scoping process for this 
EIS. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until August 25, 
2010. The dates and locations of any scoping meetings will be announced 
at least 15 days in advance through the local news media, newspapers, 
and the BLM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/energy/wind/mohave.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 the Mohave County Wind 
Project by any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/energy/wind/mohave.html;
     E-mail: [email protected];
     Fax: (928) 718-3761; or

[[Page 43552]]

     Mail: Mohave County Wind Farm, BLM, Kingman Field Office, 
2755 Mission Boulevard, Kingman, Arizona 86401.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the BLM 
Kingman Field Office, Kingman, Arizona.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you need more information or want 
to add your name to our mailing list, contact Jerry Crockford, BLM-
contracted Project Manager, telephone (505) 360-0473, address 2755 
Mission Boulevard, Kingman, Arizona 86401; e-mail [email protected]; or Melissa Warren, Project Manager, Renewable 
Energy Coordination Office, telephone (928) 348-4446; address 2755 
Mission Boulevard, Kingman, Arizona 86401; e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: British Petroleum Wind Energy North America 
(BPWE), has applied for a right-of-way (ROW) authorization to 
construct, operate and maintain a 500 megawatt (MW) wind farm on 
approximately 31,338 acres of Federal land managed by the BLM and 
approximately 8,960 acres of Federal land managed by the Bureau of 
Reclamation (BOR), totaling approximately 40,298 acres of Federal land. 
The project area is located in the White Hills area approximately 40 
miles northwest of Kingman, Arizona, approximately 9 miles south of the 
Colorado River, and approximately 20 miles southeast of Hoover Dam. The 
project will consist of up to 335 wind turbine generators (WTGs). 
Construction may consist of multiple phases for access roads and 
ancillary facilities. The WTGs are anticipated to range in productive 
output from 1.5 to 3.0 MW each. To the extent possible, existing roads 
would be used for access to the project, supplemented with internal 
access/service roads to each WTG. Ancillary facilities may include pad-
mounted transformers, an underground 34.5-kilovolt (kV) electrical 
collection system between the turbines, distribution connector lines 
(either underground or above-ground) tying the turbine strings to 
either a 345- or 500-kV electrical substation, and either a 345- or 
500-kV overhead transmission line from the substation to a new 
switchyard where the project would interconnect with an existing 
transmission line in the area.
    BPWE submitted a prior application for this project requesting a 
ROW authorization to construct, operate, and maintain a 500 MW wind 
farm on approximately 45,420 acres of Federal lands managed by the BLM; 
the prior application also anticipated that WTGs could be placed on 
approximately 4,360 acres of private lands. The BLM published the first 
NOI for this project in the Federal Register on November 20, 2009. As a 
result of feedback received in the first scoping period and BPWE's 
further refinement of its proposal for the project, approximately 
13,522 acres of Federal lands managed by the BLM were removed from the 
requested ROW area, the project was revised to eliminate construction 
of WTGs on the approximately 4,360 acres of private lands, and 
approximately 8,960 acres of Federal lands managed by the BOR were 
added to the requested ROW area. In addition, the revised application 
also seeks authorization from BLM for a linear ROW to allow 
construction of a transmission line to connect to the existing 
Moenkopi-El Dorado transmission line, approximately 6 miles south of 
the project area. As a result of these changes to the application and 
to further agency and public information about, and involvement in, the 
BLM's review of the application, this second NOI is being published and 
further scoping comments are solicited.
    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. 
At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary issues: 
Access requirements; air quality during construction; cultural and 
historical resources; areas with high mineral potential; noise; 
sensitive soils and geology; recreation resources; socioeconomics; 
threatened and endangered species; visual resources; water resources; 
land with wilderness characteristics; and wildlife habitats. A Scoping 
Report summarizing the issues generated by public involvement for the 
original scoping period that concluded on January 8, 2010, is available 
at: http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/energy/wind/mohave.html.
    In accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, the BLM 
seeks to obtain the views of the public relating to the potential 
effects of the proposed project on historic properties, including 
prehistoric and historic sites, historic structures, and places of 
traditional cultural importance. Native American tribal consultations 
will be conducted in accordance with BLM's policy contained in BLM 
Manual 8120, and tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust 
assets, will be given due consideration. Federal, State, 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, 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.

    Authority:  43 CFR 2800.

James G. Kenna,
Arizona State Director.
[FR Doc. 2010-18217 Filed 7-23-10; 8:45 am]
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