[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 224 (Monday, November 22, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71144-71145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-29370]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVS03000 L51010000.ER0000 LVRWF09F8590 241A; 11-08807; TAS:14X5017]


Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the Solar 
Millennium, LLC, Amargosa Farm Road Solar Energy Project

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability 
of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Solar Millennium, LLC, Amargosa 
Farm Road Solar Energy Project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). 
The Secretary of the Interior approved the ROD on November 15, 2010, 
which constitutes the final decision of the Department.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD are available upon request from the BLM 
Southern Nevada District Office, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, 
Nevada 89130 or via the internet at the following Web site: http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo.html. Copies of the ROD are also available 
for public inspection at the BLM Southern Nevada District Office and 
the BLM Nevada State Office, 1340 Financial Blvd., Reno, Nevada.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory Helseth, Renewable Energy 
Project Manager; telephone: (702) 515-5173; mailing address: BLM 
Southern Nevada District Office, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, 
Nevada 89130; or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant, Solar Millennium, LLC, is 
authorized to construct the Amargosa Farm Road Solar Energy Project on 
approximately 6,320 acres of public land in 2 separate phases with a 
total generating capacity of approximately 500 megawatts (MW) of power. 
The Amargosa Farm Road Solar Energy Project is a solar facility 
utilizing parabolic trough solar thermal technology. Phase 1 of the 
project will generate 250-MW and Phase 2 will generate 250-MW, with an 
average net output of approximately 232-MW for each phase. Each phase 
will consist of power blocks, a solar field, a heat transfer fluid and 
steam generation system, a nitrate salt thermal storage system, 
conventional water treatment, electrical switchgear, administration, 
warehouse, and maintenance facilities.
    The project facility will disturb approximately 4,350 acres of the 
6,320 acre project area and will include solar fields, power blocks, 
office buildings, maintenance building, parking area, lay down area, 
storm water detention basin, evaporation ponds, switch yard, and a 
realignment of Amargosa Farm Road. The Notice of Availability (NOA) for 
the Draft EIS analyzing impacts of the proposed project was published 
in the Federal Register on March 19, 2010 (75 FR 13301) for public 
review and comment. A total of 37 comment letters were received on the 
Draft EIS. The comments were incorporated, where appropriate, to 
clarify the analysis presented in the Final EIS. The NOA for the Final 
EIS was published in the Federal Register on October 15, 2010 (75 FR 
63503). The Final EIS analyzes 3 alternatives; a No Action Alternative, 
the Proposed Action, and a Wet-Cooled Alternative. These alternatives 
were shaped in part by comments received from the public and internal 
BLM review.
    Alternative 1: No Action. The No Action Alternative assumes the 
right-of-way application for the Amargosa Farm Road Solar Energy 
Project would be denied and the proposed project would not be built.
    Alternative 2: Proposed Action (Dry-Cooled). This is the 
Environmentally Preferable Alternative that analyzes the construction, 
operation, maintenance and decommissioning of 2 dry-cooled solar power 
plants, each with a nameplate capacity of 250-MW and a net output of 
approximately 232-MW.
    Alternative 3: Wet-Cooled Alternative. Under the wet-cooled 
alternative, the proponent would construct and operate 2 wet-cooled 
solar power plants, each with a nameplate capacity of 250-MW and a net 
output of approximately 242-MW. Each solar plant would be equipped with 
thermal storage capability and associated linear facilities. 
Construction and operation of a wet-cooled project would be similar to 
a dry-cooled plant, however, the net power output from a wet-cooled 
solar power plant facility is greater than the net power output from a 
dry-cooled solar power plant facility. Plant components and layout are 
similar under both the wet- and dry-cooled alternatives; the primary 
differences are the amount of water used for plant operations, the need 
for cooling towers for heat rejection from the steam cycle for the wet-
cooled alternative, and the area needed for evaporation ponds.
    Because this decision is approved by the Secretary of the Interior, 
it is not subject to administrative appeal (43 CFR 4.410(a)(3)).


[[Page 71145]]


     Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6 and 1506.10.

Robert V. Abbey,
Director, Bureau of Land Management.
[FR Doc. 2010-29370 Filed 11-19-10; 8:45 am]
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