[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 30, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17668-17669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7413]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[L51010000-FX0000-LVRWA09A2590-LLAZC02000; AZA34666]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Possible Land Use Plan Amendment in 
Conjunction With the Proposed Quartzsite Solar Energy Project, La Paz 
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 (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Yuma Field 
Office, Yuma, Arizona, proposes to amend the Yuma Resource Management 
Plan (RMP), in conjunction with the Quartzsite Solar Energy Project 
(QSEP), and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping 
process to solicit public comments and identify issues associated with 
the proposed RMP amendment.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the 
proposed amendment. To be fully considered in the planning process, 
comments must be submitted in writing by April 29, 2011. The date(s) 
and location(s) of all scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 
days in advance of the meeting(s) through local media and the following 
BLM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en.html. The BLM will provide 
additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of 
the draft planning document.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the plan amendment 
proposal by any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en.html.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: 928-317-3250.
     Mail: Quartzsite Solar Energy Project, BLM, Yuma Field 
Office, Attention: Eddie Arreola, Supervisory Project Manager, 2555 
East Gila Ridge Road, Yuma, Arizona 85365.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eddie Arreola, Supervisory Project 
Manager, telephone 602-417-9505; e-mail [email protected]; address 
One North Central Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix, Arizona 85004.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Quartzsite Solar Energy LLC (QSE), a wholly 
owned subsidiary of Solar Reserve LLC, has requested a right-of-way 
authorization from the BLM to construct, operate, and maintain a 100-
megawatt solar energy generation facility on 1,450 acres using 
concentrated solar power tower technology and has also applied for the 
approval of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) to 
interconnect the facility's electric grid system into WAPA's existing 
230 kilovolt transmission line paralleling State Route 95. QSE's 
proposed project is approximately 10 miles north of the Town of 
Quartzsite and approximately 1 mile to the east of State Route 95. 
WAPA, as the lead agency under NEPA for the project, published a Notice 
of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the 
proposed project in the Federal Register on January 14, 2010 (75 FR 
2133). Public scoping meetings on the QSE project EIS were held on 
January 26, 2010, in Yuma, Arizona; January 27, 2010, in Parker, 
Arizona; and January 28, 2010, in Quartzsite, Arizona. The BLM is a 
cooperating agency for this EIS.
    Preliminary environmental analysis by the BLM has determined that 
QSE's proposed project tower is in non-conformance with the Yuma RMP's 
Visual Resources Management (VRM) Class III management objectives. 
Authorization of the solar facility may therefore require an amendment 
to the Yuma RMP.
    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 NEPA analysis. The BLM will 
coordinate the RMP commenting process to satisfy the public involvement 
process under 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 in accordance with policy, and 
tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets, will be 
given due consideration.
    The purpose of this public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis as 
it relates to the potential RMP amendment, including alternatives, and 
guide the process for developing the relevant NEPA analyses. At 
present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary issues, among 
others: Air quality, geologic resources, soils, water resources, 
threatened and endangered species, wildlife habitats, cultural and 
historical resources, paleontological resources, visual resources, land 
use, recreational resources, and public health and safety. 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 for the development of the RMP amendment.
    The NEPA document analyzing the RMP amendment will consider the 
impacts of the proposed action, alternatives, and the no action 
alternative. The BLM, as a cooperating agency for the project EIS, will 
work to coordinate the analysis associated with the RMP amendment with 
the project EIS. The public is invited to submit comments on the 
possible amendment

[[Page 17669]]

of the Yuma RMP to address VRM issues. Previously submitted comments, 
issues and concerns related to QSE's proposed solar facility do not 
need to be resubmitted. Public comments will aid the BLM in identifying 
planning alternatives and mitigating measures and will help assure all 
relevant issues associated with the proposed RMP amendment are 
considered in the NEPA document for the RMP. This document may be the 
on-going project EIS or a stand-alone NEPA document, as appropriate.
    Please note that public comments and information submitted--
including names, street addresses, and e-mail addresses of persons who 
submit comments--will be available for public review and disclosure at 
the above address during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), 
Monday through Friday, except holidays.
    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 public at any time. While you may request that 
your personal identifying information be withheld from public review, 
we cannot guarantee that we will be able to withhold such information.

    Authority: 43 CFR 1610.2; 43 CFR 2800; 40 CFR 1501.7.

Raymond Suazo,
Arizona Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-7413 Filed 3-29-11; 8:45 am]
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