[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 206 (Tuesday, October 25, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 66079]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27558]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CACA 49537 LLCAD08000 L51010000.FX0000 LVRWB11B4670]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement for the K Road Calico Solar Project, San Bernardino 
County, CA

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 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), 
California Desert District, intends to prepare a Supplemental Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for an amendment to the right-of-
way (ROW) grant for the K Road Calico Solar Project (Project) in San 
Bernardino County, California.

DATES: The BLM will provide a 45-day public comment period upon 
publication of the Supplemental Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: 
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/barstow/K Road_
Calico_Solar.html.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: (760) 252-6098.
     Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Joan Patrovsky, Project 
Manager, 2601 Barstow Road, Barstow, California 92311.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joan Patrovsky, BLM Project Manager, 
or Edy Seehafer, BLM NEPA Compliance Coordinator, telephone (760) 252-
6000. Please contact Ms. Patrovsky if you'd like to have your name 
added to our mailing list. See also ADDRESSES section, above. News 
media inquiries should be directed to the California Desert District 
Office, Public Affairs Office, David Briery, 22835 Calle San Juan De 
Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, California 92553, telephone (951) 697-5220, 
or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: K Road is seeking approval to construct and 
operate an electrical generating facility with a nominal capacity of 
approximately 664 megawatts (MW). The project would use photovoltaic 
(PV) panels and may include some solar thermal power. Approximately 
4,604 acres of BLM-administered public land and 9 acres of privately 
owned land are needed to develop the Project. K Road has submitted an 
application to the BLM requesting to amend their ROW grant to change 
portions of the approved facility from 100 percent SunCatcher 
technology to PV technology and potentially some SunCatcher technology.
    On October 20, 2010, the BLM approved the Calico Solar ROW grant, 
which would develop a solar thermal energy generating facility in a 
project area north of Interstate 40 between Newberry Springs and 
Hector, California approximately 37 miles east of Barstow, California. 
The grant holder, K Road Calico Solar, LLC has applied to the BLM for a 
ROW grant amendment on public lands to construct the solar facility in 
two phases including a change in technology: Phase 1 (275 MW and 1,863 
acres) will consist of PV panels, an access road, a central services 
complex, an on-site substation, and a underground water utility line. 
Phase 2 (2,750 acres, 389 MW) will consist of PV panels and may include 
some SunCatcher technology.
    Construction would begin in early 2013. Although construction would 
take approximately 48 months to complete, renewable energy power would 
be available to the grid as each phase is completed. The facility would 
be expected to operate for approximately 20 years.
    A new 230-kV substation would be built in the center of the project 
area and would connect to the existing Pisgah Substation via an 
approximately two-mile long single-circuit, 230-kV transmission line.
    The 2010 Final EIS and Proposed Amendment to the California Desert 
Conservation Area Plan for the Calico Solar Project considered this 
type of technology but did not analyze it in detail. The Supplemental 
Draft EIS will analyze this alternative in detail, including any 
additional site-specific impacts resulting from the change in 
technology and additional ancillary facilities or relocation of 
facilities. This includes impacts to air quality, biological resources, 
cultural resources, water resources, geological resources and hazards, 
hazardous materials handling, noise, paleontological resources, public 
health, socioeconomics, soils, traffic and transportation, visual 
resources, waste management and worker safety and fire protection, as 
well as facility design engineering, efficiency, reliability, 
transmission system engineering and transmission line safety and 
nuisance.
    If the ROW amendment is approved by the BLM, a multi-technology 
solar power plant facility on public lands would be authorized in 
accordance with Title V of FLPMA and the BLM's ROW Regulations at 43 
CFR part 2800. A certificate designating approval by the California 
Energy Commission must be obtained by K Road before it may construct 
the portion of Phase two involving ``SunCatcher'' solar facilities.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1502.9(c) and 43 CFR 1610.2.

Thomas Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-27558 Filed 10-24-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P