[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 4, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20409-20411]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8101]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCA9300000 L13400000.DS0000]


Notice of Amendment to the Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Desert Renewable Energy 
Conservation Plan, Including Kern, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Inyo, 
Riverside, Imperial, and San Diego Counties; and Possible Land Use Plan 
Amendments

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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) 
Central California District, Sacramento, California and California 
Desert District, Moreno Valley, California intend to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which may include amendments to 
the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan, Bishop Resource 
Management Plan (RMP), Caliente/Bakersfield RMP, and Eastern San Diego 
County RMP for the areas that are within the planning boundary of the 
proposed Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP). These 
potential plan amendments will be analyzed in the DRECP Draft EIS and 
CDCA Plan Amendment (PA), as noticed in the Federal Register on 
November 20, 2009 (74 FR 60291) and August 29, 2011 (76 FR 45606). By 
this notice, the BLM is announcing the beginning of the scoping process 
to

[[Page 20410]]

solicit public comments and identify issues related to the proposed RMP 
amendments.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS and 
possible RMP amendments. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing 
until May 4, 2012. In order to be included in the Draft EIS/PA, all 
comments must be received prior to the close of the scoping period. We 
will provide additional opportunities for public participation upon 
publication of the Draft EIS/PA.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments in writing on issues and planning 
criteria related to the Bishop, Caliente/Bakersfield, or Eastern San 
Diego plan amendments as addressed in the DRECP Draft EIS/PA by any of 
the following methods:
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd.html.
     Email: [email protected] or [email protected] (include 
``Docket No. 09-RENEW EO-01/Scoping'' in the subject line).
     Fax: (916) 978-4657 or (916) 654-4421 (Attn: Kristy Chew).
     Mail: ATTN: Vicki Campbell, DRECP Program Manager, BLM 
California State Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1623, Sacramento, 
California 95825, or California Energy Commission, Dockets Office, MS-
4, Docket No. 09-RENEW E0-01, Scoping Comments, 1516 Ninth St., 
Sacramento California 95814-5512.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the BLM 
California State Office (see ADDRESSES above); BLM California Desert 
District office, 22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, 
California 92553-9046; BLM Bakersfield Field Office, 3801 Pegasus 
Drive, Bakersfield, California 93308; or the BLM Bishop Field Office, 
351 Pacu Lane, Suite 100, Bishop, California 93514.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Vicki Campbell, DRECP 
Program Manager, telephone (916) 978-4320; address BLM California State 
Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1623, Sacramento, California 95825; 
email [email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunications device for 
the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 
(800) 877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business 
hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a 
message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply 
during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM, along with the California 
Department of Fish and Game, the California Energy Commission, and the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service propose to amend the CDCA Plan, Bishop 
RMP, Caliente/Bakersfield RMP, and Eastern San Diego RMP within the 
DRECP planning area. The DRECP will advance State and Federal 
conservation goals in the desert regions of California while also 
facilitating the timely permitting of renewable energy projects under 
applicable State and Federal laws, and is intended to complement the 
Solar Programmatic EIS, which is currently under environmental review 
as well. Thus far, the agencies have identified the need to: provide 
conservation and management of identified species in the planning area, 
along with the natural communities and ecosystems that support these 
species, build on the Competitive Renewable Energy Zones identified by 
the State's Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative, while identifying 
the most appropriate locations in the planning area for development of 
utility scale renewable energy projects that will not burden existing 
resources, standardize mitigation and compensation requirements for 
energy activities in the planning area, and to streamline the 
permitting process of energy projects that results in greater 
conservation values than current methods.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, 
including alternatives for the RMP areas and to guide the process for 
developing the Draft EIS/PA. The BLM has identified the following 
preliminary issues: special status species, mitigation measures for 
special status species, vegetation communities, cultural resources, 
special area designations, and areas of high potential for renewable 
energy development. These issues along with interagency guidance and 
cooperation have helped frame preliminary planning criteria, which will 
work to define the scope of the planning area. These criteria include:
     The plan amendments will be completed in compliance with 
FLPMA, NEPA, and all other relevant Federal law, implementing 
regulations, Executive Orders, Secretarial Orders, and management 
policies of the Department of Interior and the BLM.
     The plan amendment will recognize BLM's responsibility to 
manage for multiple use and sustained yield throughout the planning 
area.
     Although the plan amendments will only apply to BLM-
managed lands, the BLM will develop and analyze in its range of 
alternatives, potential land use plan decisions that address a larger, 
landscape context, which will include considerations of private lands.
     The California Desert Conservation Area Plan Amendment 
will recognize the unique values and resources in the California 
Desert, as found by Congress in Sec. 601 of FLPMA.
     The plan amendments will be consistent with the California 
Natural Communities Conservation Planning Act, to the extent that the 
decisions reached in the NCCP are consistent with Federal law, 
regulation, and BLM policies regarding management of public lands.
     The plan amendment will comply with the Memorandums of 
Understanding between the Department of the Interior (including those 
agreements signed by BLM-CA) and the State of California (including 
those agreements signed by state agencies and commissions) and the 
DRECP Planning Agreement, to the extent that the direction in those 
documents is consistent with Federal law, regulation, and BLM policies 
regarding the management public lands.
     Native American Tribal consultation will be conducted in 
accordance with Federal law, regulation, and policy, and Tribal 
concerns will be given due consideration.
     Plan amendment decisions will strive to be compatible with 
the existing plans and policies of adjacent local, state, tribal, and 
federal agencies, or with changes to those policies and plans 
contemplated as part of the DRECP, as long as the decisions are in 
conformance with Federal law, regulation, and BLM policies on 
management of public lands.
    Authorization of this proposal will require amendments of the CDCA 
Plan, Bishop RMP, Caliente/Bakersfield RMP, and Eastern San Diego 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 environmental review process. 
The BLM is integrating the land use plan amendment process with the 
NEPA process for this project.
    The BLM will use and coordinate the NEPA commenting process to help 
fulfill 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 will be given 
due consideration, including potential impacts on Indian trust assets. 
Federal,

[[Page 20411]]

state, and local agencies, along with tribes and 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.
    The minutes and list of attendees for each scoping meeting will be 
available to the public and open for 30 days after the meeting to any 
participant who wishes to clarify the views he or she expressed. The 
BLM will evaluate identified issues to be addressed in the plan, and 
will place them into one of three categories:
    1. Issues to be resolved in the plan amendment;
    2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action; 
or
    3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan amendment.
    The BLM will provide an explanation in the Draft RMP/Draft EIS as 
to why an issue was placed in category two or three. The public is also 
encouraged to help identify any management questions and concerns that 
should be addressed in the plan. The BLM will work collaboratively with 
interested parties to identify the management decisions that are best 
suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns.
    The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the plan 
amendment in order to consider the variety of resource issues and 
concerns identified. Specialists with expertise in the following 
disciplines will be involved in the planning process: rangeland 
management, minerals and geology, outdoor recreation, paleontology, 
archaeology, wildlife, lands and realty, hydrology, soils, sociology 
and economics.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2.

Thomas Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director.
[FR Doc. 2012-8101 Filed 4-3-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P