[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 91 (Thursday, May 10, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27478-27479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11290]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCAD01500 L13400000 DS0000]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement and Draft Proposed California Desert Conservation Area Plan 
Amendment for the Haiwee Geothermal Leasing Area in Inyo County, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance 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) has prepared a 
Draft Proposed California Desert Conservation

[[Page 27479]]

Area (CDCA) Plan Amendment and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the Haiwee Geothermal Leasing Area (HGLA), Inyo County, 
California, and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment 
period.

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the Draft Proposed CDCA Plan Amendment and Draft 
EIS within 90 days following the date the Environmental Protection 
Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. 
The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public 
involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public 
notices, media releases, and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Haiwee Geothermal 
Leasing Area Draft EIS/Draft Proposed CDCA Plan Amendment by any of the 
following methods:
     Web site: [email protected].
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 951-697-5299.
     Mail: BLM, California Desert District Office, 22835 Calle 
San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, California 92553, Attn: Peter 
Godfrey, Project Manager.
    Copies of the Draft EIS and Draft Proposed CDCA Plan Amendment for 
the HGLA are available in the Ridgecrest Field Office at 300 S. 
Richmond Road, Ridgecrest, California 93555.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Godfrey, Project Manager, 
telephone (951) 697-5385; address: 22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, 
Moreno Valley, California 92553; 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 Draft EIS analyzes the potential impacts 
of opening public lands to geothermal leasing and potential development 
of federally owned geothermal resources in the HGLA of southwestern 
Inyo County, California, east of the Inyo National Forest, west of the 
China Lake Naval Weapons Station, and south of the South Haiwee 
Reservoir. The HGLA consists of an estimated 22,805 acres of BLM-
administered federal mineral estate that would be considered for 
competitive geothermal leasing under 43 CFR part 3200. An updated 
inventory of lands with wilderness characteristics determined that 
lands with wilderness characteristics are not found within the HGLA. 
The proposed action is to amend the CDCA Plan to identify public lands 
as being suitable for geothermal leasing and allow the project area to 
be leased under the authority of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970, as 
amended (30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.), and to approve three pending non-
competitive geothermal leases applications. The purpose and need for 
amending the CDCA Plan is to establish a management framework for 
appropriate exploration and development of geothermal resources, based 
upon evaluation of the various land use, and environmental resources 
within the HGLA. The BLM's purpose and need for approving the pending 
lease applications, for approximately 4,460 acres of Federal mineral 
estate, is to facilitate appropriate exploration and development of 
geothermal resources in the HGLA, consistent with the BLM's management 
of other important resources in the HGLA.
    Alternatives thus far identified for evaluation in the EIS include:
    (a) Open the entire HGLA to geothermal exploration and development, 
with restrictions on water use and authorize the pending leases;
    (b) Close the HGLA to geothermal exploration and development and 
deny the pending leases;
    (c) Open the HGLA to geothermal exploration and development with 
additional specific stipulations and restrictions regarding surface 
occupancy and water use and authorize the pending leases;
    (d) Close sensitive resource areas within the HGLA to geothermal 
exploration and development, leave open all other areas, and authorize 
the pending leases; and
    (e) The no action alternative, which would not identify the HGLA as 
suitable or unsuitable for geothermal exploration, development, and 
utilization, and would deny the pending leases.
    The BLM published a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS on September 
11, 2009, in the Federal Register [74 FR 46786]. Publication of the 
Notice of Intent initiated a public scoping period, which included four 
public scoping meetings. Through the public scoping process the BLM 
received 14 comment letters and numerous verbal comments. Comments 
received through the scoping process and consultation carried out 
pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and 
other Federal mandates, identified the following issues and concerns to 
be considered when developing the EIS: The BLM's purpose and need, 
alternatives development, air quality, geothermal resources, hazardous 
materials, Native American concerns, potential land use conflicts with 
agriculture and recreation, public health and safety, social and 
economic issues, transportation, noise, cumulative impacts, cultural 
resources, wildlife, visual resources, and surface or groundwater 
resources. Lands with wilderness characteristics are not present within 
the planning area.
    The BLM, in compliance with Federal Lands Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and all other 
relevant Federal laws, Executive orders, and management policies of the 
BLM, used an interdisciplinary approach in development of the plans, 
working collaboratively, in order to consider the variety of resource 
issues and concerns identified.
    Please note that public comments and information submitted 
including names, street addresses, and email 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, 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:  40 CFR 1506.6, 1506.10, and 43 CFR 1610.2.

Cynthia Staszak,
Associate Deputy State Director.
[FR Doc. 2012-11290 Filed 5-7-12; 4:15 pm]
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