[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 4435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01193]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLAZ910000.L13400000.DT0000.LXSS058A0000]


Notice of Availability of the Restoration Design Energy Project 
Record of Decision/Approved Resource Management Plan Amendments, AZ

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 Restoration Design Energy Project (RDEP) Record of Decision 
(ROD)/approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendments for BLM-
administered lands in Arizona. The Arizona State Director signed the 
ROD on January 18, 2013, which constitutes the BLM's final decision and 
makes the approved RMP amendments effective immediately.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD/approved RMP amendments are available upon 
request from the BLM, Arizona State Office, One North Central Avenue, 
Suite 800, Phoenix, AZ 85004-4427 or via the Internet at http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/energy/arra_solar.htm. Copies of the ROD/
approved RMP amendments are also available for public inspection at the 
Arizona State Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Pedrick, BLM Project Manager; 
telephone: 602-417-9235; mail: One North Central Avenue, Suite 800, 
Phoenix, AZ 85004-4427; or email: [email protected]. Persons who 
use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 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 RDEP supports the Secretary of the 
Interior's goals to build America's new energy future and to protect 
and restore treasured landscapes. The purpose of the RDEP was to 
conduct statewide planning that fosters environmentally responsible 
development of renewable energy and allows the permitting of future 
renewable energy development projects to proceed in a more efficient 
and standardized manner. The RDEP ROD identifies geographic areas best 
suited for renewable energy development and establishes a baseline set 
of environmental protection measures for such projects. A total of 
192,100 acres are identified as Renewable Energy Development Areas 
(REDAs) in the ROD/approved RMP amendments.
    The following BLM RMPs are amended through the RDEP ROD to 
incorporate the identification of REDAs and environmental protection 
measures, as appropriate: Bradshaw-Harquahala RMP (2010); Arizona Strip 
Field Office RMP (2008); Kingman Resource Area RMP (1995); Lake Havasu 
Field Office RMP (2007); Lower Sonoran RMP (2012); Phoenix RMP (1988); 
Safford District RMP (1991); and Yuma Field Office RMP (2010). 
Additionally, the BLM is amending the Yuma Field Office RMP through 
this ROD to designate the Agua Caliente Solar Energy Zone (SEZ), 
identify SEZ-specific design features, change the Visual Resource 
Management (VRM) class from VRM class III to VRM class IV for lands 
within the 2,550-acre SEZ, and remove the Special Recreation Management 
Area designation and Wildlife Habitat Management Area allocations from 
within the SEZ.
    The preferred alternative as described in the RDEP Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was carried forward with some 
modifications into the Final EIS/proposed RMP amendments, published in 
the Federal Register on October 26, 2012 (77 FR 65401) and November 2, 
2012 (77 FR 66183). There are no appealable decisions within the ROD/
approved RMP amendments.
    The BLM did not receive any protest letters on the RDEP Final EIS/
proposed RMP amendments. However, the BLM Arizona State Director did 
receive four comment letters on the RDEP Final EIS; the comments were 
reviewed for content, and the ROD includes a discussion of the 
clarifications made as a result of the comment letters.
    No inconsistencies with State or local plans, policies, or programs 
were identified during the Governor's consistency review of the RDEP 
Final EIS/proposed RMP amendments. The approved RMP amendments are the 
same as Alternative 6 described in the RDEP Final EIS/proposed RMP 
amendments with only minor editorial modifications made in preparing 
the ROD/approved RMP amendments. The ROD/approved RMP amendments can be 
accessed at the RDEP Web site: http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/energy/arra_solar.htm.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1505.2 and 43 CFR 1610.5-1.

Raymond Suazo,
Arizona State Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-01193 Filed 1-18-13; 8:45 am]
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