[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 183 (Friday, September 20, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57877-57878]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-22790]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLAZP02000.L51010000.FX0000.LVRWA12A3170; AZA35927]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Maricopa Solar Park Project in Maricopa 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) Lower Sonoran 
Field Office, Phoenix, Arizona, intends to prepare an environmental 
impact statement (EIS) and by this notice is announcing the beginning 
of

[[Page 57878]]

the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS. 
Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until October 21, 2013. 
The date(s) and location(s) of scoping meetings will be announced at 
least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers, and the BLM 
Web site at http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/energy/solar/maricopa-solar.html. In order to be included in the Draft EIS, all comments must 
be received prior to the close of the scoping period or 15 days after 
the last public meeting, whichever is later. The BLM will provide 
additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of 
the Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Maricopa Solar Park 
Project by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 623-580-5580.
     Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Phoenix District Office, 
Lower Sonoran Field Office, Attention: Joe Incardine/Maricopa Solar 
Park Project, 21605 North 7th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85027-2929.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Lower 
Sonoran Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Incardine, National Project 
Manager, telephone 801-539-4118; address Bureau of Land Management, 
Phoenix District Office, Lower Sonoran Field Office, 21605 North 7th 
Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85027-2929; email [email protected]. Contact Mr. 
Incardine if you wish to add your name to our mailing list.
    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 applicant, Marisol Energy 2, LLC 
(Marisol), has requested a right-of-way authorization to develop and 
operate the Maricopa Solar Park Project, a photovoltaic (PV) solar 
power plant with a planned generating capacity of up to 300 megawatts. 
Marisol is a sister company of the Italian-based Siderurgica 
Investimenti. Siderurgica Investimenti is the holding company of an 
industrial group operating at an international level in the sectors of 
steel and metal production, renewable energy, and natural gas.
    The project would be located on approximately 1,730 acres of BLM-
managed land within the Phoenix District Office, Lower Sonoran Field 
Office in Maricopa County, Arizona, approximately 30 miles southwest of 
Phoenix. The proposed project would consist of one or more phases, 
based upon potential power purchase agreement(s) with electrical 
utility companies. The project proposes to use mono/polycrystalline or 
``thin film'' PV modules, which would be mounted on horizontal single-
axis trackers or on fixed mounting systems. The type of PV modules and 
mounting systems selected by Marisol would maximize efficiency and 
energy production. The facility would have an onsite high-voltage 
substation, with high-voltage power transformers stepping up energy to 
345-kilovolts. Electrical energy from the onsite switchyard would be 
delivered to the existing Pinal West Substation through one or two new 
high-voltage transmission lines, each 2.3-miles long. The facility is 
proposed to operate for a grant term of 30 years. Additional applicable 
permits from Federal, State, and local agencies would be required.
    As the project is located outside of a solar energy zone identified 
in the Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement Record of 
Decision, a variance application was required. Marisol submitted its 
variance application for consideration to the BLM Arizona State Office 
and the BLM Washington Office. A public information meeting was held in 
Maricopa, Arizona, on February 5, 2013. The BLM Washington Office 
approved the Marisol variance application in June 2013.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the environmental analysis, including 
alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS. At present, 
the BLM has identified the following preliminary issues: Impacts to 
cultural resources, visual resources, grazing allotments, recreation, 
and local wildlife corridors. The project site is adjacent to the 
Sonoran Desert National Monument, a unit of the BLM National Landscape 
Conservation System.
    The BLM will use and coordinate the NEPA commenting process to help 
with the public involvement process for Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 U.S.C. 470f) as provided for in 36 
CFR 800.2(d)(3). The information about historic and cultural resources 
within the area potentially affected by the proposed project will 
assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources 
in the context of both NEPA and Section 106 of the NHPA.
    The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other 
policies. Native American tribal consultation will be conducted in 
accordance with policy, and tribal concerns will be given due 
consideration, including impacts on Indian Trust assets. 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.
    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 1501.7.

Raymond Suazo,
Arizona State Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-22790 Filed 9-19-13; 8:45 am]
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