[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 126 (Tuesday, July 1, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37345-37346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15410]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CACA 63162, LLCAD06000.L51010000.ER0000.13X.LVRWB13B541]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Joint Environmental Impact 
Statement and Environmental Impact Report for the West of Devers 
Upgrade Project, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, 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, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Palm Springs/
South Coast Field Office intends to prepare a joint Environmental 
Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Report (EIR/EIS) in 
cooperation with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in 
order to analyze Southern California Edison's proposal for the West of 
Devers Upgrade Project (WOD UP) in Riverside and San Bernardino 
Counties. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to 
solicit public comments and identify issues.

DATES: Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until July 31, 
2014. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be 
announced at least 15 days in advance through local news media, 
newspapers and the BLM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd.html and at the CPUC Web site at: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/environment/info/aspen/westofdevers/westofdevers.htm. In order to be 
included in the analysis, all comments must be received prior to the 
close of the 30-day scoping period or 15 days

[[Page 37346]]

after the last public meeting, whichever is later. We will provide 
additional opportunities for public participation as appropriate.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues related to the West of 
Devers Upgrade Project by any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/palmsprings/transmission/WestOfDeversProject.html.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 951-697-5299.
     Mail: ATTN: Field Manager; Palm Springs-South Coast Field 
Office, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the BLM 
California Desert District Office and the Palm Springs/South Coast 
Field Office during regular business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays, and may be published as part of 
the EIS/EIR.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: R. Brian Paul; telephone 760-337-4445; 
address ATTN: Field Manager; Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office, 
1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262; email [email protected]. 
Contact Mr. Paul to have your name added 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 
Mr. Paul during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a 
day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question for Mr. Paul. You 
will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Southern California Edison (SCE) is 
proposing to upgrade and adjust the routes of the following existing 
220 kV transmission lines within SCE's existing West of Devers right-of 
way corridor in incorporated and unincorporated areas of Riverside and 
San Bernardino Counties: Devers-El Casco (30 miles), El Casco-San 
Bernardino (14 miles), Devers-San Bernardino (43 miles), Devers-Vista 
No. 1 and No. 2 (45 miles), Etiwanda-San Bernardino (3.5 miles), and 
San Bernardino-Vista (3.5 miles). Of the overall 48-mile length of the 
transmission corridor, approximately 6 miles would cross the 
reservation Trust Lands (Reservation) of the Morongo Band of Mission 
Indians and approximately 1 mile is on BLM-administered public lands. 
The BLM lands are located east of the City of Banning and west of the 
City of Desert Hot Springs in Riverside County.
    In addition to the transmission line improvements, substation 
equipment at Devers, El Casco, Etiwanda, San Bernardino, Timoteo and 
Tennessee and Vista Substations would be upgraded to accommodate the 
project changes to transmission and subtransmission systems. 
Construction of WOD UP would facilitate the full deliverability of new 
renewable energy generation resources now being developed in eastern 
Riverside County, including the BLM's Riverside East Solar Energy Zone 
into the Los Angeles area.
    The WOD UP would facilitate progress towards meeting California's 
Renewable Portfolio Standard goals requiring utilities to produce 33 
percent of their electricity sales from renewable energy sources by 
2020. Large-scale renewable energy projects in eastern Riverside County 
play an important role in meeting California's renewable energy goals, 
allowing for immediate and sizeable deployment, driving costs down, and 
taking advantage of the state's best renewable energy resources. 
Additionally, these upgrades are required to comply with transmission 
reliability standards and will support integration of small scale 
electricity generation.
    This document provides notice that the Palm Springs/South Coast BLM 
Field Office, Palm Springs, California, intends to prepare a joint EIS/
EIR with the California Public Utilities Commission for the WOD UP, 
announces the beginning of the scoping process, and seeks public input 
on environmental issues and planning criteria. The purpose of the 
public scoping process is to determine relevant issues that will 
influence the scope of the environmental analysis, including 
alternatives, and guide the planning process. Preliminary issues for 
the EIR/EIS have been identified by BLM personnel; Federal, State, and 
local agencies; and other stakeholders. The issues include: Air quality 
and greenhouse gas emissions, biological resources including special 
status species, cultural resources, geology and soils, hazards and 
hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, land use, noise, 
recreation, traffic, visual resources, cumulative effects, and areas 
with high potential for renewable energy development, and 
identification of opportunities to apply mitigation hierarchy 
strategies for on-site, regional, and compensatory mitigation.
    The BLM will use the NEPA public participation requirements to 
assist the agency in satisfying the public involvement requirements 
under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 
U.S.C. 470(f)) pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). The information about 
historic and cultural resources within the area potentially affected by 
the proposed action 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. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and 
potential impacts to cultural resources, will be given due 
consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with tribes 
and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the 
proposed action are invited to participate in the scoping process and, 
if eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM to participate in 
the development of the environmental analysis 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.

Thomas Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-15410 Filed 6-30-14; 8:45 am]
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