[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 183 (Monday, September 22, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 56603]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-22407]



[[Page 56603]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLAZ931000.L13400000.PQ0000.LXSS016A000; AZA35722]


Notice of Proposed Withdrawal and Opportunity for Public Meeting, 
Agua Caliente Solar Energy Zone, Arizona

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals 
Management on behalf of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to 
withdraw approximately 2,560 acres of public lands in Yuma County, 
Arizona, from location or entry under the United States mining laws, to 
protect and preserve for a 20-year period, the Agua Caliente Solar 
Energy Zone (SEZ). The lands will remain open to leasing under the 
mineral and geothermal leasing laws, and disposal under the Materials 
Act of 1947.

DATES: The BLM must receive comments and requests for a public meeting 
by December 22, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Comments and meeting requests should be sent to Lane Cowger, 
BLM Project Manager, One North Central Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix, AZ 
85004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lane Cowger at 602-417-9612 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. The FIRS is available 24 
hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question for the 
above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business 
hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant is the BLM at the address 
above, and its application requests the Assistant Secretary of the 
Interior for Land and Minerals Management withdraw, subject to valid 
existing rights, approximately 2,560 acres of public lands in Yuma 
County, Arizona, from location or entry under the United States mining 
laws, but not from leasing under the mineral or geothermal leasing 
laws, or disposal under the Materials Act of 1947. The lands are 
described as follows:

Gila and Salt River Meridian

T. 5 S., R. 12 W.,
    Sec. 15, S\1/2\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NE\1/
4\, S\1/2\NE\1/4\NW\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\NW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 17, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\ and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 20, NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 22, E\1/2\NE\1/4\ and E\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 23, W\1/2\;
    Sec. 26, N\1/2\NE\1/4\NW\1/4\ and NW\1/4\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 28, W\1/2\NE\1/4\, W\1/2\, and W\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 29, NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 33, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\NW\1/4\, and NW\1/4\SW\1/
4\NW\1/4\.

    The areas described aggregate approximately 2,560 acres, more or 
less, in Yuma County.

    The Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals 
Management approved the BLM's application; therefore, the application 
constitutes a withdrawal proposal of the Secretary of the Interior (43 
CFR 2310.1-3(e)).
    The purpose of the proposed withdrawal is to protect and preserve 
the Agua Caliente SEZ for a 20-year period in anticipation that it will 
be available for solar energy development.
    The use of a right-of-way, interagency or cooperative agreement, or 
discretionary surface management by the BLM under 43 CFR 3715 or 43 CFR 
3809 regulations will not adequately constrain nondiscretionary uses, 
which could result in loss of adequate protection and preservation of 
the subject lands for future solar energy development. There are no 
suitable alternative sites for the withdrawal.
    No water rights would be needed to fulfill the purpose of the 
requested withdrawal.
    Records relating to the application for the proposed withdrawal may 
be examined by contacting Lane Cowger at the above address.
    The application for the proposed withdrawal will be processed in 
accordance with the regulations set forth in 43 CFR 2300.
    For a period until December 22, 2014, all persons who wish to 
submit comments, suggestions, or objections in connection with the 
proposed withdrawal may present their views in writing to the BLM at 
the address noted above.
    If a public meeting is requested in connection with the proposed 
withdrawal, information about the date, time, and location of the 
meeting will be provided to news outlets in Arizona at least 30 days 
prior to the meeting. At the meeting, the public would have an 
opportunity to provide oral and written comments.
    All comments received will be considered before any recommendation 
concerning the proposed withdrawal is submitted to the Secretary of the 
Interior for final action.
    For a period until September 21, 2016, the public lands described 
in this notice will be segregated from location or entry under the 
United States mining laws, but not from leasing under the mineral or 
geothermal leasing laws, or disposal under the Materials Act of 1947, 
unless the application is denied or canceled or the withdrawal is 
approved prior to that date.
    Comments including names and street addresses of respondents will 
be available for public review at the BLM Arizona State Office at the 
address noted above, during regular business hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal 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: 43 CFR 2310.3-1.

Julie A. Decker,
Deputy State Director, Resources.
[FR Doc. 2014-22407 Filed 9-19-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-P