[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 225 (Friday, November 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69522-69523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27642]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[AAK6006201 145A2100DD AOR3030.999900]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
Aiya Solar Project on the Moapa River Indian Reservation, Clark County, 
NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In order to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), as lead agency in 
cooperation with the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians (Moapa Band), the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and other Federal agencies, intend to 
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that will evaluate a 
photovoltaic solar energy generation project on the Moapa River Indian 
Reservation and a transmission line located on tribal lands, private 
lands and Federal lands administered and managed by BLM in Clark 
County, Nevada.
    This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to 
solicit public comments and identify potential issues related to the 
EIS. It also announces that two public scoping meetings will be held in 
Nevada to identify potential issues, alternatives, and mitigation to be 
considered in the EIS.

DATES: The dates and locations of the public scoping meetings will be 
published in the Las Vegas Sun, Las Vegas Review-Journal, and Moapa 
Valley Progress 15 days before the scoping meetings. Written comments 
on the scope of the EIS or implementation of the proposal must arrive 
by December 22, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may mail, email, or hand carry written comments to 
either Mr. Paul Schlafly, Natural Resource Specialist, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, Southern Paiute Agency, 180 North 200 East Suite 111, P.O. Box 
720, St. George, Utah 84770; telephone: (435) 674-9720; email: 
[email protected], or Mr. Chip Lewis, Acting Regional Environmental 
Compliance Officer, BIA Western Regional Office, 2600 North Central 
Avenue, 4th Floor Mailroom, Phoenix, Arizona 85004; telephone: (602) 
379-6782; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed Federal action, taken under 25 
U.S.C. 415, is BIA's approval of a solar energy ground lease and 
associated agreements entered into by the Moapa Band with a subsidiary 
of First Solar, Inc. (First Solar) to provide for construction and 
operation of an up-to 100 megawatt (MW) alternating current solar 
photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation facility located entirely on 
the Moapa River Indian Reservation and specifically on lands held in 
trust by BIA for the Moapa Band. The proposed 230 kilovolt (kV) 
generation-tie transmission line required for interconnection may be 
located on Tribal lands, private lands and/or Federal lands 
administered and managed by BLM. First Solar has accordingly requested 
that the BIA and BLM additionally approve right-of-ways (ROWs) 
authorizing the construction and operation of the transmission line. 
Together, the proposed solar energy facility, transmission line, and 
other associated facilities will make up the proposed Moapa River Solar 
Project (Project).
    The Project would be located in Township 14 South, Range 66 East, 
Sections 29, 30, 31, and 32 Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada. The 
generation facility would generate electricity using First Solar's PV 
panels. Also included would be inverters, a collection system, an on-
site substation to step-up the voltage to transmission-level voltage at 
230 kV, an operations and maintenance building, and other related 
facilities. A single overhead 230 kV generation-tie transmission line, 
approximately 1.5 to 3 miles long, would connect the solar project to 
either NV Energy's Reid-Gardner 230kV substation or the proposed Reid 
Gardner Collector Substation, which is under development by NV Energy.
    Construction of the Project is expected to take approximately 12 to 
15 months. First Solar is expected to operate the energy facility for 
30 years, with two options to renew the lease for an additional 10 
years, if mutually acceptable to the Moapa Tribe and First Solar. The 
Project is expected to be built in one phase of up to 100 MW, per the 
demand of potential off-takers or utilities. During construction, the 
PV panels will be placed on top of fixed-tilt and/or single-axis 
tracking mounting systems that are set on steel posts embedded in the 
ground. Other foundation design techniques may be used depending on the 
site topography and conditions. No water will be used to generate 
electricity during operations. Water will be needed during construction 
for dust control and a minimal amount will be needed during operations 
for landscape irrigation and administrative and sanitary water use on 
site. The water supply required for the Project would be leased from 
the

[[Page 69523]]

Moapa Band and the EIS will consider the impacts of alternative sources 
and delivery methods.
    The purposes of the Project are to: (1) Help to provide a long-
term, diverse, and viable economic revenue base and job opportunities 
for the Moapa Band; (2) help Nevada and neighboring States to meet 
their State renewable energy needs; and (3) allow the Moapa Band, in 
partnership with First Solar, to optimize the use of the lease site 
while maximizing the potential economic benefit to the Tribe.
    The BIA will prepare the EIS in cooperation with the Moapa Band, 
BLM, and possibly the Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection 
Agency, and National Park Service. In addition, the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (USFWS) will provide input on the analysis. The 
resulting EIS will aim to: (1) Provide agency decision makers, the 
Moapa Band, and the general public with a comprehensive understanding 
of the impacts of the proposed Project and alternatives on the 
Reservation; (2) describe the cumulative impacts of increased 
development on the Reservation; and (3) identify and propose mitigation 
measures that would minimize or prevent significant adverse impacts. 
Consistent with these objectives, the EIS will analyze the proposed 
Project and appurtenant features, viable alternatives including other 
interconnection options, modified footprint alternatives, alternate 
routing for Project ROWs, and the No Action alternative. Other 
alternatives may be identified in response to issues raised during the 
scoping process.
    The EIS will provide a framework for BIA and BLM to make 
determinations and to decide whether to take the aforementioned Federal 
actions. In addition, BIA will use and coordinate the NEPA commenting 
process to satisfy its obligations under Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f) as provided for in 36 CFR 
800.2(d)(3). Tribal consultations will be conducted in accordance with 
policy, and tribal concerns will be given due consideration, including 
impacts on Indian trust assets. Other Federal agencies may rely on the 
EIS to make decisions under their authority and the Moapa Band may also 
use the EIS to make decisions under their Tribal Environmental Policy 
Ordinance. The USFWS will review the EIS for consistency with the 
Endangered Species Act, as amended, and other implementing acts, and 
may rely on the EIS to support its decisions and opinions regarding the 
Project.
    Issues to be covered during the scoping process may include, but 
would not be limited to, Project impacts on: Air quality, geology and 
soils, surface and groundwater resources, biological resources, 
threatened and endangered species, cultural resources, socioeconomic 
conditions, land use, aesthetics, environmental justice, and Indian 
trust resources. In addition to those already identified above, 
Federal, State, and local agencies, along with other stakeholders that 
may be interested or affected by the BIA's decision on the proposed 
Project, are invited to participate in the scoping process.

Directions for Submitting Comments

    Please include your name, return address, and the caption ``EIS, 
First Solar Solar Project,'' on the first page of any written comments. 
You may also submit comments at the public scoping meetings.
    The public scoping meetings will be held to further describe the 
Project and identify potential issues and alternatives to be considered 
in the EIS. The first public scoping meeting will be held on the 
Reservation and the other public scoping meeting will be held in Las 
Vegas, Nevada. The dates of the public scoping meetings will be 
included in notices to be posted in the Las Vegas Sun, Las Vegas 
Review-Journal, and Moapa Valley Progress 15 days before the meetings.

Public Comment Availability

    Comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be 
available for public review at the mailing address shown in the 
ADDRESSES section during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 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.

Authority

    This notice is published in accordance with 40 CFR 1501.7 of the 
Council of Environmental Quality regulations and 43 CFR 46.235 of the 
Department of the Interior Regulations implementing the procedural 
requirements of the NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and in accordance 
with the exercise of authority delegated to the Assistant Secretary--
Indian Affairs by part 209 of the Department Manual.

    Dated: November 14, 2014.
Kevin K. Washburn,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2014-27642 Filed 11-20-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-W7-P