[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 92 (Wednesday, May 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27285-27286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11495]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Santa Fe National Forest; New Mexico; Geothermal Leasing

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Santa Fe National Forest will prepare an environmental 
impact statement to analyze the potential effects of geothermal 
development on 194,910 acres. The decision will be whether to proceed 
with geothermal leasing and, if so, under what stipulations.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by June 12, 2015. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
in January, 2016 and the final environmental impact statement is 
expected in October, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Geothermal EIS Project, Santa Fe 
National Forest, 11 Forest Lane, Santa Fe, NM 87508. Comments may also 
be sent via email to [email protected], or via 
facsimile to 505-438-5390.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Gore, Forest Geologist, via 
email at [email protected].
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose and Need for Action

    The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has received expressions of 
interest in leasing approximately 46,000 acres of Santa Fe National 
Forest (SFNF) lands for exploration and development for geothermal 
energy production. The SFNF must decide whether these lands are 
available for leasing by the BLM and, if so, under what stipulations 
for protection of surface resources. The U.S. Geological Survey has 
identified approximately 194,000 acres of SFNF lands with significant 
geothermal potential. While the current expressed interest is for only 
a portion of this area, the entire area plus an additional 
approximately 900 acres for power transmission will be considered in 
the analysis in the event of future similar interest.

Proposed Action

    Approximately 139,329 acres of the SFNF lands within the project 
area would be allocated as open to geothermal leasing subject to 
existing laws, regulations, formal orders and stipulations attached to 
the lease form, and the terms and conditions of the standard lease 
form. Stipulations proposed include: no surface occupancy; controlled 
surface use; and timing limitations.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The Forest Service, Santa Fe National Forest, is the lead agency 
and the Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office, is a 
cooperating agency in this analysis.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official is the Forest Supervisor of the Santa Fe 
National Forest.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The decision will be whether to implement the action as proposed, 
implement an alternative which allows leasing under different 
stipulations or conditions, or not to implement the action. If the 
decision is to authorize leasing, that decision with associated 
stipulations and conditions will become an amendment to the Santa Fe 
National Forest Plan or will become a part of the Revised Forest Plan.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the

[[Page 27286]]

development of the environmental impact statement. Two public meetings 
will be held to discuss the proposed action and solicit public input. 
One meeting will be held in Santa Fe, NM and one in the Cuba, NM area. 
Time and location of these meetings will be announced and posted on the 
forest's Web site at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/santafe/alerts-notices. 
The complete Proposed Action, with accompanying maps and descriptions 
of proposed stipulations, will also be posted at that Web site at: 
http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/santafe/landmanagement/projects.
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times 
and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of 
the environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments should be 
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly 
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names 
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record 
for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be 
accepted and considered, however.

    Dated: May 4, 2015.
Maria T. Garcia,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2015-11495 Filed 5-12-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-11-P