[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 47 (Thursday, March 10, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 12746]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05458]



[[Page 12746]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[167A2100DD/AAKC001030/AOA501010.999900]


Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Aiya Solar 
Project, Clark County, Nevada

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), as the lead Federal agency, 
with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the Moapa 
Band of Paiute Indians (Tribe) as Cooperating Agencies, has prepared a 
final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the proposed Aiya Solar 
Project on the Moapa River Indian Reservation in Clark County, Nevada. 
This notice announces that the FEIS is now available for public review.

DATES: The Record of Decision on the proposed action will be issued no 
sooner than 30 days after EPA publishes a Notice of Availability in the 
Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: You may request a compact disk copy of the FEIS by providing 
your name and address in writing or by voicemail to Mr. Chip Lewis, 
Acting Regional Environmental Protection Officer, BIA Western Regional 
Office, Branch of Environmental Quality Services, 2600 North Central 
Avenue, 4th Floor Mail Room, Phoenix, Arizona 85004-3008; fax (602) 
379-3833; email: [email protected]. The FEIS will be available for 
review at: BIA Western Regional Office, 2600 North Central Avenue, 12th 
Floor, Suite 210, Phoenix, Arizona; BIA Southern Paiute Agency, 180 
North 200 East, Suite 111, St. George, Utah; and the BLM Southern 
Nevada District Office, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada. 
The FEIS is also available on line at: www.AiyaSolarProjectEIS.com. 
Individual paper copies of the FEIS will be provided only upon request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Chip Lewis, BIA Western Regional 
Office, Branch of Environmental Quality Services, 2600 North Central 
Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004-3008, telephone (602) 379-6782; or Mr. 
Garry Cantley at (602) 379-6750.

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 Tribe with Aiya Solar 
Project, LLC (Aiya Solar or Applicant), a wholly owned 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 the United States for the Tribe. The proposed 230 kilovolt 
(kV) generation-tie transmission line required for interconnection 
would be located on Tribal lands, private lands and Federal lands 
administered and managed by BLM. The Applicant has accordingly 
requested that the BIA and BLM additionally approve rights-of-way 
(ROWs) authorizing the construction and operation of the transmission 
line. Together, the proposed solar energy facility, transmission line, 
and other associated facilities make up the proposed Aiya 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 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. An 
overhead 230 kV generation-tie transmission line, approximately 2.7 
miles long, would connect the solar project to NV Energy's Reid-Gardner 
230kV substation.
    Construction of the Project is expected to take approximately 12 to 
15 months. The Applicant 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 Tribe and Applicant. 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 construction 
of the Project would be leased from the Moapa Band and would be 
provided via a new temporary intake installed in the Muddy River and a 
new temporary above-ground pipeline approximately two miles in length. 
Operational water would be provided through a tap into an existing 
water pipeline that crosses the solar site. Access to the Project will 
be provided via State Highway 168.
    The purposes of the Project are to: (1) Provide a long-term, 
diverse, and viable economic revenue base and job opportunities for the 
Tribe; (2) help Nevada and neighboring states to meet their state 
renewable energy needs; and (3) allow the Tribe, in partnership with 
the Applicant, to optimize the use of the lease site while maximizing 
the potential economic benefit to the Tribe.
    The BIA and BLM will use the EIS to make decisions on the land 
lease and ROW applications under their respective jurisdiction; EPA may 
use the document to make decisions under its authorities; the Tribe may 
use the EIS to make decisions under its Tribal Environmental Policy 
Ordinance; and the USFWS may use the EIS to support its decision under 
the Endangered Species Act.

    Authority:  This notice is published in accordance with section 
1503.1 of the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 
part 1500 et seq.) and the Department of the Interior Regulations 
(43 CFR part 46) implementing the procedural requirements of 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: March 1, 2016.
Lawrence S. Roberts,
Acting Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2016-05458 Filed 3-9-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4337-15-P