[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 190 (Friday, September 30, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67384-67386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23310]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[RR04310000, 16XR0680A1, RX002361010021000]


Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Meetings for the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Navajo Generating Station-
Kayenta Mine Complex Project, Arizona

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation has made available for public review 
and comment the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Navajo 
Generating Station-Kayenta Mine Complex Project. The Proposed Action 
would provide Federal approvals and/or decisions necessary to continue 
the operation and maintenance of the Navajo Generating Station and 
associated facilities, the proposed Kayenta Mine Complex, and existing 
transmission systems.

DATES: Written comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
should be submitted on or before Tuesday, November 29, 2016.
    Eleven public meetings will be held to receive comments, answer 
questions, and facilitate public involvement. See the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section for meeting dates and times.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to the Phoenix Area Office, Bureau of 
Reclamation (ATTN: NGSKMC-EIS), 6150 W. Thunderbird Road, Glendale, 
Arizona 85306-4001; via facsimile to (623) 773-6486; or email to 
[email protected].
    To request a compact disc of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement, please use the contact information above, or call (623) 773-
6254. The document may also be viewed at the Project Web site at http://www.ngskmc-eis.net. For those without Internet access, a copy is 
available for public review and inspection at specified government and 
tribal offices during normal business hours. See the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section for specific locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sandra Eto, (623) 773-6254, or by 
email at [email protected]. Additional information is available 
online at http://www.ngskmc-eis.net.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4231-4347; the Council 
on Environmental Quality's Regulations for Implementing the Procedural 
Provisions of NEPA, 40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508; and the Department 
of the Interior's (DOI) regulations, 43 CFR part 46, the Bureau of 
Reclamation (Reclamation) has prepared this Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (Draft EIS) that examines the potential environmental impacts 
from the Navajo Generating Station-Kayenta Mine Complex Project 
(Project). Cooperating agencies on the Draft EIS include the following:

 Federal Agencies--U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 
Service; U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park 
Service, Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation Enforcement; U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency
 Tribal Governments--Gila River Indian Community; Navajo 
Nation; Pueblo of Zuni
 Other Agencies--Arizona Game and Fish Department; Central 
Arizona Water Conservation District

    The Proposed Action would provide Federal approvals and/or 
decisions necessary to continue the operation and maintenance of the 
Navajo Generating Station (NGS) and associated facilities, the proposed 
Kayenta Mine Complex (KMC), and existing transmission systems for an 
additional 25 years, from December 23, 2019, through December 22, 2044, 
plus decommissioning.

Background

    The NGS is a coal-fired power plant located on trust lands leased 
from the Navajo Nation near Page, Arizona. The NGS provides continuous, 
long-term, reliable, and cost-effective baseload power to over one 
million customers in the region using coal from the nearby Kayenta Mine 
located on trust lands leased from the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe. 
The NGS and Kayenta Mine provide significant economic benefit to the 
Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe, primarily through lease and mining-
related revenue (e.g., coal royalties), and employment. The NGS is also 
the primary source of electricity for operation of the Central Arizona 
Project (CAP), and provides significant cost-savings to Native American 
tribes that receive CAP water. The CAP, a Federal reclamation project 
constructed by Reclamation, delivers over 1.5 million acre-feet of 
Colorado River water annually to tribal, agricultural, municipal, and 
industrial water users in Maricopa, Pinal, and Pima counties, Arizona.
    The Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District 
(SRP) is the operating agent of NGS and holds a 42.9% ownership 
interest in NGS on its own behalf. The other NGS co-owners and their 
proportionate share are Arizona Public Service Company (14.0%), NV 
Energy (11.3%), and Tucson Electric Power Company (7.5%). SRP also 
holds a 24.3% interest in NGS for the use and benefit of the United 
States of America (U.S.). The NGS co-owners and the U.S. are 
collectively referred to as the ``NGS Participants.''

Current NGS Operation

    SRP operates NGS pursuant to an Indenture of Lease with the Navajo 
Nation for the plant site, which has been in effect since December 23, 
1969 (the NGS Lease). The initial term of the NGS Lease is 50 years 
(i.e., through December 22, 2019). Additionally, a Grant of Right-of-
Way and Easement issued by DOI (323 Grant) encompasses the plant site, 
and another 323 Grant and Easement was issued for an adjoining 
railroad. The initial term of the 323 Grant for the NGS plant site 
expires at the end of 2019, while the initial term of the 323 Grant for 
the railroad expires in 2021. Because of the expiring leases and 
rights-of-way, continued operation of NGS beyond December 22, 2019, 
requires approval from multiple Federal agencies.

Current Kayenta Mine Operation

    Coal that fuels NGS is supplied by the Kayenta Mine operated by 
Peabody Western Coal Company (PWCC). Like NGS, the operation of the 
Kayenta Mine requires approval from multiple Federal agencies. PWCC 
currently holds an active Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 
1977 (SMCRA) Permit (Federal Permit Number AZ-0001E) that authorizes 
PWCC to mine within the Kayenta Mine permit area. PWCC is seeking to 
revise its SMCRA Permit and life-of-mine (LOM) plan for the Kayenta 
Mine in order to adjust and identify the timing and sequence of mining 
operations in certain coal resource areas through 2044, and to relocate 
portions of an existing road. PWCC is currently authorized to continue 
mining at the Kayenta Mine post-2019; the proposed revisions to the 
SMCRA Permit and LOM plan would increase operational efficiency. 
Additionally, PWCC is seeking to modify the existing permit boundary to 
incorporate into the Kayenta Mine permanent program permit area 
facilities located on the adjacent and now closed former Black Mesa 
Mine that are currently being used to support Kayenta Mine operations. 
Upon incorporation of these mining support facilities into the Kayenta 
Mine permit

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area, the future operation, if approved, would be identified as the 
KMC. The proposed KMC permit boundary expansion does not propose future 
mining of the coal resources remaining at the former Black Mesa Mine.

Current Transmission System Operation

    The NGS is served by the Western and Southern transmission systems, 
each of which is supported by a 323 Grant. Off-reservation, these 
systems are supported by grants of easement from other agencies. The 
Southern Transmission System extends south from NGS to just north of 
Phoenix, Arizona; the Western Transmission System extends west from NGS 
to near Las Vegas, Nevada. Both transmission systems are part of the 
Western Interconnection, providing integrated and reliable transmission 
across the region well beyond the power generated by the NGS.
    Under the Proposed Action, no construction, major replacement, or 
other activities beyond continued operation and as-needed maintenance 
are anticipated for the transmission line systems, substations, and 
communications sites. Ongoing maintenance, repair, replacement, and 
improvement of the transmission lines would continue. These activities 
include infrequent aerial and ground inspection, repair and replacement 
of transmission system components, and right-of-way vegetation 
treatment to reduce safety hazards. The majority of all inspection and 
maintenance activities would occur along the existing right-of-way, 
serviced by existing roads leading to the regional highway system.

Other Compliance-related Activities

    As part of its consideration of impacts on threatened and 
endangered species, Reclamation is in the process of formal 
consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) pursuant 
to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1536, and its 
implementing regulations, 50 CFR part 400. The biological assessment of 
the Proposed Action prepared by Reclamation for consideration by the 
Service is available on the Project Web site: http://www.ngskmc-eis.net.
    Reclamation is also conducting compliance activities pursuant to 
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 470f, 
as provided for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3) concurrently with the NEPA 
process, including public involvement requirements and consultation 
with the State Historic Preservation Officer(s) and Tribal Historic 
Preservation Officer(s). The draft programmatic agreements regarding 
management of historic properties potentially affected by the Proposed 
Action are available on the Project Web site: http://www.ngskmc-eis.net.

Alternatives Considered

    The Draft EIS analyzes the direct, indirect and cumulative effects 
of the Proposed Action, three action alternatives, and a No Action 
Alternative.

a. Proposed Action.

    Under the Proposed Action, all Federal approvals and/or decisions 
necessary to continue the operation and maintenance of the NGS and 
associated facilities, the proposed KMC, and existing transmission 
systems would be granted through December 22, 2044, plus 
decommissioning.

b. Natural Gas Partial Federal Replacement Alternative

    Under this action alternative, the same Federal approvals and/or 
decisions required for the Proposed Action would be granted; however, a 
portion of the energy produced at NGS for the U.S. would be curtailed 
and replaced by a corresponding amount of energy from existing natural 
gas resources.

c. Renewable Partial Federal Replacement Alternative

    Under this action alternative, the same Federal approvals and/or 
decisions required for the Proposed Action would be granted; however, a 
portion of the energy produced at NGS for the U.S. would be curtailed 
and replaced by a corresponding amount of energy from existing 
renewable energy resources.

d. Tribal Partial Federal Replacement Alternative

    Under this action alternative, the same Federal approvals and/or 
decisions required for the Proposed Action would be granted; however, a 
portion of the energy produced at NGS for the U.S. would be curtailed 
and replaced by a corresponding amount of energy from a newly 
constructed photovoltaic solar facility on tribal land.

e. No Action Alternative

    Under the No Action Alternative, Federal approvals and/or decisions 
required for the continued operation and maintenance of NGS and 
associated facilities would not be granted and NGS would be 
decommissioned by 2020. The proposed KMC would not be authorized and 
final reclamation of the Kayenta Mine would commence when power 
generation ends at NGS. The right-of-way for the existing transmission 
systems would not be granted; however, because these power lines are 
part of the Western Interconnection, the transmission owners would 
likely seek authorization of the transmission system under a separate 
and future process.
Public Meeting Information
    Eleven public meetings to receive comments, answer questions, and 
facilitate public involvement will be held on:

1. Monday, October 24, 2016, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Burton Barr Central 
Library, Pulliam Auditorium, 1221 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, Arizona.
2. Monday, October 24, 2016, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Dorothy Powell Senior 
Adult Center, Dining Room, 405 E. Sixth St., Casa Grande, Arizona.
3. Tuesday, October 25, 2016, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Page Community 
Center, Cafeteria, 699 S. Navajo Dr., Page, Arizona.
4. Wednesday, October 26, 2016, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., LeChee Chapter 
House, 5 miles south of Page off of Coppermine Road, LeChee, 
Arizona.
5. Wednesday, October 26, 2016, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Tuba City Chapter 
House, 220 S. Main St., Tuba City, Arizona.
6. Thursday, October 27, 2016, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Shonto Chapter 
House, E. Navajo Route 221, Shonto, Arizona.
7. Tuesday, November 1, 2016, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monument Valley High 
School, Cafeteria, Highway 163 and Monument Valley Blvd., Kayenta, 
Arizona.
8. Wednesday, November 2, 2016, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tewa Community 
Center, Multipurpose Room, Highway 264 at Milepost 392.8, Polacca, 
Arizona.
9. Wednesday, November 2, 2016, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Hopi Day School, 
Gym, \1/4\ mile east of the Village Store on Main St., Kykotsmovi, 
Arizona.
10. Thursday, November 3, 2016, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Forest Lake 
Chapter House, 17 miles north of Pinon on Navajo Route 41, Pinon, 
Arizona.
11. Friday, November 4, 2016, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Navajo Nation 
Museum, Conference Room, Highway 264 and Postal Loop Road, Window 
Rock, Arizona.

    Navajo interpreters will be present at meetings on the Navajo 
Nation and Hopi Reservation; Hopi interpreters will be present at 
meetings on the Hopi Reservation and Tuba City, Arizona. A court 
recorder will be available to take oral comments from the public during 
all meetings.
Public Review and Where To Find Copies of the Draft EIS
    A copy of the Draft EIS is available for public review and 
inspection at the following locations:
     Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix Area Office, 6150 W. 
Thunderbird Road, Glendale, Arizona.

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     Natural Resources Library, U.S. Department of the 
Interior, 1849 C Street NW, Main Interior Building, Washington, DC.
     Bureau of Indian Affairs, Navajo Regional Office, 301 West 
Hill Street, Gallup, New Mexico.
     Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation Enforcement, 
Western Regional Office, 1999 Broadway Street, Suite 3320, Denver, 
Colorado.
     Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Headquarters, 691 
Scenic View Road, Page, Arizona.
     Casa Grande Public Library, 449 N. Drylake Street, Casa 
Grande, Arizona.
     Hopi Tribal Headquarters, Main Lobby, 123 Main St., 
Kykotsmovi, Arizona.
     Navajo Nation Library, Highway 264 and Postal Loop Road, 
Window Rock, Arizona.
     LeChee Chapter House, 5 miles south of Page off of 
Coppermine Road, LeChee, Arizona.
     Tuba City Chapter House, 220 S. Main St., Tuba City, 
Arizona.
     Shonto Chapter House, E. Navajo Route 221, Shonto, 
Arizona.
     Kayenta Chapter House, Highway 163, Kayenta, Arizona.
     Forest Lake Chapter House, 17 miles north of Pinon on 
Navajo Route 41, Pinon, Arizona.
Special Assistance for Public Meetings
    If special assistance is required at the public meetings, please 
contact Ms. Tania Fragomeno at (858) 926-4022, or email your assistance 
needs to [email protected], along with your name and telephone 
number. Please indicate your needs at least two weeks in advance of the 
meeting to enable Reclamation to secure the needed services. The 
requestor will be notified if a request cannot be honored.
Public Disclosure
    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.

    Dated: September 2, 2016.
David Palumbo,
Deputy Commissioner for Operations.
[FR Doc. 2016-23310 Filed 9-29-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4332-90-P